FAQ S5 for Windows®

• Question:
  The IBH S5-Current Loop Converter does not work on the new PC or the new notebook.
• Answer:
  The IBH S5-Current Loop Converter needs +12 V / -12 V on the serial COM Port (RS232) to power the optical couplers to provide electrical isolation.
  Please measure between pin 5 (GND) and pin 7 (RTS) and pin 5 (GND) and pin 4 (DTR) the voltage. Are the voltages significantly less than 12V the COM Port does not full fill the RS232 specification.
  Solution: Use the IBH USB S5-Adapter Item # 20220

• Question:
  When starting S5/S7 for Windows® version V4.x/V5.x the error message “File not found 3111” is displayed.
• Answer:
  Win NT, Win 2000, WinXP, Vista and Windows7 are treating COM-Ports as a file. The message "File not found" is displayed if the settings in S5/S7 for Windows® are asking for a COM-Port physically not present.
  This occurs if the Converter Cable is plugged into another port (COM or USB) than the last time.
  Solution: Select a new online connection.

• Question:
  S5 for Windows® Version V4.x/V5.x sometimes displays the error message "PLC does not answer" when accessing an external Simatic S5 PLC.
  
• Answer:
  The error message " PLC does not answer" is displayed if there is a connection to the PLC, but the connection is not stable.
  This could indicate the buffer for incoming and outgoing data of the serial interface (FIFO buffer) is running out of data. S5 for Windows® recognizes this as a timeout and displays the error message.
  Solution: Disable the FIFO buffer of the COM-Port used by S5 for Windows®.
  

• Question:
  How do I disable the FIFO buffer of the COM-Port used by S5 for Windows®.
• Answer:
  Open the Device Manager by clicking “(Start / Settings / Control Panel / System / Hardware / Device Manager.
  Double click Ports (COM & LPT) and double click the Communications-Port (COM..) used by S5 for Windows®. In the opened Communications-Port (COM..) Properties dialog box click the “Port Settings tab and there the “Advanced” button.
  In the opened “Advanced Settings for COM..” dialog box disable the use of the FIFO buffer:
  
  

• Question:
  How can the status of a Data Word of a Data Block in S5 for Windows® being displayed?
• Answer:
  In the dialog box “Change value of the S5 Operand” enter the command e.g. DW 4, 2 in the Operand line and press “Enter”. The status of the Data Word 4 of Data Block 2 is displayed in the line below.
  Command format: DW [Word Number], [Data Block Number]).
  The same command can be used to display the status of a Data Word when entered in the View (Watch) field of the “External PLC Status” window.

• Question:
  The “External PLC Status” window can only display up to 6 values (Byte, Word, Timer etc.). How can we display more values?
• Answer:
  You can create a Picture Block (BBx). In a Picture Block you can display the status of a greater number of values. Take a look at the help of S5 for Windows®. There it is explained how to create a Picture Block.
  Caution: If you want to export a Picture Block to the Siemens Step5 Programming System the number of values must be limited to 20.
  

• Question:
  How can I accomplish the data transfer RAM to EEPROM when using a VIPA CPU241 ?
• Answer:
  While displaying the Status of any Block open the dialog box “Change Value of the S5 Operand”. In the Operand line enter the command ?EA4C in the and press “Enter”. Mark “decimal (KF) in the “Format” area and enter 7 in the Value line. Click the buttons “Change” and then “Close”.
  Finally turn the key switch on the CPU from RUN to STOP and back to RUN again.

• Question:
  Displaying the status of a PLC Block being online connected with a CPU 102 of a S5 PLC 100U does not work!
• Answer:
  The CPU 102 has two operating modes. The “Test Mode” and the “Normal Mode”. To display the Status of a PLC Block the CPU must be in Test Mode. The mode change is described in the PLC manual published by Siemens. Siemens offers a free download of the manual in PDF format at Siemens Support Homepage
  

• Question:
  The Notebook / PC does not have a serial port (COM..).
  Can a USB -> serial adapter be used to convert a IBH S5-Current Loop Converter into a USB connection?
• Answer:
  The IBH S5-Current Loop Converter needs for +12V/-12V on the serial COM Port (RS232) to power the optical couplers to provide electrical isolation. The standard USB -> Serial adapters do not provide sufficient voltage.
  Solution: You can use the IBH USB S5-Adaptor, Item # 20220

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