Industrial Automation, PLC, VFD, and Troubleshooting
How to Diagnose a Single Failed Load in an Electrical Control Panel
When troubleshooting an electrical control panel, not every problem means the whole system is down. Sometimes the panel has …
Read MoreHow to Diagnose a Control Panel That Appears Completely Dead
One of the most common troubleshooting situations in an electrical control panel is this:
Nothing works.No lights.No relay response.No motor starter.No PLC …
Read MoreHow the PLC Scan Cycle Works
The PLC scan cycle is one of the most important fundamentals to understand in industrial automation.
A PLC does not normally read an input, solve one …
Read MoreIntroduction
In industrial automation, one of the most important differences a technician must understand is the difference between a fault and an alarm.
At first, both may look similar because both indicate …
Read MoreA Critical Difference Every PLC Technician Should Understand
In industrial automation, two words are often used together but do not mean exactly the same thing:
Permissive and Interlock
Both are used to control …
Read MoreIntroduction
A Variable Frequency Drive fault is not just an error message. It is valuable information that tells the technician something changed in the drive, motor, wiring, load, control system, or …
Read MoreA Basic Introduction for Automation Technicians
Introduction
In industrial motor control, we often work with contactors, overload relays, motor starters, VFDs, and three-phase AC motors. These systems are excellent for running motors …
Read MoreUnderstanding How the HMI Talks to the PLC
In an industrial HMI system, the screen is only useful if it can communicate with the controller.
The HMI needs to read machine status …
Read MoreUnderstanding How an Industrial HMI Connects the Operator to the Machine
In the previous post, we explained what an industrial HMI is and why it is important in automation. Now we …
Read MoreA Beginner-Friendly Introduction for Industrial Automation Technicians
In industrial automation, an HMI stands for Human-Machine Interface. It is the screen, panel, or computer-based application that allows an operator, technician, or engineer …
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