Stations

Station definitions to be used for TAGs. Contains connection parameters such as IP address, rack no, slot no.

Overview

The Stations module acts as a bridge between Device definitions and TAGs. Each Station is connected to a Device and contains specific connection parameters. Multiple Stations can be defined for one Device, so you can use the same device type in different network segments or different configurations.

Device and Station Relationship

Device: General device type definition (e.g: "Siemens S7-1500")
Station: Specific connection point
Example for Siemens: "Name: S7_1500_Main_Station, IP: 192.168.1.100, Rack:0, Slot:1"
Example for Modbus: "Name: Modbus_Energy_Meter, IP: 192.168.1.50, Node:1"

With this structure, you can easily manage the same type of devices in different locations.

Key Features

  • Device-based station organization
  • Multiple station support (multiple stations for one device)
  • Real-time connection test features
  • Station-based TAG grouping

Station Fields

Field NameDescriptionStatusExample
Station NameUnique station nameRequiredE.g: "Compressor_Unit_1"
DeviceConnected deviceRequiredSelected from Device list
IP AddressStation IP addressRequired192.168.1.100
Rack NumberPLC rack numberRequired(For Siemens)0
Slot NumberCPU slot numberRequired(For Siemens)1 or 2
Node ID / Unit IDModbus slave IDRequired(For Modbus)Between 1-247

Adding New Station

Step by Step Station Addition

  1. Prerequisite: The relevant Device definition must be made
  2. Go to Station List page: Select "Management" → "Stations" from the left menu
  3. Click Add New Station button
  4. Device Type: Select the relevant Device type from the dropdown
  5. Select Device: Select the relevant Device from the dropdown
  6. Enter connection information: Station Name, IP Address, Rack Number and Slot Number (for Siemens) or Node ID/Unit ID (for Modbus)
  7. Test Connection: Test the connection (optional but recommended)
  8. Save: Click the "Save" button

Siemens Station Configuration

Example Siemens S7 Station Settings

Pay attention to the following parameters when defining Stations for Siemens PLCs:

IP Address: IP address of the PLC's Ethernet module

Rack Number: Usually 0

Slot Number: S7-300: Usually 2, S7-400: Usually 2 or 3, S7-1200/1500: Usually 1

Siemens Station Examplejavascript
// Siemens S7-1500 Station Örneği
{
  "stationName": "S7_1500_Main_Station",
  "deviceType": "Siemens S7-1500",
  "ipAddress": "192.168.1.10", 
  "rack": 0,
  "slot": 1, 
}

Siemens Connection Checklist

  • Make sure the PLC is in RUN mode
  • "Optimized Block Access" should be off in TIA Portal (for data reading)
  • "PUT/GET" communication must be active in the PLC
  • Test network connection with ping
  • Check firewall settings (port 102 must be open)

Modbus Station Configuration

Modbus TCP/IP Station Settings

IP Address: IP address of the Modbus slave device

Node ID / Unit ID: Slave device ID (between 1-247, usually 1)

Note: Some devices may use different port numbers, check device documentation.

Modbus Station Examplejavascript
// Modbus TCP Station Örneği
{
  "stationName": "Modbus_Energy_Meter",
  "deviceType": "Modbus TCP",
  "ipAddress": "192.168.1.50", 
  "nodeId/unitId": 1, 
}

Supported Protocol

Smart Energy currently only supports Modbus TCP protocol. All Modbus connections must be made using TCP/IP protocol over Ethernet.

Multiple Station Management

Multiple Stations for One Device

You can create multiple Stations using the same Device definition. This feature is useful in the following situations:

  • Different Locations: Same type PLCs at different IP addresses
  • Test/Production: Separate stations for test and production environments
  • Multiple CPUs: Separate station for each if there are multiple CPUs in a PLC

Best Practices

Recommendations

  • Name stations to indicate location and purpose
  • Add detailed description for each station (building, floor, line information)
  • Document IP address changes
  • Make station-based TAG organization

Common Issues

Station Cannot Connect

  • Check IP address and port number
  • Check that Device definition is correct
  • Test network connection (ping)
  • Verify Rack and Slot numbers (for Siemens)
  • Check that Node ID/Unit ID is correct (for Modbus)
  • Check firewall rules. Required ports need to be opened.

Intermittent Connection Drops

  • Check network stability
  • Check PLC CPU load
  • Increase timeout settings
  • Reduce number of simultaneous connections
  • Check network switch and cable quality

Slow Data Reading

  • Optimize number of TAGs
  • Increase cronjob time for TAG, Advanced Tag and formula. Don't read data unnecessarily.
  • Disable unnecessary TAGs
  • Measure network latency
  • Check PLC cycle time