Industrial Automation, PLC, VFD, and Troubleshooting
What Is a PLC?
A PLC, or Programmable Logic Controller, is an industrial computer used to control machines, equipment, and automated processes.
In simple words, a PLC reads signals from field devices, …
Read MoreA PLC system is made of several hardware and software components that work together to control an industrial machine or process.
At a basic level, a PLC system receives information from …
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 MorePLC Inputs and Outputs Explained
In industrial automation, a PLC does not work by itself. It needs to interact with real-world devices installed on the machine or process.
These real-world devices are …
Read MoreIn PLC systems, not all signals are the same.
Some signals are simple ON/OFF signals. Other signals represent a changing value such as pressure, temperature, tank level, speed, or weight.
That is …
Read MoreOne of the most confusing topics for many automation technicians is sinking and sourcing.
You may hear people say:
PNP sensorNPN sensorSourcing inputSinking inputCurrent sourcingCurrent sinking
At first, it sounds complicated. But the …
Read MorePLC Addressing: Rack/Slot vs Tag-Based
In a PLC system, every input, output, and internal memory location needs a way to be identified by the controller.
This identification method is called addressing.
In simple …
Read MoreTo understand PLC programming, you need to understand how a PLC stores information.
A PLC does not only turn inputs and outputs ON or OFF. It also stores data in memory.
That …
Read MoreBefore learning advanced PLC programming, every automation technician must understand the basic logic operations used in ladder logic.
The three most important logic functions are:
AND
OR
NOT
These are the foundation of almost every …
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