Digital output points can send one of up to two, four, or eight specified controls to a device, depending on the number of bits that the point contains (see Single and Multi-Bit Digital Points). 1-bit digital output points can have two control actions, 2-bit digital output points can have four control actions, and 3-bit digital output points can have eight control actions.
Each digital output takes the form of a maintained control. A maintained control upholds the new state of the point until it is altered by a further control.
Example:
A one-bit digital output sends a command to a point that is connected to a control device. The command instructs the device to carry out one of two control actions that it is configured to undertake. For instance, to open, or close a switch.
A number of drivers support digital output points.
This section covers configuration of standard Action fields on the Control tab of the Digital Output Point Form (see Specify Whether a Digital Point can be Controlled, and see Define the Output Actions).
Output points on some drivers also support:
- Promoting Scanning of Outstations Associated with Controls
- The ability to specify whether to Update an Output Point's Value Immediately Following a Successful Control Action.
For fields on the Control tab that are not covered in any of the topics above, see the driver-specific documentation.
A number of drivers also support pulsed controls. A pulsed control changes the state of a point for a defined period of time. You configure pulsed controls using the appropriate Pulse Action Form (see Defining Pulse Action Details).