Short and simple question… how to determine the how busy is the INNPM card through 800xA?

Short and simple answer… See image below.

Note that NPM card is a communication card and the highlighted number above (“CIU Utilization (%)”) is an index that tells you how busy the Controlway network is. Controlway is the ABB inter-CPU communication “highway”.

The driving factor for “CIU Utilization (%)” the “Sig Change (% Of Span)” in AO\L function block (Analog Exception Report function block), the minimum and maximum report time for all exception reports in the Segment Control function block.

The “Sig Change (% of span)” in the AO/L function block will allow the DCS to generate exception to acquire values if the new read value exceeds the specificed “Sig Change”.

The minimum exception report time (Min Xrp Time) for all exception reports in the Segment Control function block caps/reduces exception reports (acquire value from field I/O). If S7 in the Segment Control function block is set to 1, it means that the if there is multiple change in values within that 1 sec, it will not be read from the I/O.
The maximum exception report time (Max Xrp Time) for all exception reports in the Segment Control function block, is used to specify the next duration the field I/O should be read if there value has not yet changed. For example like in cases where RTD showing steady values.