dl-breadcrumbs__homedl-breadcrumb-item__separatorConfiguration and programmingdl-breadcrumb-item__separatorConfiguration in Automation Builderdl-breadcrumb-item__separator...dl-breadcrumb-item__separatorProtocols and special serversdl-breadcrumb-item__separatorDNP3 Outstationdl-breadcrumb-item__separatorObject groupsdl-breadcrumb-item__separatorCounters
dl-pagination__prev-inactivedl-pagination__prev-activedl-pagination__next-inactivedl-pagination__next-active
Counters

In outstation, counters are used to keep track of the number of times a particular event or condition occurs. These counters can be used for various purposes, such as monitoring the number of times a relay operates, counting pulses from a meter, or tracking other repetitive events. The values stored in counters may be obtained directly from field inputs such as electromechanical switches or from computed values. 

Types of report counters: 

  • Running counters: Outstation sends the current value of its binary counter data points. 

  • Frozen counters: Outstation shall freeze a specific counter value in time. This feature allows the  counter's value to be captured and reported without interrupting its ongoing operation. 

To retain the frozen counter values during the restart of outstation, in the application program declare the counter variables under VAR_GLOBAL PERSISTENT RETAIN memory area.

Counter size: 

Outstation ensures that the counter values are represented with sufficient precision and capacity to accommodate the range of values they need to hold. The range of values determines the maximum value the counter can hold before it wraps around or overflows. 

  • 16-bit counter: Can hold values from 0 to 65,535. 

  • 32-bit counter: Can hold values from 0 to 4,294,967,295. 

Counter values can be reported to master in several ways which is explained below.

Event variation:

  1. 32-bit with flag – counter event is reported to master as signed 32-bit integer with quality (status) flags. Range is from -2147483648 to +2147483647. 

  2. 16-bit with flag – counter event is reported to master as signed 16-bit integer with quality (status) flags. Range is from -32768 to +32767. 

  3. 32-bit with flag and time – counter event is reported to master as signed 32-bit integer with quality (status) flags and exact time of event occurrence. Range is from -2147483648 to +2147483647. 

  4. 16-bit with flag and time – counter event is reported to master as signed 16-bit integer with quality (status) flags and exact time of event occurrence. Range is from -32768 to +32767. 

Static variation:

  1. 32-bit with flag – reports current counter value to master as signed 32-bit integer with status/quality flags. 

  2. 16-bit with flag – reports current counter value to master as signed 16-bit integer with status/quality flags. 

  3. 32-bit without flag – reports current counter value to master as signed 32-bit integer without any status/quality flags. 

  4. 16-bit without flag – reports current counter value to master as signed 16-bit integer without any status/quality flags. 

  • Frozen counters