Troubleshooting & Diagnostic Tools

For Live/Running Networks (Can't Stop Production)

Challenge: You run continuous processes where 1 hour of downtime costs $50K+. Devices randomly drop offline during certain production cycles. You can't recreate the problem on demand, and stopping production isn't an option. You need to catch problems before they cause failures.

Solution: Permanent monitoring with PROFIBUS-INspektor® NT + PROmanage® NT V2

• Connects inline via measuring points without interrupting communication
• Captures intermittent errors that occur during production cycles
• Provides device-by-device error statistics to pinpoint problem areas
• Records historical data to compare current vs. baseline performance
• Centralized management: The PROmanage® software aggregates data from multiple INspektors®
• Best for: Troubleshooting sporadic issues, 24/7 monitoring, predictive maintenance

The INspektor® works passively—it observes traffic without affecting your network.

ROI: Prevents unplanned shutdowns and failures worth $100K-$500K+ per incident.

For Quick Diagnosis (Can Stop Briefly)

Challenge: You need to verify network health during commissioning, chase intermittent faults that only appear under load, or prove the physical layer before accepting a new installation. You can stop production briefly for testing, but you need answers fast.

Solution: Mobile testing with PROFIBUS Tester PB-Q ONE

• Complete physical and logical analysis in minutes
• Traffic-light quality display (green/yellow/red) for instant assessment
• Measures Q-values per device (>2500 indicates healthy signal quality)
• Automated topology detection during running operation
• Oscilloscope view shows signal edges, reflections, and noise for root-cause analysis
• Best for: Commissioning acceptance tests, periodic health checks, emergency troubleshooting

The PB-Q ONE delivers complete network diagnostics in under 60 seconds—plug in, measure, identify the problem.

ROI: Prevents misdiagnosis that leads to unnecessary part replacements. Reduces troubleshooting time from hours to minutes. One avoided cable replacement pays for the tool.

For New Installations (Offline Testing)

Challenge: You need to verify cable quality and signal integrity before connecting expensive field devices and going into production.

Solution: PROFIBUS DiagnosticDUO (PROFtest II XL + PB-Q ONE)

• Test cables before power-up to catch installation errors
• Verifies wire continuity, proper A/B pairing, shield integrity
• Measures cable length and impedance (PROFIBUS spec: 150Ω ±15%)
• Locates cable faults within 1 meter
• Best for: Installation verification, acceptance testing, isolating cable faults

Pro tip: Always test from both ends of each segment.

ROI: Avoid callbacks and rework, professional documentation

EMC Problems Near Drives/VFDs

Challenge: Random errors near variable frequency drives or motors. Standard tools show intermittent signal issues but don't identify root cause.

Solution: EMCheck® LSMZ I + PB-Q ONE

• Shield current measurement: Clamp around cable shield to measure leakage/interference currents
• Clear criteria: Shield currents should be <40 mA; higher values indicate EMC problems
• Non-invasive: Measure without breaking circuit or interrupting network

ROI: Identifies root cause other tools miss, prevents device damage