Dataloggers in Thickness Monitoring

About Dataloggers in Thickness Monitoring (TM)

Dataloggers are data collection devices, which are used to measure and record the thickness of a component. Using the Thickness Monitoring (TM) module, you can:

  • Send data related to a TML to the datalogger.
  • Receive data from the datalogger (after you collect measurement data in the field and record it in the datalogger).
Important: If your company restricts the use of removable storage devices in USB ports, the datalogger device may not function as expected. You must request an exemption to the company policy from your IT administrator.

The following dataloggers are supported in TM:

  • GE DMS Go
  • GE DMS Go+
  • GE DMS2
  • Olympus (Panametrics) 37DL Plus Ultrasonic Thickness Gage
  • Olympus (Panametrics) 38DL Plus Ultrasonic Thickness Gage

For each datalogger, GE Digital APM provides:

Access the TM Dataloggers page for an Asset or TML Group

About This Task

This topic describes how to access the TM Dataloggers page for an asset or TML Group. You can also access the TM Dataloggers page for multiple assets.

Procedure

  1. Access the Analysis Overview workspace for the asset or TML Group for which you want to access the TM Dataloggers page.
  2. In the upper-right corner of the page, select , and then select Dataloggers.
    The TM Dataloggers page appears, displaying the Send To section. In the section, a list of TMLs linked to the selected asset or TML Group appears. The list also includes TMLs linked to any TML Groups in the asset. By default, the check boxes in all the rows are selected.

What To Do Next

Modify the datalogger settings.

Access the TM Dataloggers page for Multiple Assets

About This Task

This topic describes how to access the TM Dataloggers page for multiple assets. You can also access the TM Dataloggers page for a single asset or TML Group.

Procedure

  1. Access the Thickness Monitoring Overview page for the functional location that contains the assets for which you want to access the TM Dataloggers page.
  2. In the upper-right corner of the page, select .
    The Select Assets to Load for Dataloggers window appears, displaying a list of assets that the functional location contains.

  3. In the rows containing the assets for which you want to access the TM Dataloggers page, select the check boxes.
    Note: We recommend that you select the same type of assets (i.e., either Equipment or Functional Locations).
  4. Select Done.
    The TM Dataloggers page appears, displaying the Send To section. In the section, a list of TMLs linked to the selected assets appears. The list includes TMLs linked to any TML Groups in the assets.

What To Do Next

Modify the datalogger settings.

Modify Datalogger Settings

Before You Begin

  • Datalogger settings are specific to the user, data source, and browser. If you log in as a different user, switch browsers, or use a different data source, you will need to reconfigure your datalogger settings.
  • When you send data to a GE DMS Go or GE DMS Go+ datalogger, GE Digital APM creates a folder in the USB drive. Therefore, you must have the Write permission to the USB drive on the machine that you will use to send data.

Procedure

  1. Access the TM Dataloggers page.
  2. In the upper-right corner of the page, select .
    The datalogger settings appear.

  3. In the drop-down list box at top of the workspace, select the datalogger whose settings you want to configure. By default, the datalogger that you used previously is selected.
  4. If you want to use the GE DMS Go or GE DMS Go+ datalogger, specify a directory in the File Directory box. Files will be sent to and received from the Meridium folder that is created in the specified directory.
  5. As needed, enter values in the remaining fields, and then select Save.
    The datalogger settings are modified.

Results

If you have already selected the assets that you want to send to the datalogger, then the Send To section appears. Otherwise, the Select Assets to Load for Dataloggers window appears, allowing you to select the assets for which you want to send data to the datalogger.

What To Do Next

Send data to the datalogger.

Send Data to a Datalogger

Before You Begin

Procedure

  1. Access the TM Dataloggers page.
  2. At the top of the page, in the drop-down list box, select the datalogger to which you want to send data. By default, the datalogger that you previously used is selected.
  3. In the Send To section, in the rows containing the TMLs whose data you do not want to send to the datalogger, clear the check boxes.
  4. Select Send.

