Caterpillar Electronic Technician (Cat ET)
Caterpillar Electronic Technician (Cat ET) is a software program that can be used on an IBM compatible personal computer. Cat ET is used to communicate with the ECM over the data link system. Communication is accomplished by use of the service tool connector. Refer to the electrical system schematic for the specific application in order to locate the service tool connector.
Cat ET can be used in order to perform maintenance work on the machine. Some of the options that are available with Cat ET are listed below:
- View diagnostic information. Refer to "Status Group 5 - EVIM Statistics", "Status Group 6 - GPSIM Statistics" and "Status Group 7 - CAN Extension Bridge Statistics".
- View the status of parameters.
- Perform calibration of machine systems.
- Program the ECM (Flash). This is done with the "WINflash" program. Refer to the Testing and Adjusting, "Electronic Control Module (ECM) - Flash Program" information.
- Print reports.
The following list contains some of the diagnostic functions and programming functions that are performed by the service tools.
- The failures of the ECM system are displayed.
- The status of most of the inputs and the outputs are displayed.
- The settings for the ECM are displayed.
- Display the status of the input and output parameters in real time.
- Display the clock hour of the internal diagnostic clock.
- Load new "FLASH" software.
Status Groups for Cat ET
The reference to the Cat ET imply a reference to the Caterpillar Communication Tool Kit when features are common between the two.
Status Group 1 - Link Status
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| Illustration 1 | g01266358 |
This section provides information about the "Cat Datalink Module Identifier Configuration". The PL1000T can be manually configured to occupy three distinct source addresses on the Cat Datalink .
This status parameter indicates which of the three source addresses is currently configured.
When multiple PL1000Ts are connected to the same Cat Datalink network, they must each be configured with a unique source address.
Cat Datalink "Boost" status indicates if the "CDL Boost" feature is enabled or disabled. When enabled, the Cat Datalink may be extended up to 300 m (1000 ft).
Status Group 2 - J1939 Bridge Function Enable Status
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| Illustration 2 | g01132172 |
When this function is enabled, the PL1000T will relay all J1939 data messages from its CAN port 1 to CAN port 2 and from CAN port 2 to CAN port 1.
Status Group 3 - Customer Communication Module (CCM) Status
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| Illustration 3 | g01266359 |
The "CCM Status" parameter is used to confirm the settings of the CCM Feature:
- serial port selection
- baud rate
- stop bits
- data bits
- parity
- protocol detection
- password protection
- baud rate change enable
- protocol configured
- type
- current level access
The host device communicating with the PL1000T using the CCM feature must match the settings seen on this screen.
Status Group 4 - Engine Vision Interface Module (EVIM) Status
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| Illustration 4 | g01266361 |
The "Engine Vision Interface Module" (EVIM) status parameter is used to confirm the port selection, baud rate, data size, and parity of the (EVIM) configuration.
The "Engine Vision Display" must be configured to match the status information on this screen to allow proper communications between it and the PL1000T.
Status Group 5 - Global Position System Information Module (GPSIM) Status
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| Illustration 5 | g01266375 |
The "Global Position System Information Module" (GPSIM) status parameter is used to confirm the port selection, baud rate, data size, and parity of the GPSIM configuration. The GPS sensing module that is connected to this port must match the status information in this screen to allow proper communications between it and the PL1000T.
The GPSIM screen also displays the "Vessel Speed" (knots), "Ground Speed" (MPH), "Directional Heading" (degrees), "Latitude" (degrees), and "Longitude" (degrees). The information can be viewed in order to confirm the communications between the GPS sensing module and the PL1000T.
Status Group 6 - CCM Statistics
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| Illustration 6 | g01266380 |
The "CCM Statistics" status screen is used to observe the number of messages that are being transmitted and that are being received, whether valid or invalid, by the PL1000T.
A consistent increase in the number of invalid messages that are received, indicates there are communication problems between the PL1000T and the "Engine Vision Display". The port selection, baud rate, parity, and data size configurations for each of the modules should be checked. The configurations for each selection must match in order to enabled communications.
