New to PLC programming

crackerbuzz · Dec 12, 2016

Hi all,

I am a process engineer specialising in wastewater treatment plants (design & build).

I have been involved in the PLC design structure and layout of process plants but have not been trained in programming myself as of yet. (I have always contracted the programming side out).

I am now looking to get involved in the PLC programming industry and am looking for some advice.

1: What is the best PLC hardware & software currently? (opinions)
2: Are drag & drop software programs available yet, or are they still based on coding language etc?

Sorry if this sounds a little too fresh!

gclshortt · Dec 12, 2016

http://accautomation.ca/programming/plc-basics/

http://accautomation.ca/five-steps-to-plc-program-development/

The above steps will give you a basic knowledge of what is involved in PLC program development. Understanding of your process is more important then the actual coding of the program.

The best PLC hardware and software? That is a loaded question. Different applications would be better suited to some manufacturers.

I would check out the Productivity 2000 series for a wastewater plant.
https://www.automationdirect.com/p2000/index

Hope this helps you out.
Regards,

janner_10 · Dec 12, 2016

Personally I would try and learn the manufacturer that is mostly installed in your plant already.

No point learning Siemens if your plant is AB etc.

A second hand unit in the office connected to some switches and lamps will cost a few hundred £ / $ from Ebay. Sadly the software is going to be the biggest outlay, if its from one of the big 2.

There is a massive amount of info on You Tube of how to get started. I personally found sitting down with Google and the manual a great challenge and lots of fun learning as you go, but horses for courses, you may wish to go the classroom route.

Most of my piers learnt as they went.

crackerbuzz · Dec 12, 2016

janner_10 said:
Personally I would try and learn the manufacturer that is mostly installed in your plant already.

No point learning Siemens if your plant is AB etc.

A second hand unit in the office connected to some switches and lamps will cost a few hundred £ / $ from Ebay. Sadly the software is going to be the biggest outlay, if its from one of the big 2.

There is a massive amount of info on You Tube of how to get started. I personally found sitting down with Google and the manual a great challenge and lots of fun learning as you go, but horses for courses, you may wish to go the classroom route.

Most of my piers learnt as they went.

Thanks for the replies guys... No I am looking at doing this as a career, so multiple process and plants may be programmed, therefore I guess I would need to learn multiple platforms?

Gerry · Dec 12, 2016

Here in NZ you're most likely to encounter AB/Rockwell across the major industries. Get proficient with their products and you will be employable.

janner_10 · Dec 13, 2016

Pretty much the same here. If you can speak Rockwell & Siemens, you will be set up for employment for life.

geniusintraining · Dec 13, 2016

crackerbuzz said:
I am a process engineer specialising in wastewater treatment plants (design & build).

If your looking to stay in that industry than you may want to read Tom's book

http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/showthread.php?t=83233

I think he uses a lot of Automation Direct and not sure if you can get them in NZ but just about any PLC will work as they all do the samething, I think I would look at Siemens TIA

crackerbuzz · Dec 13, 2016

Gerry said:
Here in NZ you're most likely to encounter AB/Rockwell across the major industries. Get proficient with their products and you will be employable.

Thanks Gerry!

crackerbuzz · Dec 13, 2016

Thanks for the info peoples, this gives me something to grab onto. Cheers!

Dravik · Dec 13, 2016

If you can, Learn the basics of all the IEC 61131-3 languages(Or at least Ladder, Function Block, and Structured Text).

That will serve you well with ANY of the PLC brands out there.

crackerbuzz · Dec 13, 2016

Dravik said:
If you can, Learn the basics of all the IEC 61131-3 languages(Or at least Ladder, Function Block, and Structured Text).

That will serve you well with ANY of the PLC brands out there.

Brilliant, cheers!

Saturn_Europa · Dec 13, 2016

crackerbuzz said:
Brilliant, cheers!

To avoid calls from frustrated plant maintenance staff at 3 in the morning, I would recommend staying away from structured text.

janner_10 · Dec 14, 2016

Saturn_Europa said:
To avoid calls from frustrated plant maintenance staff at 3 in the morning, I would recommend staying away from structured text.

Poor advice. It is prudent to learn the main 3 programming styles. Because each has their own benefits and own situational use.

Unless its in the customers spec, you write in whatever way suits you and you feel more comfortable with and one that gets the job done.

What the Maintenance guy can beothered to learn or not learn, is of no concern to you.

geniusintraining · Dec 14, 2016

janner_10 said:
What the Maintenance guy can beothered to learn or not learn, is of no concern to you.

So I take it you dont get the phone calls in the middle of the night, I would learn them all but for the most part write in ladder... and its not just so you dont get the phone calls but you also want your customer to be happy with your product, if their people can not fix/troubleshoot it and they have to call you every time then you did a disservice not a service for them

gclshortt · Dec 14, 2016

Write your programs so they read like book. Make it easy for others to follow the logic and the sequence.
A well written program is also a well documented one.

New to PLC programming

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