Updating Enabler Firmware

The Enabler card contains firmware (software or code) that controls the basic polling of pumps. This code works in conjunction with the pump driver DLLs running under Windows to completely control the pumps.

There is only one series of firmware, which is usually only updated when new pump protocols are added. Enabler cards are loaded in the factory with the latest stable code. You may need to update the firmware if you are using a pump protocol that has only recently been added.

The firmware upgrade procedure described in this page is applicable only for Enabler PCI cards: Enabler, Enabler II and Enabler III. You may use ANY Enabler PCI as your source and target device. For Enabler Express, follow this link: Enabler Express Firmware upgrade.

Hardware Requirements

You will need two PCs and two Enabler cards to update the firmware, connected using a special cable (see below).

One PC acts as the source of the code, and must have Enabler software installed and the firmware code file.

The second PC, the target, is only needed to power the Enabler card to be updated. This PC need not have any software, or even an operating system installed (although it is more convenient if it has a working Enabler system, so you can check the firmware update immediately).

You also need something to connect the service pins on the target Enabler card, e.g a jumper (as for hard drives), screwdriver, or paper clip.

Firmware Code

You can get the latest released firmware from our Pump Updates. Since PumpUpdate.exe is actually a zip file with an self-installing part, you can open it in WinZip to extract just the firmware file.

Enabler card firmware comes in in a file with the extension .nxe, and is usually named for the version e.g. enb255b3.nxe for version 2.55 build 03.

Make sure the firmware code file is not read-only. The download program will not open the file if it is read-only.

Preparing the cable

The two enabler cards must be connected by a cable connecting the two LON (IFSF) ports. This cable is not supplied with an Enabler; to construct this cable you will require:

Two DB25 female connectors
Cable with at least two wires

Construct the cable like this:

Connect Pin 24 to Pin 24.
Connect Pin 25 to Pin 25.

Downloading the New Firmware

The install.exe program installed in C:\enabler is used both to check the current version and download new firmware.

Turn both computers on.

Stop the Pump Server in the source machine, and also in the target (if it has Enabler software installed).

On the source PC:

Put the .NXE file in to the c:\enabler directory
Run install.exe from the c:\enabler directory
Click the ‘Download Code’ button
The download dialog will appear:
Change the ‘Subnet & Node address' to 2 – 2 and click Configure

(This configures the LON address of the Enabler card. Normally it is set to 2, 1 ie. controller subnet, node address 1.)
Click the 'Browse' button
If you get an error 'A:\ is not accessible...' just click OK.
Select the file to download from the C:\enabler directory and click OK
Click the 'Download' button
You will be asked to press the 'Service Pin' on the other Enabler.

Now go to the Enabler card in the Target PC.

Briefly connect the service pins on the Enabler.
This is the second pair of pins on the Enabler card test header, counting from the connector end of the board.

Place your jumper, screwdriver or paper clip briefly across these two pins, then remove it.

On the Source PC:

The message on the source PC download program will change to 'service msg received, checking device'
The green service LED on the target card will light up while downloading.
You will see various messages as the download progresses.
Once complete: 'Download completed successfully'.

The target card has now been updated with the new firmware. The service LED should turn off and the heartbeat LED start flashing again.

If the heartbeat LED does not start flashing, reset the Enabler card by connecting the first pair of pins.

If you now want to download to more cards, connect the next card, click the Download button again, and repeat as above.
Before exiting, change the 'Subnet & Node address' back to 2 – 1, and click Configure.
This will avoid problems if you later need to download to this card.
Click OK to exit the download screen.
Click OK to exit the program.

Problems

Version is not updated after download

This does not mean the download failed. Check that the heartbeat LED is flashing. If not, reset the Enabler card as above. Until the card is running, the version display will not be updated

"Cannot open NXE file" when selecting file

Check that the file is not read-only. The program cannot open read-only files. This could happen if you copied the file from a CD-ROM.

"Unable to open device driver..." at startup

The pump server must be stopped before running install.exe.

"Error send LON msg, download cancelled"

This can occur when both cards have the same address. Make sure that one of the cards has address 2, 2 and the other card has address 2, 1 (or vice versa).

Nothing happens after service pin connected

Make sure that the cable is plugged in at both ends, and correctly wired.

Heartbeat LED does not start flashing at end

Reset the Enabler by connecting the two end pins, as above.

"Verify failed" or "Programming Failed" messages

Ensure the cable is reliably connected. Try the download again.

"Bad format" or "Checksum error in NXE file"

The .NXE firmware file is corrupt. Download or unzip it again.