The HART Device Type Manager (DTM) is Emerson's software plug-in for configuring and diagnosing HART-enabled field instruments connected to PACSystems RX3i analog I/O modules. It operates within an FDT (Field Device Tool) container — a standardized host application such as Emerson's PAC Machine Edition or a third-party asset management platform — providing a graphical interface for each connected HART device without requiring a handheld communicator at the instrument.

What is a DTM and why use one instead of a handheld communicator?

A DTM (Device Type Manager) is a software driver that encapsulates all configuration parameters, diagnostic functions, and graphical user interface elements for a specific device type or family. Think of it as the digital equivalent of a handheld HART communicator — but running on the engineering PC and communicating through the PLC backplane rather than through a physical connection at the instrument's wiring terminals. For a plant with dozens or hundreds of HART instruments distributed across the facility, walking to each transmitter with a handheld communicator is time-consuming and requires physical access — often involving hot work permits, confined space entry, or process interruption. With the DTM installed, a technician at the engineering workstation can configure device parameters, read diagnostic registers, and verify HART device health for any instrument on any RX3i HART-enabled analog input module across the entire control system, through the existing PLC infrastructure.

How does HART pass-through work via RX3i?

RX3i analog input modules with HART support digitize both the 4–20 mA process signal and the superimposed HART FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) digital signal on the same wire pair. The module passes the HART digital data to the RX3i CPU, which makes it available to the engineering workstation over the PLC's backplane and network connection. The DTM on the engineering PC sends HART commands through this path — read device variables, write configuration parameters, initiate diagnostic routines — and receives responses the same way. No additional wiring, no separate HART multiplexer, and no handheld communicator: the existing 4–20 mA loop wiring carries both process data and device configuration traffic simultaneously. This pass-through architecture is invisible to the process control loop — HART communication does not affect the 4–20 mA measurement accuracy or update rate.

What HART devices are compatible?

The DTM supports HART field instruments compliant with HART Communication Foundation specifications, including Emerson/Rosemount pressure transmitters (1151S, 2051, 2088, 3051C, 3051S) and temperature transmitters (248, 644), plus third-party HART devices from vendors who provide standard DTM packages. Each device type requires its own DTM file — typically distributed as an .msi installer — which registers with the FDT container application. Once installed, the DTM presents a configuration interface that mirrors the device's local display and parameter structure, ensuring consistency between local and remote configuration workflows.