Compatible Hardware with LabVIEW for Electrical Power System

[Michael_Smith]

Hi everyone,

I’m in the process of designing an electrical power system for a rack(cabinet enclosure), and I would love some input from the community.

The components I’m planning to use include:

• Circuit Breakers (Main CB: 35-40A, Other CBs: 2A)
• Surge Arrester
• Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)
• Overvoltage/Undervoltage (OV/UV) Protection
• Generator
• AVR

My total load is of 7.5kW


An important requirement for me is that all these components must be controllable using either RS232,422 or 485 for remote monitoring and management. I’m particularly focused on finding equipment that can be integrated seamlessly into a control setup using LabVIEW.

Has anyone worked on a similar setup before? What brands or products would you recommend for these types of devices, especially in terms of control compatibility? Any tips or potential challenges I should watch out for?

Thanks in advance!

[santo_13]

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@Michael_Smith wrote:

Hi everyone,

I’m in the process of designing an electrical power system for a rack(cabinet enclosure), and I would love some input from the community.

The components I’m planning to use include:

• Circuit Breakers (Main CB: 35-40A, Other CBs: 2A)
• Surge Arrester
• Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)
• Overvoltage/Undervoltage (OV/UV) Protection
• Generator
• AVR

My total load is of 7.5kW


An important requirement for me is that all these components must be controllable using either RS232,422 or 485 for remote monitoring and management. I’m particularly focused on finding equipment that can be integrated seamlessly into a control setup using LabVIEW.

Has anyone worked on a similar setup before? What brands or products would you recommend for these types of devices, especially in terms of control compatibility? Any tips or potential challenges I should watch out for?

Thanks in advance!

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To be clear, when you say integrated with LabVIEW, do you mean to monitor and control at a high level like measure the voltage, current, power factor, load, control the power source switch etc.,?

Any way, LabVIEW being a programming language has libraries to interface using several industrial protocols, such as MODBUS, RS232, RS485, TCP/IP and many more, so, I wouldn't be worried much as long as the hardware has a way to automate either in C, C#, Python or some programming language the same can be ported over to LabVIEW.

[Michael_Smith]

Hello Santhosh,

I'm looking for such specific Hardware that can be used for my application. Like Products names to be particular. I will surely be able to program them, monitor and control but I couldn't find if such hardware does exist or not?

Can you please help me with it?

Thank You 

Warm Regards
Michael Smith

[OneOfTheDans]

I don't know what hardware you should use for the power electronics, but for that style of control I'd recommend using "analog" aka "external" control methods. That's where e.g. 0-10V from the equipment represents 0-7.5kW, and you use open/close relays to enable devices. With many random small/simple devices, it can be more trouble writing ASCII drivers (RS232) for everything and trying to synchronize different equipment.

If you go for this "analog" route, you'd want either a PC+cDAQ (easier to write & debug the system) or a cRIO (headless, but more reliable). Then just buy the right C Series cards needed for your number of 10V, 60V, Relays, etc.

This whole approach is basically how PLCs are used in industrial automation. Which might be a better fit for your application altogether, depending how "R&D" vs. "Production" your final system is meant to be.