Triton

Wiki > The Backend System > Specific Device IOC > Cryogenics > Triton

Triton (dilution fridge)

The Triton software runs on a dedicated PC that follows each fridge around. The IBEX control system makes a connection over TCP to issue commands to that software.

Settings:

1. Hostname : For the definitive answer, type hostname at a prompt on the Triton control PC. The list of Triton hostnames is available in a readme file in the LabVIEW driver directory. Alternatively ask someone from the cryogenics group.
2. TCP port : 33576

• If communication cannot be established and you are certain that the correct hostname has been entered, then try the IP address instead. This can be determined by typing ipconfig at a command prompt on the Triton control PC and looking for "IPv4 Address" in the output.
• Not all the Triton computers respond to a ping.
• Only one connection can be made at any time, additional connections are refused.

There are various generations of Triton systems in use at ISIS. There are sometimes differences in the protocol between different versions of the software (see for example IBEX issue #3030).

Configuration

The Triton IOC reads it's configuration (sensor <-> name mapping) from the triton control PC. However, the name <-> channel mapping is hard-coded in the triton IOC, which expects the following mapping:

• Stage 1 (PT1) : J-T heat exchanger
• Stage 2 (PT2) : 4K heat exchanger
• Sorb : Sorb
• Stil : Stil
• Mixing chamber : mixing chamber
• Cooling channel : not used by IOC

We have a ticket https://github.com/ISISComputingGroup/IBEX/issues/3993 to discuss whether this is actually a valid assumption as we have seen some fridges leave PT1 and PT2 undefined and link the "Cooling channel" to the 4K Heat Exchanger.

Gotchas

• Oxford software running on the remote PC can occasionally crash. If this happens, you need to VNC to the remote computer using the credentials on the passwords page and manually restart the software.
• Some commands take a very long time to generate a reply (can be in the region of 10+ seconds before the reply comes through). This is particularly noticeable for setting values, especially setting closed loop mode on or off.
• [Older versions of Triton software only - see IBEX issue #3030] There are some indexing errors in the Oxford software. Therefore, if you want to read values relating to channel T3, you may need to query the device for some variables using T3 as expected and for other variables using T2.
• Sample channel - if this comes back as T0, this indicates that it is running on a dedicated control channel, and is newer hardware.
• Beware of things coming back as strings when you expect numbers. For example many commands will respond with NONE or NOT_FOUND where you would usually expect a numeric response.
• Because the device responds to some commands very slowly, need to be quite careful about the overall command rate - ensure that the device can actually keep up with all the commands being sent.