This Technical Support Notice describes, and provides a solution for, a very rare occurrence where the RealFLO Flow Computer real time clock changes time.
This issue only affects RealFLO Flow Computer versions 5.20 to 5.23. Flow Computers before version 5.20 are not affected.

Real Time Clock Change Description

It has been found that in some extremely limited circumstances a conflict in accessing the flow computer real time clock can occur between tasks executed in the flow computer. When this conflict occurs the real time clock may be affected and change time. In the very rare cases that this time change has been observed the time typically changes to a date four years in the future.

It has been determined that the time change may only happen when one of the following actions occurs at exactly the same time as another task is accessing the real time clock.

When an Acknowledge Number of Alarms event is added to the Event log. This event occurs when the Just Read New Alarms option is selected in the RealFLO Read Logs/History command or the New option is selected in the RealFLO script command Read Alarm Logs.
When an Acknowledge Number of Events event is added to the Event log. This event occurs when the Just Read New Events option is selected in the RealFLO Read Logs/History command or the New option is selected in the RealFLO script command Read Event Logs.
When acknowledging Alarms and Events using the TeleBUS Protocol register interface commands.
When acknowledging the reading of alarms when the alarm log has overflowed using the Enron Modbus register interface commands.

Real Time Clock Change Temporary Work Around

To ensure that the time change cannot happen until the flow computer has been upgraded you should use the following guidelines:

When using RealFLO to read the Logs / History from a flow computer use the Read All option for Events and Alarms.
When using RealFLO script files use the All option when using the Read Alarm Logs or the Read Event Logs commands.
When using the TeleBUS command sequences do not use the Acknowledge Alarms or the Acknowledge Events commands.
When using the Enron Modbus registers interface commands do not read the alarm logs.

Real Time Clock Change Issue Resolution

RealFLO Flow Computer Version 5.24 corrects the clock change issue. Follow the instructions in the Flow Computer Upgrade section of this notice to install the corrected flow computer.

Flow Computer Upgrade Procedure

Note: All flow computer configuration and flow history is lost when the flow computer is upgraded. Follow the steps in the order listed to ensure the configuration and flow history is saved.
To upgrade the flow computer in your SCADAPack or 4202GFC controller it is recommended that the following steps be used. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this procedure contact Control Microsystems Technical Support using the information in the footer of this document.

1. Obtain RealFLO Flow Computer Version 5.24

Send an email to INFOCenter@controlmicrosystems.com . You will be contacted with the information you need to obtain RealFLO Flow Computer Version 5.24.

2. Save the RealFLO Flow Computers to your PC

Once you have contacted Control Microsystems (see step 1) you will be sent a link to our web site where you will be able to upload a file named RealFLO_Flow_Computers_Version_5.24.zip .

Click on the file RealFLO_Flow_Computers_Version_5.24.zip in the eTicket Link window.
You will be prompted to Save or Open the file. Click the Save button.
Save the file to Local Disk C: on your PC.

This file is a Winzip file and you will need WinZip on your PC in order to open the file. If you do not have WinZip you can get a copy of this application at www.winzip.com.
The RealFLO_Flow_Computers_Version_5.24.zip file contains the RealFLO Flow Computer files for all SCADAPack and 4202GFC controllers. You will need to extract and save these files to your PC. To do this:

Open Winzip and select Open Archive from the File menu.
In the Open Archive dialog select Local Disk C: in the Look In: window.
Click on the RealFLO_Flow_Computers_Version_5.24.zip file and it will appear in the File Name: window. Click the Open button.
The Winzip main screen will now display the flow computer files. Click on the Extract button.
In the Extract dialog enter C:\Program Files\RealFLO in the Extract To: window. Then click the Extract button.
The flow computer files will now be extracted and saved in the C:\Program Files\RealFLO folder on your PC.

3. Save Current Configuration and History from Flow Computer

If you have a RealFLO Configuration File:

Open RealFLO and open your current RealFLO configuration file.
Establish a serial or Ethernet connection with the target controller.
From the RealFLO Flow Computer menu select Setup.
In the Flow Computer Configuration section of the Setup dialog check the selection for Controller Configuration, Flow Run Configuration, MVT Configuration and Process I/O Configuration and click the Read button. Then click the OK button to close the dialog.
From the RealFLO Flow Computer menu select Read Logs/History. In the Read Logs/ History dialog select each of the available items by clicking your mouse on the white box beside each item.
Click the OK button to read the Logs/History from the Flow Computer.
Save the RealFLO file by selecting Save from the File menu. This will save the current configuration, the alarm and event logs and the hourly and daily flow totals.

If you don not have a RealFLO Configuration File:

Open RealFLO and select New from the File menu.
Establish a serial or Ethernet connection with the target controller.
From the RealFLO Flow Computer menu select Controller Configuration and then select Controller type. Select the controller type you connected to.
From the RealFLO Flow Computer menu select Setup.
In the Flow Runs section of the Setup dialog click the Read button.
In the Flow Computer Configuration section of the Setup dialog check the selection for Controller Configuration, Flow Run Configuration, MVT Configuration and Process I/O Configuration and click the Read button. Then click the OK button to close the dialog.
From the RealFLO Flow Computer menu select Read Logs/History. In the Read Logs/ History dialog select each of the available items by clicking your mouse on the white box beside each item.
Click the OK button to read the Logs/History from the Flow Computer.
Save the RealFLO file by selecting Save from the File menu. This will save the current configuration, the alarm and event logs and the hourly and daily flow totals.

4. Install New Flow Computer in target controller

Open the RealFLO configuration file that was saved in the first step above.
Select Setup from the Flow Computer menu.
In the Flow Computer Program section of the Flow Computer Setup dialog select Flow Computer or Flow Computer with Enron Modbus and then check the Run Program after writing box. Then click the Write button.
If you saved the flow computer files to a different folder than the folder suggested during the RealFLO installation you can use the Custom Flow Computer or C/C++ Program and browse to the folder you saved the files. Select the flow computer file and check the Run Program after writing box. Then click the Write button.

5. Re-Load Configuration file to flow computer

Open the RealFLO configuration file that was saved in the first step above.
Select Setup from the Flow Computer menu.
In the Flow Runs section of the Flow Computer Setup ensure the Number of Runs and the Flow Computer ID boxes contain the correct information and click the Write button.
In the Flow Computer Configuration section of the Flow Computer Setup dialog check the Controller Configuration and Flow Run Configuration boxes. In addition to these two boxes if you are using MVT's check the MVT Configuration box and if you are using process I/O check the Process I/O Configuration box. Then click the Write button.
Click the OK button in the Flow Computer Setup dialog to close the dialog.
Select Real Time Clock from the Flow Computer menu. In the Real Time Clock Setting dialog set the controller time using the PC time or an entered time.
From the Flow Computer menu select the Calculation Control command and start the calculations for each meter run.
To monitor the current flow calculation readings select the Update Readings command from the Flow Computer menu.

Software Tools

RealFLO Real Time Clock Change Issue (TSN03618)