    At the end of the section, the red changes to a green to indicate that the device is connected.

    If the data related to an asset was already sent to the datalogger previously, a message appears, asking you to confirm whether you want to overwrite the existing data on the datalogger. If you choose to overwrite, the data related to the asset is replaced with the data that you send. If you choose not to overwrite, the data will not be sent to the datalogger.

    The date is sent to the datalogger. When the operation is complete, the green changes to a red .

Add Columns to the Send To Grid

Before You Begin

  • The data in the columns that you add is not automatically sent to the datalogger. If, however, you want to send this data to the datalogger, you must create a mapping for the corresponding field on the TM Admin Preferences page.

  • The columns that you add are specific to the user, data source, and browser. If you log in as a different user, switch browsers, or use a different data source, the columns that you have added will not appear.

Procedure

  1. Access the TM Dataloggers page.
  2. In the upper-left corner of the Send To section, select .
    The Choose Columns window appears, displaying a list of fields in the Asset family in the left section.

  3. If you want to add fields from the Asset family, skip to step 5.
  4. Select , and then in the Family box, select the family from which you want to add fields.
    A list of fields in the selected family appear in the left section. If, however, the column for a field has already been added to the grid, or the field has been defined in a mapping, it does not appear in the list.

  5. Select the rows containing the fields that you want to add to the grid, and then select .
    The selected fields appear in the right section.

  6. If you want to add fields from another family, repeat steps 4-5.
    Tip: You can change the sequence of the fields using the and buttons.
  7. Select OK.
    Columns for the selected fields appear on the right side of the grid in the Send To section (i.e., after the default columns).

Remove Columns from the Send To Grid

About This Task

You cannot remove the default columns that appear in the grid in the Send To section. You can only remove the columns that you have added from the Column Chooser window.

Procedure

  1. Access the TM Dataloggers page.
  2. In the upper-left corner of the Send To section, select .
    The Choose Columns window appears. In the right section, a list of fields for the columns that you have already added to the grid appears.

  3. If you want to remove fields from the Asset family, skip to step 5.
  4. Select , and then, in the Family box, select the family from which you want to remove the fields.
    In the right section, a list of fields that you have already added to the grid appears.

  5. Select the rows containing the fields that you want to remove from the grid, and then select .
    The selected fields are removed from the right section.

  6. If you want to remove fields from another family, repeat steps 4-5.
  7. Select OK.
    Columns for the selected fields are removed from the grid in the Send To section.

Receive Data from a Datalogger

Before You Begin

  • Install the Meridium Device Service on the machine that you will use with dataloggers. If you do not install it, when you attempt to send or receive data, you will be prompted to install it.

Procedure

  1. Access the TM Dataloggers page.
  2. At the top of the page, in the drop-down list box, select the datalogger from which you want to receive data. By default, the datalogger that you previously used is selected.
  3. Ensure that the datalogger settings are correct.
  4. Select the Receive From tab.
    The Receive From section appears.

  5. Select Receive.
    The Select Files to Receive window appears, displaying a list of files that store the measurement data. By default, the check boxes corresponding to all the files are selected.

  6. If you do not want to receive the data stored in a file, clear the check box.
  7. Select Done.
    The data is received from the datalogger, and stored in Thickness Measurement records.
    Note: If readings are not taken for a measurement, however, Measurement Not Taken records are not created.

Results

The following analyses are recalculated:
  • TML Corrosion Analysis linked to each TML whose measurement data you have received.
  • Asset Corrosion Analysis linked to each asset whose measurement data you have received.

Troubleshoot Datalogger Issues

You may experience the following issues when using the datalogger in Thickness Monitoring:

  • Datalogger device is not connected to the system.
  • Meridium Device Service not found.
  • Device Service is installed, but USB is not accessible due to permissions.
  • Ultra-MATE software version compatibility Issue with DMS Go+ device.
  • Incorrect readings are received.
  • Meridium Device Service is not running under an authorized service account.

