Since this simulation is not subject to lightening strikes or mechanical breakdowns, the alarms are not going to be triggered as long as the pump runs in Automatic mode.
To trigger an alarm, you will need to shut off the booster pump, then wait for a few moments while the booster tank runs dry.
Remember that in order to respond to alarms, the application must be in operation mode; therefore your first step will be to place the application into that mode.
1. Close the Configuration Toolbox.
The application is now in operation mode.
2. Navigate to the Booster Station application page.
3. Click the page hotbox surrounding the "Booster Pump" object.
The "Booster Pump Control" page/dialog opens.
4. Click the "Stop" button.
The booster pump is now placed in manual mode and is stopped. Watch as the level in the booster tank drops. When the level in the booster tank reaches 30 inches, the first alarm will be triggered. The alarm siren will sound, and the area surrounding the Alarm Page button in the Display Manager's title bar will begin to flash red (it may take several seconds for the level to drop).
5. Click the Alarm button in the Display Manager's title bar.
The Alarm page opens and displays the alarm.
6. Select the alarm in the alarm list.
7. Click the Ack button.
The alarm has been acknowledged.
By acknowledging an alarm, you are simply recognizing that the alarm has taken place. It is still necessary to correct the condition that triggered the alarm in the first place.
To correct the alarm condition, navigate to the Booster Station application page and place the booster pump in Auto mode, thereby setting the booster pump to again maintain the booster tank level between 60 and 80 inches.
Skills Achieved in Lesson 13
By completing Lesson 13, you learned the following:
• VTS automatically generates a default Alarm page when you create a new standard application.
• Alarm tags can be configured within your application to monitor the value of other tags. Any time you wish to be informed of a specific condition or value in the system's equipment, you can create an alarm tag to monitor the tag associated with that equipment.
• When an alarm has been triggered, you will be notified by an alarm siren and by a flashing indicator in the Display Manager's title bar.
• The Alarm page displays a list of alarms that have occurred within the application.
• The Alarm page provides you with the tools you need to manage and respond to alarms.
• Alarms can be filtered and sorted using the filtering and sorting drop-down lists that appear on the alarms page.
• Alarms can be disabled for routine equipment maintenance using the "Disable" alarm tag property that appears on the "Actions" tab of an alarm tag's properties folder, or via the shortcut menu that opens when an alarm is right-clicked in the alarm list.
The configuration of the tutorial application is now complete. All the requirements have been met, all the tags have been configured, and the application is now fully functional. The lessons that follow cover useful topics such as securing an application, how to back up an application, and how to customize the behavior and appearance of VTS.