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| Series F4 Ramping Controller Firmware Package and Extractor Tool |
| Watlow recently incorporated an Extractor tool into its latest flash download firmware package for the Series F4 Ramping Controller. The Extractor allows customers to save the profiles, parameters and settings they have programmed into the F4 to a PC. Users can utilize this feature before updating their F4s with the latest firmware or simply as a back up for their profiles, parameters or settings.
The main Extractor feature enables a customer to easily update or create a back-up copy of their profiles, parameters, or settings. The Extractor tool will allow the user to quickly reload these automatically with a few points and clicks of a mouse. The Extractor is bundled as part of the F4 firmware, which is available in French, German, Spanish and English, and can be found in the following link. |
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| Series F4 Firmware Package Upgrade Procedures |
| The Watlow Series F4's firmware is stored through a technology called flash memory which allows firmware upgrades to be made through the serial interface of your Windows 95/98 PC*. If you are not familiar with this process, we highly recommend printing and following this set of instructions.
Before you run the flash download program, you will need to decide whether you want to save and then re-install your current Parameter settings and Profiles, OR if you are just going to flash load the new firmware. You will also need to establish proper communications with the F4 and your PC.
To begin the upgrade or Parameter storage process, simply click on the software desired on the Web screen below. You will be guided through the process, which includes storing your Profiles and Parameters to a file location of your choice (usually to your "C-Drive").
In addition to the Baud Rate being set to 19,200 and a proper Serial Port connection, power must be supplied to the F4 and MUST NOT BE INTERRUPTED during the entire process!!!
To Load new Firmware AND retain Profiles/Parameter settings, do all the steps below.
To load new firmware ONLY, Do Steps "A thru D", but SKIP "E thru H".
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- Close any communications programs that may be using the Comm port connected to the Watlow Series F4.
- From the Windows 95/98* tool bar, click on the "Flash Download F4>Extractor Flash F4" Icon.
- The flash memory application should now be now opened.
- Click on the port setting button to make sure the communications port is set correctly.
Note: The F4 communications Baud Rate must be set at 19,200.
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- If you will not be saving the current F4 Setup parameters and/or Profile settings, skip this step, and go directly to "Step 2". If you will be saving Parameters &/or Profiles, continue on with Step F.
- Click on the Save/Restore Setup button to open the Save/Restore Setup Screen. Click on the Download button.
- Change the save file name if needed. This file will contain the current F4 parameter settings to be reloaded after the new firmware has been installed. Click on the Open button and the program will download the F4 parameter settings to.
- When the download process is complete, Exit the Save/Restore Setup screen.
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- To start the flash memory download process Click the Start button. The program will now start installing the new firmware in the F4.
*** DO NOT CYCLE OR INTERRUPT POWER DURING THE DOWNLOAD PROCESS ***
This process will take approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
- When the download is complete you will be prompted to cycle the power to the F4 unit (turn the power off, then back on, or unplug and then re-plug in the unit to power). Do this now.
- After cycling power to the F4, if you are loading a new revision of firmware, you must follow the instructions displayed in the F4’s LCD display.
- If you are not restoring your F4 Setup Parameter and Profile settings, press the "Quit" button to close the Flash Application.
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- Click on the Save/Restore Setup button to open the Save/Restore Setup Screen. Click on the "Upload" button.
- Click Yes when prompted to continue. This warns you that the parameter and profiles from the file you will load will replace the parameters and profiles stored in the F4.
- Left click on the name of your saved file and then click "Open".
- The program will now load the saved settings to your F4 unit. Disregard the Read/Write error message box. This is used by the factory.
- When the upload is complete click on the "Yes" button. Click exit to return to the flash display. Click on "Quit" to exit the program
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| Send your feedback on this program to: Roger Weichers, Product Manager at: rweichers@watlow.com
The flash download and extractor tool has been tested Microsoft® Windows® 95, Windows® 98, Windows® 2000 and Windows® XP.
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Product Information
Click on the below links for more product information. Items that are PDF documents, require Adobe® Acrobat® Reader version 7 or higher for viewing.
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| Adobe® and Acrobat® are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. |
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