plc programming

[courtwba1]

does any1 now of a course i can do in the west midlands,to learn how to profram plc's i am a novice

 

[Marvo]

Try your local suppliers and agents of the PLC's you're using for training courses.

 

[pmac10]

your local college should offer a generic course covering the basics of plc programming, its all the same language, just tweaked by manufacturer.
ps. welcome to the forum.

 

[Spoon242]

What PLC make do you want to learn, I am experienced in Siemens PLC's and would recommend an entry level course with them at the Manchester headquarters.

 

[Spoon242]

What PLC make do you want to learn, I am experienced in Siemens PLC's and would recommend an entry level course with them at the Manchester headquarters.

And by reading carefully I can see Profram PLC's haha. Never seen them

 

[courtwba1]

mainly allen bradley but i wouldny mind doing s7

 

[denizen360]

Hi friend.. why you are wasting your money.. you can learn plc programming yourself itself ..it is very simple.. from sourceforge you can download plc simulator and you can make ladder logic in it..

PLC programming tutorial
simulator : ClassicLadder | Free Science & Engineering software downloads at SourceForge.net

 

[LiveWire007]

If you are still looking, a course that MAY be of interest to you is the Elektor Distant Learning course-Programming Embedded PIC micro-controllers.

 

[LiveWire007]

Forgot to mention it isnt cheap

 

[Darkwood]

If you remember logic functions from school and had no problem with them then you can easily self teach with a starter kit ... i prefer siemens logo and when i first got the kit it took me 1hr to et to grips with it and write a simple programme, if you are wanting more advanced programming then yes a course is advisable but myself i gave myself the time to learn it and its second nature now, the only design point you have to be aware of is making the programme idiot proof as with all control systems as well as fail safe too.

 

[i=p/u]

you could run courses in your garage darkwood.... learning plc's on engineering course is all i can find in northern ireland, cant be assed with any more colleges,

what is the basic beginners info, if you know nothing about it , except controls

 

[Darkwood]

I never touched a PLC until 5 years ago i bought a starter kit and loaded the software up onto computer, id done a working programme within the hour as its that easy, the logo has a book thats easy to follow and quick to pick up but to write advanced programmes you really do need a working knowledge of control systems so you dont write a fuctional but unsafe programme, alot of the thinking is needed to try make it fool proof and fail safe.

E.G.

If input 1(switch) and input 2(switch) are positive then close output relay 1(light)

This is a simple logic gate using 'AND' gate, if input-1 AND input 2 are positive then the light is lit if the input are configured any other way than both positive then the lamp wont light, change the 'AND' gate for an 'OR' gate and the lamp will light if either input or even both are are positive and will only be unlit with both switches off.

 

[Darkwood]

Here's a very basic loic programme the boxes on the left may be 24v inputs if any give a 24v signal then the 'OR' gate will give an output to the 'AND' gate which will only give and output if both is inputs are positive, this then will send signal to output ... this can be a 24v output or closing a relay which will have the control wire to operate the secondary supply in this case.

 

[SteveG]

Oh my gosh, I hate the words 'simple' and plc programming put in the same sentence.

The logo plc and other programmable relay devices aren't really plc's.

Sure you can make them do small tasks and fool yourself you are a programmer but you might notice they hardly ever feature
in real automation projects. (and in no situation vacant for a programmer do they ever ask for someone who can program a Siemens logo)

If someone says it's easy or simple, they haven't done it for real.

Of course you can teach yourself PLC programming; it's a long hard slog and you have to have certain knowledge before you start.

All the 'field' devices have to, and can talk to the plc. That's not just buttons and limit switches - Transducers, P to I devices, Inverters, temperature devices etc etc.

If you want to teach yourself, be prepared to burn the midnight oil with a plc, the software and a good programming book.
Starting at page 1 and not moving on until you have fully understood it.

 

[Darkwood]

Welcome to the Forum steve.

Im not sure where your strong feeling arises here no one has said PLC programming is simple and yes agree its a very complex system and can take yrs to fully learn, what was said is its easy to learn the very basics of say a logo or zelio etc and write a simple program ....

Ill disagree with you with regards to these units not been PLC's by definition of the programming of both Ladder and function block form is basically the same as a high end system its just the advanced options and available I/O's can be limited on the smaller ones even with expension modules, my own responses were as an introduction level programming and i do believe this can be picked up really quickly but i did express id recommend a college course to progress any further, im a electrical engineer and have fitted 20+ PLC's (Zelio and logo my preferred choice) last year in my automated control systems utilising the many advanced functions of them to talk to analogue and digital devices, the new generation of devices now incorporate the functions usually only found in larger PLC units.