Flow Optimization

General
1

Hello, I am trying to get some tips on how I could optimize my flow. I frequently get modbus errors and I suspect it is due to the layout of my flows.

Screen Shot 2022-02-22 at 8.50.02 AM
Screen Shot 2022-02-22 at 8.50.02 AM1383Ă—725 140 KB

Screen Shot 2022-02-22 at 8.50.39 AM
Screen Shot 2022-02-22 at 8.50.39 AM1383Ă—843 159 KB

All the 'link outs' are going to a mosquito broker.
Here are the modbus errors I receive:

2/8/2022, 4:30:57 PMnode: VFD MODBUS
msg : string[123]
"Client -> fsm failed state after sending Get More About It By Logging Serial@/dev/ttySerMod0.0:9600bit/s default Unit-Id: 1"

2/8/2022, 4:31:42 PMnode: VFD MODBUS
msg : string[122]
"Client -> fsm broken state after failed Get More About It By Logging Serial@/dev/ttySerMod0.0:9600bit/s default Unit-Id: 1"

2/8/2022, 4:31:42 PMnode: VFD MODBUS
msg : string[125]
"Client -> fsm reconnect state after broken Get More About It By Logging Serial@/dev/ttySerMod0.0:9600bit/s default Unit-Id: 1"

2/8/2022, 4:31:44 PMnode: VFD MODBUS
msg : string[97]
"Client -> fsm init state after reconnecting Serial@/dev/ttySerMod0.0:9600bit/s default Unit-Id: 1"

2/8/2022, 4:24:49 PM node: VFD MODBUS
msg : string[83]
"Client -> fsm init in 2000 ms Serial@/dev/ttySerMod0.0:9600bit/s default Unit-Id: 1"

2/8/2022, 4:31:46 PMnode: VFD MODBUS
msg : string[125]
"Client -> fsm connected after state opened Get More About It By Logging Serial@/dev/ttySerMod0.0:9600bit/s default Unit-Id: 1"

This errors occurs with various MODBUS nodes, including the nodes shown in the screenshots.

Here is one of the flows I showed a screenshot of: (It was too many characters for the plaintext)

https://github.com/AustinEcowerks/Node-Red/blob/main/Flow
2

I haven't looked at any of your code (as yet) and I'm not very good with modbus (fought my own battle getting mine working) however I did run into a problem you might start with. How many connections are you making to your modbus device and how many does it support?

3

I'm pretty new to all of this, I've only been exposed to it for 2ish months. How can I check that?

4

Hi, to avoid issues with modbus it is wise not to ask for data from different addresses/units in quick consession. e.g. break up your requests so that you dont call "MB Poll" while it is busy doing another request.

This is how I would approach it...

  • Use the Link Call and a delay set to rate limit. This will minimise impact on serial port. Also, by wiring in series via the call node, you will only ever process one serial request at a time

image
image949Ă—892 113 KB

Here is a less drastic version...

image
image924Ă—764 71.4 KB

5

What palette is the "Poll" node included in? And also the "Link Call"

6

The "poll" node is the link call node. It is built in to node-red as of v2.1 (or maybe v.2.0, I forget)

What version of node-red are you using?

7

1.0.3, I have to update the firmware of the groov EPIC PLC in order to update node-red, if I understand correctly. I haven't gotten the sign off to be able to shut down and update the firmware yet.