Fieldbus Testing with Online Physical Layer Diagnostics

Installation and wiring work for today’s fieldbus installations in process automation, FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1 and PROFIBUS PA, currently requires tedious manual and typically incomplete methods for checkout and validation. New online advanced physical layer diagnostic systems automate construction and pre-commission test and report generation, up to the point of loop checkout. Fully automated fieldbus test methodology realizes better installation quality and time savings. This paper describes a newly revised, significantly shortened and vastly simplified test procedure applicable to fieldbus systems. Additional guidelines for troubleshooting that is described herein will further enhance commissioning and testing work. The white paper, prepared by Fieldbus specialists from Pepperl+Fuchs, shows a case study, comparing the new working procedure to existing technologies and procedures and shows the savings potential, which expresses itself in a reduction in commissioning time.