IBM 1800 Data Acquisition and Control System

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IBM 1800
IBM Logo 1956 1972.svg
IBM 1800 computer at Exxon Research and Engineering Company laboratory 1971.jpg
IBM 1800 computer at Exxon Research and Engineering Company laboratory
Manufacturer IBM
Typereal-time minicomputer (SCADA system)
Release date1964
Predecessor IBM 1130, IBM 1710,
IBM 7700
Related IBM 1500 educational minicomputer

The IBM 1800 Data Acquisition and Control System (DACS) was a process control variant of the IBM 1130 with two extra instructions (CMP and DCM), extra I/O capabilities, 'selector channel like' cycle-stealing capability and three hardware index registers. [1]

Contents

IBM announced and introduced the 1800 Data Acquisition and Control System on November 30, 1964, describing it as "a computer that can monitor an assembly line, control a steel-making process or analyze the precise status of a missile during test firing." [2]

Overview

IBM 1800 mainframe. IBM 1800 frame.jpg
IBM 1800 mainframe.
IBM 1800 with its covers open IBM1800-9sm.jpg
IBM 1800 with its covers open

Unlike the 1130, which was a desk-like unit, the 1800 is packaged in 6 foot high, EIA Standard 19 inch racks, which are somewhat taller than the racks used by S/360 systems of the same vintage, but the internal gates and power supplies were very much the same.

The IBM 1500 instructional system was introduced by IBM on March 31, 1966, and was based on an IBM 1130 or IBM 1800 computer. It supported up to 32 student work stations, each with a variety of audiovisual capabilities.

Two 1800s with automatic switchover between them powered each IBM 1750, 2750 and 3750 Switching System.

Components

The IBM 1800 DACS consisted of: [3]

Use

The IBM 1800 systems were used mainly in the process industry plants worldwide. [4]

In June 2010 the last four operating IBM 1800s operating at Pickering Nuclear Generating Station in Pickering, Ontario, Canada were removed from service. Pickering is still using four ES-1800 computers which are IBM 1800 hardware emulators built by Cable & Computer Technologies. [5] A video showing the end of the Pickering IBM 1800 boot sequence is available on YouTube [6]

Until 1984, Exxon USA (EUSA) had 18 IBM 1800 systems deployed at all 5 of its refineries. They were replaced with Honeywell TDC3000 process control systems.

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References

  1. Steve Wixon. "IBM 1800". IEEE Global History Network. IEEE. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  2. "IBM 1800 data acquisition and control system" - IBM Corporation website - Vintage Computers section.
  3. IBM Field Engineering Announcement: IBM 1800 DACS
  4. The Computer System on Blast Furnace No. 5 of Chiba Works, Kawasaki Steel Co., Ltd. (Kawasaki Steel Goho, Vol. 6 (1974), No. 3). See here for details.
  5. Licensing experience with Digital Instrumentation and Control in Canada, Robert Lojk, Director Systems Engineering Division, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Portorož, Slovenia, May 8, 2009
  6. IBM 1800 console boot sequence
Preceded by IBM 1800 Data Acquisition and Control System
1964 - 1972
Succeeded by
n/a
Preceded by
IBM 1710 Control System
Succeeded by
IBM System/7 control system