DALI · Interface guide

Parameters

Turn raw readings from Modbus, SDI-12, analog and digital inputs into the named values the station logs, shows and sends, and add values the station calculates itself.

A parameter is one named value the station records, such as "Air Temperature" in °C. Every value on the Dashboard, in a download and in an upload is a parameter. Each parameter takes its reading from one source (a Modbus register, an SDI-12 value, an analog or digital channel) or is calculated from other parameters.

Who can open it: Admin and Factory.

A station holds up to 150 parameters.

Parameter list

Control	What it does
Type	Shows only parameters of one type. Reordering is off while a filter is set.
Select All	Ticks every row shown. You can also tick rows one by one.
Bulk Edit	Appears when two or more rows are ticked. Opens the bulk edit form.
Delete Selected	Deletes the ticked parameters, after you confirm.
Save Order	Saves a new order. It is greyed until you change the order.
+ Add Parameter	Opens an empty parameter form.

Columns

Column	What it shows
#	The position in the list. This order is used in downloads, on the Data Output page and in the Modbus slave register map.
Name, Unit	The parameter's name and unit. A setting-sun marker means it resets to zero after sunset.
Type	Where the value comes from, for example the Modbus bus, slave and register, or the equation.
Addr	The register where other systems find this parameter when the station acts as a Modbus slave. The first parameter is at 26, and each takes two registers.
Sampling	How readings are combined over each logging interval.
Format	The Modbus data type and byte order, for Modbus parameters.
Scale, Offset, Prec	Scaling, offset and number of decimals.

Each row has Edit and Del. Edit opens the form in place under the row.

Changing the order

Drag a row by the handle on its right, or double-click its number (tap it on a phone) and type a new position. Then press Save Order. The new order moves the parameters' Modbus slave registers too, so tell anyone who reads the station over Modbus.

Add or edit a parameter

Always shown

Field	Allowed values	What it does
Name	Required, up to 20 characters. Must be unique on the station (capital letters do not make it different).	The name shown everywhere.
Unit	A unit from the standard list, or no unit. + Add custom unit… adds your own, up to 10 characters.	The unit shown with the value.
Type	TCP (Modbus), RS232 (Modbus), RS485 (Modbus), RS485-2 (Modbus), SDI-12, Analog Channel, Aux Analog Channel, Digital Channel, Calculated	Where the reading comes from. The fields below change to match.
Sampling	Instantaneous (latest reading), Average (mean over the interval), Minimum (lowest in the interval), Maximum (highest in the interval), Cumulative (running total)	How the per-second readings become one logged value per logging interval.
Scaling	Any number, default 1	Multiplies the reading.
Offset	Any number, default 0	Added after scaling. The stored value is reading x Scaling + Offset.
Precision	0 to 6	Number of decimals kept.
Range Check	Disabled or Enabled	When enabled, a reading below Minimum or above Maximum is rejected as invalid instead of being recorded.
Minimum, Maximum	Numbers. Required when Range Check is on.	The valid range.
Reset to zero after sunset	Tick box	Replaces the value with 0 between local sunset and the next sunrise. Uses the station's location from Device, General. Useful for irradiance sensors that read a little above zero at night.

Modbus types

The pickers list only what is already set up on the Modbus page for that bus.

Field	What it does
Slave ID	The device, from the bus's queries.
Function Code	Holding Register (3) or Input Register (4), from that device's queries.
Address	The register, from the ranges those queries read.
Data Type	Int16, Uint16, Int32, Uint32, Float32 or Double64. How the register contents are read as a number.
Byte Order	BE (AB CD), LE (DC BA), BEBS (BA DC), LEBS (CD AB). For 32-bit and 64-bit types: the order the device sends the bytes in.

SDI-12

Field	What it does
Sensor ID	The sensor, from the queries on the SDI-12 page.
Request Type	The measurement command, from that sensor's queries.
Request Number	The measurement number, from that sensor's queries.
Data Index	1 to 10: which value in the sensor's answer to use.

Analog and digital

Field	What it does
Channel Number	The analog or auxiliary channel, from Analog and digital.
Digital Channel	The digital input.

Calculated

Field	What it does
Equation Type	The built-in equation. The input fields change to match.
Inputs	The parameters, and for some equations the constants, that the equation uses.

Every equation, and what it needs, is listed on Calculated parameters.

Save Parameter checks and stores the parameter. Cancel closes the form.

Bulk edit

Tick two or more parameters and press Bulk Edit. Every field starts at "leave unchanged"; only the fields you change are applied to all the ticked parameters. Apply stays greyed until you change something.

Selection	Fields offered
All Modbus	Slave ID (only when all share one Slave ID), Function Code, Data Type, Byte Order (needs a Data Type)
All SDI-12	SDI-12 Sensor ID, Request Type, Request Num (0 to 9)
Any selection	Sampling, Scaling, Offset, Precision (0 to 6)

Messages you may see

Message	What it means
Parameter name cannot be empty.	Enter a name.
Parameter name 'X' already exists.	Use a different name.
Maximum 150 parameters allowed.	Delete a parameter before adding one.
Pick a standard unit to continue. / Pick a unit from the standard list.	The unit is not in the list. Pick one, or add a custom unit.
Range is enabled: Minimum and Maximum are required (numeric).	Fill in both limits, or turn Range Check off.
Slave ID is required / Function Code is required / Address is required	Pick the Modbus source. If the lists are empty, add a query on the Modbus page first.
This calculation type requires at least 2 input parameter(s).	Pick every input the equation needs.
Every input parameter must be selected before saving.	An input picker was left empty.
Cannot delete: used by 'Dew Point'	Another (calculated) parameter uses this one. Change or delete that one first.
Cannot delete. At least one parameter must remain.	The station keeps at least one parameter.
Byte Order alone is ambiguous: pick a Data Type too	In bulk edit, choose a Data Type with the Byte Order.
Slave ID can only be changed when all selected parameters share one Slave ID.	Select parameters from one device only.