Written by: Dan Weise
The installed base of Honeywell Trendview X series paperless recorders is approaching an in-service period of a decade (introduced mid-2006). Given that kind of service time, you need to be aware of the issues involved in changing the clock battery.
The replaceable clock battery serves as a backup for the on board real-time clock chip as well as the internal battery-backed static RAM. If your paperless recorder is getting old, the battery may ready for a swap-out. If so, you may need a one-day-use access code that only Honeywell can provide, so plan ahead. You don’t want to get locked out of your recorder!
The paperless recorder clock battery is the CR2032 US quarter-sized lithium battery (cell) used in millions of PCs, and is commonly available in a shrink wrap package at retailers like Walmart. It is not rechargeable.
Replacing the clock battery involves taking the recorder out of service for some period of time in order to take it apart, change the battery, get it all back together and reset the time. Extended Security (ESS) users will need to get access codes from Honeywell. Plan accordingly.
Do you need to call Honeywell TAC for a code?
Does your recorder uses the ESS extended security option (usually the pharmaceutical, biomedical and food industries) or standard security with the Pass Expiry setting enabled (see Appendix C below)? Both ESS and Pass Expiry force password expiration on a periodic basis.
If so, you’ll need to call Honeywell before you start to get a pair of security/password access codes: The January 2003 date change will automatically lock out all users. It pays to plan ahead, so you have the right access codes on-hand before starting your task.
When an ESS-enabled recorder date resets back to Jan 1, 2003, no user, not even an administrator, can get access to the setup because the valid period for all passwords appears to have expired. A factory generated one-day-use access code lets you enter the recorder’s password/security group so you can create a new administrative user. Then, that new admin user has the rights to reset the recorder to the current date and time.
When the current date and time is re-established, though, you’re not done. The regular users are locked out due to ‘expired’ passwords. So a second special one-day-use user name/password access code (keyed to the current date) is required to reset the user passwords.
To generate the correct access codes, Honeywell TAC (800 423-9883) requires the internal serial number of the recorder and the date on which the battery change task will done, that is, the ‘current’ date (the date that will be entered when the recorder thinks it’s Jan 1, 2003 to get back to the current date).
Now you’re ready to replace the recorder battery.
The clock battery is located just behind the recorder’s rear panel. To remove the rear panel, you’ll first need to remove the power cable and wiring terminals. Before you do so, be sure to label the connectors with a felt tip pen so you know which connector goes in which slot and in which position when you go back to reconnect.
Battery in a MiniTrend (QX)
Battery in MultiTrend (SX)
Here’s the order I use when making this change:
- Determine if you need an access code pair from Honeywell (See instructions below for contacting Honeywell TAC.)
- Change the battery.
- Plug in the power cable.
- Power up your system and change the date and time. (There’s a very high probability that the recorder will reset to January 1, 2003 when you change the battery.)
- If needed, use your first Honeywell access code to create a new administrative user.
- As the new administrative user, change the clock settings to the current date and time.
- Then, use the second access code to reset any user passwords.
- Power down the recorder and disconnect the power cord.
- Reinstall the rear panel and connectors.
- Re-connect your power cable, and power the unit up again.
Appendix A: What information does Honeywell need to give me new access codes?
Honeywell TAC needs to know the internal serial number and the date on which the battery change will take place, for instance, internal serial # 800021 for February 21, 2016. The 4 digit user name and 5 digit password one-day-use access codes are valid only for one 24 hour day for the date provided when the codes were calculated. If the battery change is not done on the date specified, call Honeywell TAC and get another code for another date.
| The internal serial number is printed on an ID label pasted on the top of the case. X series paperless recorders have an 8xxxxx format, GR series recorders have a 9xxxxx format. | |
 X Series Internal Serial Number |
 GR Series Internal Serial Number |
| The General Status screen displays the internal serial number, as shown below.
Menu > Status > System > General |
|
 X Series Internal Serial Number |
 GR Series Internal Serial Number |
The date is shown in the upper right hand corner of the status bar:
The date and time are set on the Set Time screen:
Navigation: Menu > Configure > Settings > Set Time
The access code for Jan 1, 2003 does not change because the fallback date, Jan 1, 2003 is common to all Trendview recorders.
Access codes for other dates do change by date.
Appendix B: How do I know if my recorder has standard (non-ESS) or Extended (ESS) security?
The first character in Model number field V determines standard (0) or ESS (S) security
Standard security (non-ESS) TVxxxx-xxxxxx-xxx-xx-x-0xx-xxxxxx-xxx
ESS security: TVxxxx-xxxxxx-xxx-xx-x-Sxx-xxxxxx-xxx
The model number is printed on a label on the top of the chassis and also on the inside of the front door:
ID label on top of the case
Model and production s/n inside the front door
Menu > Status > General > Options
Password CFR is “enabled” with a check mark; Extended ESS is installed and resident on this recorder
ESS Extended Security (Password CFR) not enabled (x), this recorder uses standard security
Appendix C: Standard Security (SSS) with Pass Expiry Enabled = ESS
The Password Policy setting Pass Expiry determines whether passwords have a forced expiration period. When disabled, passwords never expire, as shown below:
When a value entered for Pass Expiry is the duration before passwords expire.
Standard Security with Pass Expiry enabled is the same as ESS, except that pass expiry in ESS can not be disabled or turned-off: it is a regulatory requirement for certain industries.
A clock battery change for a standard (SSS) security with Pass Expiry enabled will act like an ESS recorder and reset to a Jan 1, 2003 date, requiring the one-day-use access codes described above.
Questions? Call (800) 953-7626
Check my other blog posts on Honeywell paperless recorders
Compare features of the Honeywell paperless recorders at Lesman.com
Lesman Instrument Company is the authorized Honeywell stocking distributor in North and Central Illinois, Northern Indiana, Eastern Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. If you are located outside that area, you can find your local sales office or get technical assistance by visiting Honeywell’s contact page.
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Dan Weise, Lesman product specialist, is an instructor for training classes on process instrumentation hardware, software, and technology.
Dan has been involved in all facets of data acquisition and process instrumentation since 1978, from sales and commissioning to service and support. He’s a long-time member of ISA, and has been with Lesman since 1988.
In his words, Dan’s the guy “who reads all the manuals nobody else reads”. In Lesman customers’ words, he’s the trainer to call if you want to “cut to the SO WHAT of instrumentation”, so it’s easy to understand.
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