Mpod - what you need to know before reading on

MPOD hardware

Hardware devices are integrated into the Karabo control system by an associated software device (application) which reflects the state (FSM) and properties (configuration and conditions) of the hardware within the corset of a baseclass which defines the s/w interface.

A working MPOD system consists of

• a crate bin enclosing 2 or 3 primary power supplies
• a controller board with ethernet interface
• one or more multi-channel (typically 4, 8, 16 … 64) DC output supply boards

One primary supply powers the controller, to physically remove the controller the crate must be disconnected completely from mains power by unplugging the connection cable. A second primary supply powers LV channel and a third HV channel supply boards.

MPOD manual

Content in the MPOD HV & LV Power Supply System Technical Manual Version 2.9, not 2.8 as shown on the page footer from 10-May-2016, was used during the design and testing phase. Refer to http://file.wiener-d.com/documentation/MPOD/ this and later versions. Originally no change log was shown, this may now be available on the site.

MPOD main switch

The main switch is used to power on/off the LV and HV primary power supplies. On older MPOD systems the main switch, sometimes called the green switch after its colour, is located on the crate chassis. On newer systems the crate is located on the controller board. Controllers without switches cannot be used in crates without switches. If both crate and controller have switches, then one has to be disabled using Wiener’s MUSE (described later) configuration and control program.

Channel DC output boards can be removed and inserted only when the main switch is in the off position.

Controller f/w

During initial development mpod.py s/w was tested against crate controller f/w version MPODmaster-2.1.3496.0.out stable version from 01-Aug-2016. More recent developments are tested against later versions. The list of f/w downloads and change log is available at http://file.wiener-d.com/firmware/MPOD/

DC output f/w

DC output f/w versions are relatively static. LV boards f/w changes are triggered by the manufacturer and apart from having to updating some board configuration parameters with MUSE, now via an upgraded controller f/w, we’ve not had to install new f/w. HV f/w changes are usually driven by customer requests and are applied on board calibration by the vendor before delivery.