Car Wash replacement controller

ganutenator · Apr 24, 2016

Company that orig. built equipment is gone.

I have the program.

Customers are looking for features like:
email alarms
door control
remote access via phone, ipad, pc.
weep system
etc.

The plc used in all of these car washes is an old direct logics plc.

Apparently, the power supply in these things goes bad.

Getting difficult to replace.

Current system has no hmi.

If I could get the hardware for under 1k I think I could do it.

I'm thinking wago plc.

No HMI picked out yet.

Was wondering about those hmi touchscreens that also did controls, as the controls for the car wash seem pretty light.

Biggest problem is that the controls are 120VAC.

daba · Apr 24, 2016

Weintek do a HMI system (cMT series) that you can use iPads on WiFi, they can generate emails, etc. They are extremely cheap and cheerful, and if the HMI isn't "loaded" could be an option.

Programming software is free too. Just a bit lacking in error reporting at compile time, and "animation" on screen objects is very limited, although I've yet to check out the newest version downloaded today which is supposed to offer "enhanced" animation capabilities.

Aabeck · Apr 24, 2016

You could check into AdvancedHMI. It's free, runs on Windows, even a Windows tablet with WiFi. Can email any alarm condition, even status updates.

psgama · Apr 24, 2016

Check out Horner APG they have a PLC /HMI combo that will do all those things I believe.

BITS N BYTES · Apr 24, 2016

My #1 personal choice for simple combination HMI/PLC.
http://us.idec.com/Catalog/ProductSeries.aspx?SeriesName=10_SmartAXIS_Touch&FamilyName=40_PLC_HMI
Very high quality,reasonable prices and great support.

keithkyll · Apr 24, 2016

ganutenator said:
The plc used in all of these car washes is an old direct logics plc.
Apparently, the power supply in these things goes bad.
Getting difficult to replace.
Biggest problem is that the controls are 120VAC.

Direct Logic PLC is Automation Direct. Why not stay with AD, and update the PLC to newer hardware?

shooter · Apr 25, 2016

As i am a wago fan use the 750 series, and a simple PC as HMI, if needed at all.
120 Volts is no problem for the modules.
as the PC has ethernet, you can have it controlled anywhere in the world.

ganutenator · Apr 25, 2016

keithkyll said:
Direct Logic PLC is Automation Direct. Why not stay with AD, and update the PLC to newer hardware?

Same reason I don't buy my tools at Harbor Freight

ganutenator · Apr 25, 2016

shooter said:
As i am a wago fan use the 750 series, and a simple PC as HMI, if needed at all.
120 Volts is no problem for the modules.
as the PC has ethernet, you can have it controlled anywhere in the world.

I'm leaning towards Wago do to the fact that I already know codesys and its modbus tcp support.

plc for aprox $395
and idec hmi for aprox $250.

that still doesn't give me email alerts and smart phone access though.

gclshortt · Apr 25, 2016

If a screen is what you need then the Horner is the way to go. The front screen is rated for wash-down.
http://www.hornercanada.com/
I have seen these used in car washes.
Software is a free download.
Regards,

hagos · Apr 25, 2016

Plc/hmi

Win AC_MP from Siemens could be a good choice either.

Your MP (Multi Panel) could act as an S7-300 CPU & an HMI at the same time.
Using Simatic Manager & WinCC Flexible+Win AC softwares will give you the powerful capabilities of Siemens PLC/HMI combination.

Best regards
Hagos

diat150 · Apr 25, 2016

ganutenator said:
Same reason I don't buy my tools at Harbor Freight

Im not a huge fan of automation direct software, but I have never really heard of anyone having problems with the hardware.

I just used a click the other day and found to to be quite nice.

Doug-P · Apr 25, 2016

diat150 said:
Im not a huge fan of automation direct software, but I have never really heard of anyone having problems with the hardware.

I replaced quite a few memory caps in DL105s and had to discard a few whole units for stuck relays.

mk42 · Apr 25, 2016

hagos said:
Win AC_MP from Siemens could be a good choice either.

Your MP (Multi Panel) could act as an S7-300 CPU & an HMI at the same time.
Using Simatic Manager & WinCC Flexible+Win AC softwares will give you the powerful capabilities of Siemens PLC/HMI combination.

Best regards
Hagos

As far as I know, Siemens doesn't sell the MP panels any more, and that solution would have cost a fair bit more than $1k.

In a Siemens solution, you could do S7-1200 and a Basic Panel. S7-1200 has a web page option, and I think it has blocks for sending emails. It also supports modbus TCP, per one of OP's other comments.

BITS N BYTES · Apr 25, 2016

As your application is fairly simple you might consider the new IDEC smart relay. This includes a built-in WebServer, IOS and Android capability.

http://us.idec.com/Catalog/ProductS...L1F_SmartRelay&FamilyName=Programmable_Relays

And NO. I do not work for or represent IDEC.
Though not as well known as the big names, I have always been impressed with their products. High quality and feature full.

Car Wash replacement controller

ganutenator

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