TILI Automation

 The choice of PLC programming language generally depends on specific application scenarios and personal preferences. PLC programming languages are usually divided into the following categories: Instruction list (Ladder Diagram, LD): a graphical programming language similar to electrical circuit diagrams, easy to understand and learn, and suitable for scenarios with relatively simple control logic. Function Block Diagram (FBD): Program logic is realized through the connection and combination of function blocks, which is suitable for scenarios with complex control logic. Statement List (Structured Text, ST): A textual programming language similar to a high-level programming language, suitable for scenarios that require complex calculations and data processing. Sequential Function Chart (SFC): Represents program logic in the form of a state machine, suitable for scenarios that require complex program control and state transitions. Process and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID): It is...

 There are several PLC brands available in the United States. Some of the most popular brands are: Allen-Bradley: Allen-Bradley is a brand of Rockwell Automation and is one of the most popular PLC brands in the United States. It is known for its reliability, scalability, and ease of use. Siemens: Siemens is a German-based company that manufactures PLCs and is also popular in the United States. Siemens PLCs are known for their high performance and flexibility. GE: GE is an American multinational conglomerate that produces PLCs. GE PLCs are known for their reliability and ease of use. Schneider Electric: Schneider Electric is a French-based company that produces PLCs and is also popular in the United States. Schneider Electric PLCs are known for their high performance and flexibility. AutomationDirect: AutomationDirect is an American company that produces PLCs and is known for its low-cost, high-quality products. The performance of these PLC brands can vary depending on the applicati...

 Learning PLC programming as an old electrician can be challenging, but it is definitely achievable with the right approach and mindset. Here are some tips that can help: Get familiar with the basics: Start by familiarizing yourself with the basic concepts of PLCs and ladder logic programming. Read books and online resources, and attend training courses or workshops. Find a mentor: Consider finding a mentor who can guide you through the learning process and provide practical insights and advice. You can also join online communities and forums where you can connect with other electricians and PLC programmers. Practice and experiment: The best way to learn PLC programming is through hands-on practice. Start by experimenting with simple programs and gradually move on to more complex ones as you gain confidence. Take advantage of online resources: There are many online resources available that can help you learn PLC programming, including video tutorials, online courses, and forums. Ta...

 PLC ladder diagram is one of the most commonly used programming languages in industrial automation. It is a graphical representation of the program logic that allows the programmer to develop complex control algorithms using simple ladder logic diagrams. Whether ladder diagram is easy to learn depends on an individual's background and experience in programming and industrial automation. If you have some basic understanding of programming concepts and electrical circuits, then learning ladder diagram programming may be relatively easy for you. Ladder logic is based on Boolean algebra, and the ladder diagram symbols resemble electrical circuit symbols, making it easier to understand for those with an electrical background. Another advantage of ladder diagram programming is that it is visual, making it easier to understand and troubleshoot than other programming languages. Ladder diagram programming also allows for easy modification and updating of control programs, making it suitabl...

 When it comes to learning PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), there are many types and brands available in the market. However, the most popular and widely used PLC brands are Siemens, Allen Bradley, Mitsubishi, and Omron. As a beginner, it's best to start with a brand that is widely used in your industry or the one you have access to. This will help you gain practical experience and knowledge in the specific systems you'll be working with. However, if you're not working in a particular industry yet or don't have access to a specific brand, I would suggest starting with Allen Bradley. Allen Bradley is one of the most widely used PLC brands globally, and many resources are available online to help you learn the basics. Allen Bradley PLCs use ladder logic programming language, which is easy to learn, and its software, Studio 5000, is user-friendly and widely available. Additionally, Allen Bradley offers many online resources, training courses, and documentation that can...

