Industrial Automation, PLC, VFD, and Troubleshooting
Timers are everywhere in industrial automation.
A motor may need a few seconds to prove that it started. A valve may need time to reach its open position. A photoeye signal …
Read MoreIf you are learning Studio 5000, one of the first instructions you will see everywhere is the MOV instruction. At first glance it looks almost too simple, but in real …
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 MoreSeal-In Circuits Explained
A seal-in circuit is one of the most important basic patterns in PLC ladder logic and relay logic.
It is commonly used when an operator presses a momentary Start …
Read MoreTimers are one of the most common instructions used in PLC programming.
A timer allows the PLC to use time as part of the control logic.
In simple words:
A PLC timer waits …
Read MoreIn the previous post, we covered the basic PLC timer instructions:
TON = Timer On Delay
TOF = Timer Off Delay
RTO = Retentive Timer On
Now we are going one step deeper.
In real …
Read MoreIn industrial automation, a PLC program is not just a file.
It is the brain of the machine.
If the PLC program is lost, outdated, modified incorrectly, or not documented, troubleshooting becomes …
Read MoreCommissioning is the stage where a PLC control system moves from programmed to proven in the real machine.
A program may look correct offline and still fail during startup because commissioning …
Read More
33. PLC Programming Best Practices: Structure, Tags, Comments, and Troubleshooting ( 33 of 35 )
PLC Programming Best Practices
A PLC program should not only make the machine run.
A good PLC program should also be:
Easy to understand
Read MoreEasy to troubleshoot
Easy to modify
Easy to document
Easy to recover
Safe to …