Speaker
Description
SLAC’s EPICS control system alarms operate on high and low thresholds for each process variable. In situations where external factors require large tolerance windows, alarming on the trend of a variable or on the percentage of time outside of the tolerance window can be more helpful for discovering certain failure modes. We have created a system of mini data buffers in EPICS Compress records that enables us to do long-term trend tracking, alarm on those trends, and send notifications to system owners. This acts as an “early warning” system that allows us to discover situations where equipment is working, but approaching a potential failure. With these early warnings, we can schedule maintenance activities in advance of failure, and hopefully reduce accelerator downtime.