 Interposing Relay is the auxiliary relay which is used to isolate the two different systems / devices. This could be because they have different 0V references, different voltages, AC vs. DC. Interposing Relay We discuss the interposing relay with two cases, as discussed below : Case-I Suppose we want to operate a Contactor through PLC Panel having Coil Voltage 230 V AC, But PLC relay Output Voltage is 24 V DC. In this case we require a Interposing relay Having Coil Voltage 24 V DC but its contact rating should be 230 V AC. So PLC relay will operate interposing relay first & then through its Auxiliary contacts We can Operate Contactor easily. Case-II For example, let’s say the relay of a PLC can only avail 1 A at 110 VAC, but the Controller which is to be connected to the relay requires 3 A at 110 VAC. In this case, an interposing relay with contacts rated for operation at 5 A(>3 A) at 110 VAC would be used as an interposing relay “between” the PLC relay and the Controller. ...

 The most basic concept about learning is “If you want to have a deep understanding of any system, you have to go into detail with it”. If you are a real Automation Engineer you will not be satisfied with the simple basic information about PLCs. Instead, you will always need to go further for deep details about the CPU of a PLC, how does it work? what is meant by a SCAN CYCLE? and how could this concept (SCAN CYCLE) help us in programming? If you have already all of these questions in your engineering mind so this post is made special for you … Enjoy. What is meant by a SCAN CYCLE? In general, a PLC scan cycle is a repeatable list of executable tasks, the list can vary in size and the tasks can vary in nature and the cycle time varies based on performance and configuration. It really depends on which PLC you are using. They all do it slightly differently and it’s important to know the difference. In most PLCs, a scan cycle is the cycle in which the PLC gathers the inputs, runs your...

 In this article, you will learn the wiring in a PLC control panel and the basic electrical design of a PLC system cabinet. Wiring in a PLC control panel is a hectic job and requires a good understanding of PLC standards as well as electrical standards. Basically, before PLC was being started to be used in the market, wiring was the only method to provide control of a system. Wiring interlocks need a good understanding of the logic to be implemented as well as the electrical standards that need to be implemented to fulfill it. So, it is said the one who is a master in designing and understanding electrical wiring logic and interlock can easily write a PLC logic too. In this post, we will see how to design a PLC system cabinet. In simpler terms, consider that you are wiring an electrical PLC panel. Wiring in PLC Refer to the below image. We will consider a simple panel here, with all the basic electrical components. The PLC panel consists of the main breaker switch, bus bar, circuit...

 In this article, we will learn how to create a new project with Studio 5000. Studio5000 is a Rockwell Automation Software to program CompactLogix and ControlLogix PLCs. Other Software like RsLogix500 is used to program MicroLogix Series PLCs and Connected Components Workbench Software is used to Program Micro800 PLCs, which are lower-end Controllers. Studio 5000 Earlier, the name of Studio5000 was RsLogix5000. Till version 20 name was the same. Since V21 name changed to Studio5000. In Studio5000 you can import and export rungs, you can change even the firmware version of the logic environment. Create New Project in Studio 5000 Open Studio5000. You will see the following pop-up. Here, the first project in the “recent project” section is for logic development, and others with desktop icons are used for SCADA development. To start fresh, we will create a new project. Click on New Project. The Following pop-up will open. In the “Project Types” selection you have multiple options to ch...

 In this post, we will see how to create user-defined data types and function blocks in Studio 5000 software. As we know, user-derived data types and function blocks play a very important role in PLC software. A programmer finds it easier to develop the logic faster and more efficiently if there is a repeated type of logic in the whole program. That means, suppose there are 10 motors and each motor should start by pressing the start button and stop by pressing the stop button. Instead of writing the same logic for all the 10 motors every time, he can just create his own library or data type which will contain a common logic; and it can be used in multiple instances within the whole logic. User-defined types are available in almost every PLC software. In this post, we will see one such software of Rockwell Automation – Studio 5000. This software is used to program Rockwell PLCs like Compact Logix, Control Logix, and Flex Logix series. It is a very high-end one and has many advanced ...

 A Seal-in circuit is a method of maintaining current flow after a momentary switch has been pressed and released. What is Seal-in Circuit ? Fig 1 : Start button not pressed Note : Consider a Relay is used to control the power supply to a motor. Here we are calling this relay as ” Motor Starter Coil “. This Relay another NO contact is used to seal-in or latch the start signal. As start push button is a push & Release type i.e. signal will be available for some time say momentarily and then signal will be lost. so we have to latch this circuit in order to make motor run continuously even after release of start push button. For this purpose we are using Relay (M) NO contact across Start push button such that it will take care of start signal after start button is released. The seal-in auxiliary contact (NO Contact) of the starter (M) is connected in parallel with the start button to keep the starter coil (M) energized when the start button released. After Start Push button presse...

