Product description

In telecontrol applications, devices from different manufacturers have to communicate with each other. Based on the five basic standards IEC 60870-5-1 (telegram formats), -2 (transfer procedures/link layer), -3 (structures/application data), -4 (information elements) and 5 (basic application functions), the IEC 60870-5-family defines the application-related standards IEC 60870-5-101, -102,- 103 and -104. The internationally standardized telecontrol protocols IEC 60870-5-101/-102 /-103 enable implementation of serial data transfer, while the telecontrol protocol IEC 60870-5-104 is used for TCP/IP-based data transfer.

Manufacturers are not obliged to implement the complete standard in their devices. For this reason there may be incompatibilities between devices during commissioning. In order to prevent this, manufacturers offer a suitable compatibility list for each device. In this list the implemented functions are listed or marked. The compatibility list can be used to compare the required functionality of two devices beforehand. Please also refer to the compatibility lists for the TwinCAT IEC 60870-5-10x libraries.

The PLC functions and function blocks can be used to realize central stations and/or substations (master/slave) in the TwinCAT PLC, based on the IEC 60870-5-101/102/103/104 standard. Some of the PLC libraries have two software interfaces ("Low Level" and "High Level"). The end application is imposed on one of these interfaces. High Level is suitable for fast applications with lower requirements. Low Level offers many degrees of freedom and is ideal for complex applications. Which interface is used depends thus on the final application.

Product components

The function TF6500 | IEC 60870-5-10x consists of the following components, which are automatically installed during setup:

• Functions: TF6310 and TF6340.
• PLC library: Tc2_IEC60870_5_10x (Tc2_TcpIp, Tc2_SerialCom, installed with TF6310 and TF6340).
• Background program: TwinCAT TCP/IP Connection Server (for communication, is installed with TF6310).

Principle of operation and application scenarios:

IEC 60870-5-104 slave with subordinate 103 master for connecting protective devices.

One controller as IEC 60870-5-104 master, and one controller as connected -104 slave

Next steps:

Selection of the interface - High or Low Level:

• Technical introduction IEC 60870-5-101
• Technical introduction IEC 60870-5-102
• Technical introduction IEC 60870-5-103
• Technical introduction IEC 60870-5-104

• Examples of the various protocols.