Studying PLC

Please advise, I would like to learn PLC through hands-on. I am willing to buy a PLC, please recommend a simple and cheap one but enough to be acquinted with PLC's.

There are several options.

Being from Canada which is also a strong user of Allen Bradley PLC's you may want to look at the Micrologix 1000 which can be purchased for approximately $99 US and has a free version of RSLogix available. You still have to buy the cable.
http://www.ab.com/plclogic/micrologix/

Automation Direct
They also offer a $99 US DL05 but you have to purchase the software and cable.

If you can find a GE Fanuc 90-30 on ebay or elsewhere a downloadable version of LogicMaster can be found on the http://www.gefanuc.com site
You would have to purchase the adapter/cable.

Fuji Electric http://www.fujielectric.com/distr/elc.htm offers plc's starting at $81 US with free software, you have to purchase the cable.

NOTE: In some cases you may be able to build the cable. Also look on http:// www.ebay.com for controllers that you may be able to obtain software for that is free or at least a working demo.

Hope this helps.

If you are in Admonton ..I recommend NAIT

Dear Ron,
If you are living in Admonton or somewhere near..
I recommend you .To study in NAIT.(Northern Alberta Institute of Technology).There is a lot of huge lab. about PLC(AB) ..a good professor there ..I am not sure Prof.Job Den Otter, he retire from NAIT or not yet but he is very kind to me ....(I have got his plc's book from him ) . Also,another Professor..he can teach you from begining to advance ( control a little plant.)
I have spend a time there for 4 months (not enough ) .
My answer is your's chance..As Prof.rsdoran said( I have not paid money for him)
If you are here in Thailand. I recommend Mitsubishi
If you are in EU..(Siemens Step7)
In Canada or USA..(AB ,Modicon..)
But if you are in Admonton.....go to NAIT.
http://www.nait.ab.ca/schools/seet/default.htm

I hope when you are there you will agree with me.

platootod

About Nait

Hi Platootod,
Can you please tell me which kind of formation i can get to Nait, and how much does it cost?
I'm really interest to learn about Allen Bradley PLC.

Thanks.

SAIT has more options

SAIT in Calgary rocks....

I just completed a 200 Hour series of 6 courses that I would recommend to anyone. It covers RSLogix, PLC-5, Panelview, and RSView32. Quite in depth too. Previous to that I built my own SLC trainer and am considering putting it up on ebay.

Calgary is farther away from me than Edmonton, but offers weekend classes......

You can get a good Allen Bradley simulator/trainer for 0 - 36 USD at:

www.thelearningpit.com

Anything else will be at least 100-300 USD, because you may need a
special cable (100USD), in addition to a brick PLC (100USD), and the
software.

In addition to the GE 90/30, consider the Siemens S-200 series, these sell for around 100USD on eBay for the very popular 214 model. However, you will need a cable (120USD) and software (free trial on up to ?).

My advice: Downlod The Learning Pit simulaor free trial first, and do the 'Silo', without any help except the A/B (included) documentation.
It's great and free.

Dear Patson
http://www.nait.ca/

Everybody has their opinion on a good PLC to train on.

You can find my opinion here: http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/showthread.php?postid=45681#post45681

Good Luck with it.

Mike