 As per IEC 61131-3, there are five PLC programming languages, three are graphical. The other two are textual languages. The three graphical languages are ladder diagram (LD), Function Block Diagram (FBD), Sequential Function Chart (SFC). Two textual languages are Standard Text (ST) and Instruction List (IL). Out of all the above, various languages have different strengths for different tasks. In this article let us discuss Sequential Function Chart (SFC). It is a flow chart-like programming language. The execution of process operations is structured sequentially. It can encapsulate ladder diagram (LD), Function Block Diagram (FBD), Instruction List (IL), and Standard Text (ST) structures to control subroutines. Sequential Function Chart Sequential Function Chart (SFC) can be used to structure the internal organization of a program consisting of sub-programs and are also written in other languages of the standard. It can also be used in its pure form of specifying the logical contr...

 Create a ladder diagram for controlling a batch mixing process. Implement a PLC program for mixing tank or Mixing Process using PLC Ladder Logic. PLC Program for Mixing Tank Fig : Mixing tank A tank is used to mix two liquids. The required control circuit operates as follows: A. When the START button is pressed, solenoids A and B energize. This permits the two liquids to begin filling the tank. B. When the tank is filled, the float switch trips. This de-energizes solenoids A and B and starts the motor used to mix the liquids together. C. The motor is permitted to run for 1 minute. After 1 minute has elapsed, the motor turns off and solenoid C energizes to drain the tank. D. When the tank is empty, the float switch de- energizes solenoid C. E. A STOP button can be used to stop the process at any point. F. If the motor becomes overloaded, the action of the entire circuit will stop. G. Once the circuit has been energized, it will continue to operate until it is manually stopped. Solution...

 PLC Multiple Outputs Configuration PLC Multiple Outputs Configuration useful for PLC Sequence of Outputs or Sequence Logic, PLC Ladder Rung with Two Outputs, PLC Ladder Rung with two inputs & two outputs. PLC Ladder Rung with Two Outputs : With ladder diagrams, there can be more than one output connected to a contact. Figure 1.20 shows a ladder program with two output coils. When the input contacts close, both the coils give outputs. Example: In Some cases it is required to start two pumps in parallel by pressing a single start button then the above logic may be useful. PLC Ladder Rung with two inputs & two outputs : For the ladder rung shown in Figure 1.21, output A occurs when input A occurs. Output B only occurs when both input A and input B occur. Example: Say we have a Single Start button to Start two pumps in parallel. But we have extra Start Permissive for Pump B only and it must be started on satisfying the permissive only. Note that there is no permissive for Pump...

 The below steps gives us the basic backup procedure required to take backup from the RS Logix 5000 PLC software. RSLogix 5000 PLC projects are stored in a file format with the extension: *.ACD The ACD file encompasses the entire RSLogix 5000 project and is the only file you will need to retrieve. However, it is important to insure you retrieve the program that is currently running in the PLC. The procedure for retrieving a PLC program differs depending on weather you have an existing copy of the PLC program on your computer or now. If Your Computer Has the *.ACD Project For the Controller: STEP 1 – OPEN THE RSLOGIX 5000 PROJECT FOR THE CONTROLLER STEP 2- OPEN “WHO ACTIVE” TO DEFINE A PATH TO THE CONTROLLER STEP 3 – SELECT THE CONTROLLER STEP 4 – GO ONLINE WITH THE SELECTED CONTROLLER STEP 5 – IF THE SELECTED CONTROLLER HAS A NEWER VERSION OF THE RSLOGIX 5000 PROJECT YOU WILL BE PROMPTED, BE SURE TO SELECT THE UPLOAD OPTION STEP 6 – SAVE THE CURRENT RUNNING PLC PROGRAM TO A NEW LOC...