Neslab RTE-111 Water Circulator

NOTE: Currently (6-30-00) the communications are only one way (x22b to circulator).  Until this is fixed, use nescom1.mac and nes_settemp1.c.  The communication works both ways on a newer computer with a newer kernel (2.2.5, x22b is 2.0.17). [Editor's note Sept. 2001: the x22b kernel has since been upgraded.]

nescom.mac -- The Spec interface for the set of programs which talk to the Neslab RTE-111. 

It redefines two macros which are used in the standard Spec macro te:

• _settemp - Takes one argument, temperature to set trough to, and calculates the temperature to set the circulator to:
  def _settemp '
          local cmd, str

          # Calculated 5-31-00 in Room 2-109 Physics, BNL
          #   for temperatures measured in degrees C
          #   where Trough_Temp is measured 30min after _settemp
          #   Circulator_Temp = 1.17 * Trough_Temp - 4.14

          DEGC_SP = 1.17 * TEMP_SP - 4.14
          cmd = sprintf("/home/specadm/macros/trough/nes_settemp %f", DEGC_SP)
          unix(cmd, str)
  '

• measuretemp - Modifies TEMP_CS, the current circulator temperature:
  def measuretemp '
          local str
          unix("/home/specadm/macros/trough/nes_readbath", str)
          sscanf(str, "\tCirculator temp %f degC\n", TEMP_CS);
  '
• It is best to use te when changing/checking the temperature.  Be sure the unix command points to the correct file location.

C Programs - nes_settemp.c, nes_readbath.c, nes_templim.c

See the Neslab RTE-111 manual for details on communicating with the circulator.  Each program is self documenting and can be run from a shell:

• nes_readbath - Reads bath temperature.
• nes_settemp - Sets bath temperature.
• nes_templim - Sets circulator temperature limits.
• If they need to be compiled:  gcc -O1 nes_name.c -o nes_name