Datalogger device is not connected to the system

In the datalogger settings window, the File Directory drop-down list box is empty. Instead, the following error message appears below the File Directory drop-down list box:Invalid Input: File Directory is required. If your file directory list is empty. Check if your service port is valid.

When you attempt to send TMLs, the following error message appears:The device drive could not be found. Please ensure the SD card is inserted in the device.

Cause

This issue may occur because of the following reason:
  • The Meridium Device Service is not running under an authorized service account.
Note: This issue is applicable only for DMS Go/Go+ devices.

Solution

To check if the datalogger device is connected,
  1. Access the Devices and drives in windows.
  2. Verify if the USB Drive is available.
  3. If the USB Drive is not available, make sure that the datalogger device is properly connected to the system.

Meridium Device Service not found

When you attempt to send data to a datalogger, following error is displayed on the TM Dataloggers page:

Meridium Device Service Not Found

Cause

This issue may occur because of any of the following reasons:
  • Meridium Device Service is not installed in the system.
  • GE Digital APM uses a secured URL (https).

Solution

Install the Meridium Device Service on all the machines that connect to devices with Thickness Monitoring..
Note: If you are using HTTPS to connect to GE Digital APM, follow the instructions on KBA 2850 to install the Meridium Device Service.

Device Service is Installed, but USB is not accessible due to permissions

When you attempt to send TML data, the following error message appears:

Error: <Directory>.dmsdr was not successfully sent to the GE DMS Go/Go+ device. Please check and make sure that all of the settings for the current device are correct. This might be due to the device having to change the file name because of limitations inherent in the device.

Additionally, the following error message appears in the log file:

Sending message of type ACTION_FAILED to client.

Note: This issue is applicable only for DMS Go/Go+ devices.

Cause

This issue may occur because of the following reason:
  • You don’t have USB access in your system.
To verify if you have USB access in your system, perform the following steps:
  1. Navigate to the USB drive folder.
  2. Access the Meridium folder.
  3. Create a text file.

    If you see an Access Denied message, you don't have USB access in your system.

Solution

Contact you system administrator to provide USB access in your system.

Ultra-MATE software version compatibility Issue with DMS Go+ device

When you attempt to send TML data using a DMS Go+ device, the data processing starts, but never gets completed. The loading spinner continues to spin as shown in the image below.

You can also access the log file from the log folder in the service path folder to check the following error message:
Exception occurred while processing the resuestLength cannot be less than zero. Parameter name: length

Cause

The data format in DMS Go+ is changed in version 3.29. UltraMATE version older than 2.60.35 are not able to read data created with DMS Go+ version 3.29 due to the changed data format. UltraMATE version 2.60.28 or lower are able to read data created with DMS Go+ version 3.28 or lower.

Solution

GE Digital recommends customers with an existing valid license of UltraMATE software to download the UltraMATE version 2.60.35 from the GE Download Center. Contact GE Technical Support to get the password to unzip and install the UltraMATE software.

Incorrect readings are received

If you are a non-English customer, you may receive incorrect readings from the device.

Cause

When you receive thickness measurement data from a TM Datalogger in a system where the Windows Region format is set to any region other than English (United States), you may receive incorrect measurement values. For example, if you are using GE Digital APM in a system where the windows culture is set to Finnish (fi-FL) culture, a value of 0.75 inches may be received as 75234724750 inches.

Solution

Meridium Device Service is not running under an authorized service account

When you attempt to send TML data, following error message appears:

Error: <Directory>.dmsdr was not successfully sent to the GE DMS Go/Go+ device. Please check and make sure that all of the settings for the current device are correct. This might be due to the device having to change the file name because of limitations inherent in the device.
Note: This issue is applicable only for DMS Go/Go+ devices.

Cause

Depending on the IT security policy of your company, Meridium Device Service may use an unauthorized system service account.

Solution

  1. Run services.msc to open the Services Manager.

  2. From the list of services, right-click on Meridium Devices Service, and then select Properties.
  3. Access the Log On tab.
  4. Select This account.
  5. Enter your administration credentials, and then select OK.