GE DFP100

Description

Product Overview and Description

The GE DFP100 is a high-precision digital field programmer, also known as a communicator or configurator, designed for setup, calibration, and diagnostics of GE Druck and related pressure transmitters and instrumentation. This handheld device serves as a critical interface tool for technicians, enabling them to interact with smart field devices that use the HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) communication protocol. The primary function of the GE DFP100 is to provide a user-friendly, portable platform to read process variables, configure device parameters (range, units, damping), perform trim adjustments (zero and span calibration), and retrieve diagnostic information from compatible pressure transmitters and other HART-enabled instruments.Carrying a GE DFP100 is standard practice for instrument technicians across many process plants. The intuitive interface and robust build of the GE DFP100 make it an indispensable tool for efficient loop commissioning and maintenance.

Detailed Product Parameters

• Function: Handheld HART Communicator / Field Programmer for Pressure Transmitters.
• Communication Protocol: Supports the HART protocol (Bell 202 FSK standard) over the 4-20mA analog loop, allowing simultaneous analog signal and digital communication.
• Compatibility: Designed primarily for GE Druck and other GE-branded pressure transmitters (e.g., UNIK 5000, PX6000 series). It is also generally compatible with most standard HART-enabled devices from various manufacturers (pressure, temperature, level, flow).
• Display: Features a backlit LCD screen for clear viewing of menus, process variables, and device parameters in various lighting conditions.
• Input/Output: Connects to the instrument’s loop via test leads or a connecting harness. It can be used in parallel (across the loop) or in series (powering the device) connection modes.
• Power: Powered by internal, user-replaceable batteries for true field portability.
• Software: Contains embedded software with device description files (DDs) for supported transmitters, guiding the user through configuration wizards and providing access to all device-specific variables and functions.
• Durability: Typically housed in a rugged, field-serviceable case designed to withstand drops, moisture, and harsh industrial environments.

Key Advantages and Features

1. Portability and Ease of Use: The handheld design of the GE DFP100 allows technicians to carry it directly to any field instrument for on-site configuration and troubleshooting, eliminating the need to bring the device to a workshop or rely on a control room system.
2. Comprehensive Device Interrogation: It provides full access to the smart transmitter’s configuration, allowing users to read the primary variable (PV), all transmitter parameters, and detailed diagnostic data like sensor condition, calibration history, and alarm status.
3. Accurate Loop Calibration: Enables precise trim functions (zero and span) to be performed with the transmitter in-situ, ensuring the entire measurement loop (sensor and signal) is calibrated correctly against a known standard, improving overall measurement accuracy.
4. Time-Saving Diagnostics: The ability to quickly read detailed diagnostics helps technicians rapidly distinguish between a transmitter fault, a wiring issue, or a process problem, dramatically reducing mean time to repair (MTTR).
5. Reduced Inventory: By supporting a wide range of HART devices, the GE DFP100 reduces the need for multiple, device-specific programmer tools, simplifying the technician’s toolkit and training requirements.

Primary Application Fields and Use Cases

This field communicator is used across all process industries that employ HART-enabled instrumentation for measurement and control.

• Oil & Gas: Configuring and calibrating pressure transmitters on wellheads, pipelines, and within refineries and petrochemical plants.
• Water & Wastewater: Setting up level and pressure transmitters for pump control and tank monitoring.
• Pharmaceutical & Food & Beverage: Performing sanitary calibrations on pressure sensors in batch processes.
• Power Generation: Maintaining pressure and differential pressure transmitters for feedwater, steam, and combustion control.
• Use Case Example: During a plant turnaround, an instrument technician uses a GE DFP100 to commission a new GE Druck differential pressure transmitter on a distillation column feed line. They use the device to set the engineering units to kPa, configure the 4-20mA output range to match the expected process pressure, perform a zero trim with the line vented, and then verify the live PV against a test gauge. Later, during operation, the same GE DFP100 is used to diagnose a drifting reading, confirming the sensor is healthy and pointing to a potential process issue.

Comparison with Competing Products

• vs. Universal HART Communicators (e.g., Emerson 475, MACTek): Devices like the Emerson 475 offer broader manufacturer support and more advanced protocols (like Foundation Fieldbus). The GE DFP100 is often seen as a more cost-effective, streamlined tool optimized for GE Druck transmitters and general HART maintenance.
• vs. Smartphone/Tablet Apps with Adapters: While apps exist, they rely on consumer-grade hardware not built for harsh plant environments. The GE DFP100 is intrinsically safe (in many models), ruggedized, and offers guaranteed compatibility and stability for critical work.
• vs. DCS/PLC HART Pass-Through: Some control systems can communicate with HART devices via I/O cards. This method is less portable, often slower, and typically offers only a subset of the configuration and diagnostic commands available with a dedicated field communicator like the GE DFP100.

Selection Suggestions and Important Precautions

• Selection Advice: Select the GE DFP100 for field maintenance teams that primarily support GE Druck transmitters or require a reliable, general-purpose HART communicator. Verify that the model’s intrinsic safety rating (if required) matches the hazardous area classifications of your plant. Ensure it comes with the necessary test leads and protective case.
• Precaution – Intrinsic Safety: If working in a hazardous area (e.g., Zone 0/1), ensure the specific GE DFP100 model is certified for use in that area and that all connections are made in a safe manner before powering on the device.
• Precaution – Loop Configuration: Understand the connection method. When connecting in parallel, ensure the loop impedance is low enough for proper HART communication. When powering the device in series, ensure the DFP100’s internal power supply can drive the loop.
• Precaution – Device Description (DD) Files: For optimal functionality with non-GE devices, ensure the communicator has the latest DD files installed. Outdated DDs may prevent access to all device features.

3HNE06223-1 ABB DCS
ABB 3HAC12158-1
3hac2493-1 ABB
ABB DSQC543
3HAC026787-001 ABB