The programming of PLC consists of two parts:

─     The ABUS firmware (basic operating software) is permanently saved in the PLC.

─     The application (ABUS crane software), the customer-specific configuration (individual settings of the crane installation) as well as the KranOS are saved on an SD card.

The application, the customer-specific configuration and KranOS are additionally stored on a flash memory in the PLC. During running operation, the application and KranOS are executed in the flash memory and the customer-specific configuration is also read from there.

If data is modified (e.g. changing a setting in KranOS), this is saved in the flash memory of the PLC as well as on the SD card.

When starting ABUControl:

●   ABUControl checks whether an SD card is inserted in the PLC.

If not, the crane control is not enabled. The error message "NoSdCard" is shown on the LED matrix display. In KranOS, the crane control can be enabled without an SD card. See Enabling crane control without SD card [2].

●   ABUControl checks whether a crane serial number is saved in the flash memory of the PLC.

●   ABUControl checks whether the application and customer-specific configuration in KranOS are stored on the SD card.

●   ABUControl checks whether a crane serial number is saved on the SD card.

ABUControl then checks whether the crane serial number in the flash memory of the PLC matches the crane serial number on the SD card.

If not, the crane control is not enabled. In KranOS, data can be transferred to the PLC or to the SD card. See Transferring the customer-specific configuration to the PLC or to SD card [2].

●   ABUControl checks whether the program version in the flash memory of the PLC matches that on the SD card.

●   If all checks have been successfully completed: The start procedure is completed and the crane control is enabled.