Courses on PLCs

Hi, Folks...
I work as an electronics instructor at a post-secondary school in Pittsburgh, PA. We are considering adding a short course on PLCs to our curriculum, to sort of "round out" our program of training commercial electronics technicians ( 2 - year degree level ).

I have already purchased Phil's excellent book on the subject, but I'm afraid that's the limit of my PLC experience. Can any of you give me a hint on a possible next move?
Thanks!

I'd suggest contacting the local reps of the major PLC vendors. Most of them have programs to provide hardware and software to schools at reduced prices. This could allow you to include a hands-on lab as part of your course.

For an instructor, consider hiring a local integrator as adjunct faculty. You might also contact the plant engineers or maintenance managers from nearby manufacturing facilities to see if they would be interested in moonlighting. If you involve the HR managers from the same companies, they might even be willing to 'loan' you someone to be the instructor if they can be convinced that there's a PR benefit to them. Obviously, you need somebody who's comfortable with public speaking, but an instructor from an industrial setting will probably be more current with the state of the art than someone from your existing faculty.

Thanks a bunch, Steve. There are a couple of local A - B distributors who have set me up to go to a PLC workshop being held here in Pittsburgh in February. I can probably "hook up" with somebody there. I appreciate the quick comeback. Thanks again!
Butch55

Get your hands dirty

The next step is to move from book learning to practical experience.

Get a PLC, preferably one with analog ins and outs, then go to Radio shack for some motors, lights, switchs, etc, and build somthing.

It doesn't matter what you build - traffic light controlled intersection, a beverage dispenser, an alarm clock - just dealing with REAL I/O, wiring, timing issues, scan-races, will get you practical experience that you'll need.

And you'll get reaquianted with two old friends: Ma Nature and Mr. Murphy.

Which PLC to buy?

DON"T ASK THAT QUESTION HERE!!

Some previous threads for ideas on inexpensive starter PLCs

http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1326
http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/showthread.php?s=&threadid=552
http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/showthread.php?s=&threadid=456

PLC Courses

Great advice, Allen ...
Actually, this idea of adding a PLC course to our curriculum grew out of just such a circumstance! We need one ( we think ) for a training simulator to be used in one of our other programs. I told the big wheels here we could do it with relays, etc. ( 'bout 52 of them ) or, we could buy a PLC ( a little one ), and if we weren't careful, we might learn something! Judging from the support I have already gotten just from this website, et al, I think I know which way to go... Just gotta get a purchase order made up! Thanks!
Butch55

This is a great site. Lots of links.
http://www.thelearningpit.com/

I wrote this earlier but my network stopped so its late, forgive the redundancy.

checkout http://www.thelearningpit.com

Another good site is http://www.mrplc.com
Example codes, tips, etc for most major brands

Determine what brand you want to use, obtain software and either a plc or trainer system. Talk to the local distributors and or manufacturer reps, most brands offer educational discounts on software and hardware. You may also obtain training yourself thru a distributorship, which I would hope you would strongly consider. If possible see if you can visit some manufacturing plants to see where they are being used and look at some schematics talk with the technicians etc. Maybe your school has developed a relationship with some local companies that would allow this.

May want to study this too:
http://www.patchn.com/plcs.html

You should also download the exellent material at this site, particularly if you are looking at Allen Bradley:

http://claymore.engineer.gvsu.edu/~jackh/plcbook.html

Regardless of the PLC brand you end up with, try to put together control labs for the students where they can actually watch the results of the program - a PLC controlled clothes dryer or some such. For the love of Pete (or Phil) DO NOT have them do a traffic light program!

PLC Courses

To rsdoran & Tom Jenkins:

This is really good stuff! Thanks a million!

Butch55

Logix pro from Prof. Bill

I agree with all nice plc tutors here.
For the one who is teaching in PLC..
(I also, a little teacher in this area)

The software's name logixpro run excellent...
Some nice graphics make student intersting to learn.
Without hardware(plc)people can learn...
With hardware(especially plc AB)that very wonderful
www.thelearningpit.com
now available with CD version at www.koldwater.com

Also,...Automation Studio from Famic..
www.automationstudio.com

And more special course with a lot of PLC..Specialists
www.plcs.net
Thanks to Prof. Phil

platootod

Thanks a lot, platootod! I'll try those websites!