Status Group 7 - EVIM Statistics
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| Illustration 7 | g01266391 |
The "EVIM Statistics" status screen is used to observe the rate of messages that are being received by the PL1000T.
A consistent increase in the number of invalid messages that are received, indicates there are communication problems between the PL1000T and the "Engine Vision Display". The port selection, baud rate, parity, and data size configurations for each of the modules should be checked. The configurations for each selection must match in order to enabled communications.
Status Group 8 - GPSIM Statistics
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| Illustration 8 | g01266402 |
The "GPSIM Statistics" status screen is used to observe the rate of messages being received by the PL1000T.
The "Number of NMEA-183 messages Received" is the total count of the "NMEA-183" messages that were received on the configured serial port since the last time that power to the module was turned off then turned back on. When the message count reaches the maximum, the count will roll to zero and then will continue to increment. The count will reflect the total of all other message counts displayed on this status screen. If the counter is not incrementing, this can indicate communication problems between the PL1000T and the GPS sensing device.
The configuration of both modules should be checked. The modules must match exactly for proper communications to be enabled.
The "Number of NMEA-183 VTG messages Received" is the total count of the "NMEA-183 VTG" messages that were received on the configured serial port. The VTG messages contain the "Ground Speed" information. Use this message counter to confirm that the PL1000T is receiving the VTG messages.
The "Number of NMEA-183 RMC Messages Received" is the total count of the "NMEA-183 RMC" messages that were received on the configured serial port since the last time that power to the module was turned off then turned back on. When the count reaches the maximum, the count will roll to zero and then continue to increment. The RMC messages contain the RMC information. Use this message counter in order to confirm that the PL1000T is receiving the RMC messages.
The "Number of NMEA-183 GLL Messages Received" is the total count of the "NMEA-183 GLL" messages received on the configured serial port since the last time that power to the module was turned off then turned back on. When the count reaches the maximum, the count will roll to zero and then continue to increment. The GLL messages contain the "Geographic Position in Lat / Lon". Use this message counter to confirm that the PL1000T is receiving the GLL messages.
The "Number of Invalid NMEA-183 Messages Received" is the total count of "Invalid NMEA-183" messages that were received on the configured serial port since the last time that power to the module was turned off then turned back on. When the count reaches the maximum, the count will roll to zero and then continue to increment. A consistent increase of the invalid messages received counter indicates there are communication problems between the PL1000T and the "NMEA-183" sensing device. The configuration of both modules should be checked. The configuration of both modules must match exactly for proper communications to be enabled.
the "Number of Unsupported NMEA-183 Messages Received" is the total count of "Unsupported NMEA-183" messages received on the configured serial port since the last time that power to the module was turned off then turned back on. When the count reaches the maximum, the count will roll to zero and then continue to increment. A consistent increase of the number of unsupported messages that are received indicates the "NMEA-183" sensing device is transmitting messages other than VTG, RMC, and GLL. The PL1000T was designed for compatibility with "NMEA-183" version 2.0.
Status Group 9 - CAN Extension Bridge Statistics
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| Illustration 9 | g01266407 |
This status screen is used to observe the following:
- Number of Messages Received on CAN Port 1
- Number of Messages Transmitted on CAN Port 1
- Number of Messages Received on CAN Port 2
- Number of Messages Transmitted on CAN Port 2
- Number of Messages Received on RS-485 Port
- Number of Messages Transmitted on RS-485 Port
When CAN Extension Bridge Function is Enabled - The total number of messages received on CAN Port 1 and CAN Port 2 should equal to the total number of messages that were transmitted on the RS-485 port. Likewise, the total number of messages that are received on the RS-485 port should be equal to the total number of messages that were transmitted on CAN Port 1 and CAN Port 2.
When J1939 Bridge Function is Enabled - The total number of messages received on CAN Port 1 should increment at a similar rate to the total number of messages received on CAN Port 2.