Training

I received an email from blueyeguy40

Hello jvdcande:

If I may be so bold to ask you a few questions?

I am an licensed electrician in central New Jersey USA and would like to get into PLC's. I have a lot of relay logic control skills under my belt but unfortunately it's using actual relays.

What is the best way for a guy like me to relly learn the in's and out's of PLC's? Do I need Computer hardware training then work my way into PLC programming? I have no problem with Ladder Logic programming but when it comes to getting deeper into the code, I am lost. Any recommendations? Your help is most apreciated.

Thanks
Joe Bartolucci

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and I'm not sure how to answer this question.

Joe, I only know how I did it, but I don't know if that was the best way at all! This is my history:

I graduated as an electrical technician in 1980 over here in Belgium. For those who know the Belgian educational system: I was 18 years of age and got an A2 degree.
I immediately started to work for Philips Industrial Components as a machine builder building machines based on wired logic.
After I did my tour of duty in the Belgian army, I continued to work as machinebuilder with Philips. Since I had a lot of free time in the army and I didn't want to loose my skills, I did a lot of reading about electronics and computers. Those days it was still possible to get to know the (details of) in's and out's of the home computers we used in that era: Sinclair ZX81, Sinclair Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Atari ST to name the ones I've used.
Back in 1982 Philips started to install their first PLC's and at the same time had a first reorganisation. At that moment it looked as a good idea to me to get into PLC's, because I thought that knowledge of the latest technologies would prevent me from getting the sack. So I started to show interest. The few guys who were involved in programming the PLC's noticed my involvment and started to train me 'on the fly' and within five years I was able to write a complete program for one family of our machines. Since 1993 I'm teaching people (mostly unemployed) to use and program PLC's and SCADA systems.

So, I won't say you need knowledge of computers, but it surely helps to understand the inner workings of the PLC. I can't advise to follow the same line I did, because I don't know if you would get the same opportunities I got. The best advise nowadays, I guess, is to study PLC's (this site is a very good start) and grab the opportunity when you meet it. Maybe others have got there in another way, so watch this thread and learn.

Good luck,

I cut my teeth with PLCs on the job. I started working for an OEM as a panel builder part time while going to tech school. This turned into a machine wiring and testing position after I graduated. The engineers I worked with were always more than happy to answer questions and give me a chance. The OEM was also willing to let me take on as much as I wanted to. Now I do electrical design and wrote plc programs for a living.
So my case may be a bit special also (then again maybe not). To do this basically 'on your own' you really aren't on your own. You will need people around you who can help and answer questions. You need to be in an environment that encourages you to take on new things.
Most tech schools offer several levels of PLC programming classes. Another thing you can try is to buy a small plc off of eBay and just start trying stuff. If you do try the go-it-on-your-own method, buy Phil's book from this website. It will help you through.
The biggest challenge may be using your knowledge. Basically, if you don't do some amount of programming on a regular basis all the stuff you learn will just be forgotten. I could speak reasonably fluent German about 20 years ago. Now about all I remember is 'Ein Bier, bitte'. Go figure.

Keith

I'm guessing that most of us will answer "on the job" in this poll. Personally, I've taken many training classes at Siemens, but I still have to say that I learned most of what I know while working.

I have taken similar career path as you, jv. I spent four years in the Air Force, learning a lot about electronics. I then bought a TRS Model III and learned Basic. I then picked up skills in a few other oddball things (databases, assembly language), when someone gave me a Siemens S5 101U PLC to mess around with (this would have been about 1984). I've been hooked ever since, and have worked with everything from the 155U to the S7 400s. During the mid 90s, I even taught classes in S5 programming.

During my early years of programming, I was fortunate to work with and learn from some very capable German programmers. Hence, I never did learn ladder programming (the Germans used only STL and FBD).

I would agree that it would be beneficial to take a few computer courses for anyone just starting out. Just about anything would suffice, but I would surely recommend an assembly language class.

Yup, another "on the job" vote from me too. I have a feeling many of us here didn't 'plan to' become PLC programmers either...

When I started, I was using motor driven drum switches to sequence assembly equipment. In the mid '80s I bought an Omron SYSMAC S6 to 'play around with'.

That was the moment I figured out what I was going to be doing for a living...

beerchug

-Eric

Another on the jober!

Like most of us "older" PLC guys, I to started out with a users manual and some hardware and no clue. I was fortunate to get a company I was working for to send me to the AB PLC-2 school in Cleveland. That was the end of my formal training and the rest came from "just do it" situations. Made some mistakes along the way for sure but hung in there and made good use of the situations that came my way. I was a project engineer for over 20 yrs before getting into education so as such, did not do PLC programming everyday nor even on every project. Darn the luck! I really would have loved to do that full time but it was not in the cards. I just wish some of the things available today had been around back then. This forum for one. Of course that would have required the Internet too, so there goes that idea. But think of how much easier our learning period would have been with sites like this, instant access to other materials by online means, and also sim software like LogixPro. Wow, I might have actually become a full time programmer had I been born later. Drat! Still, you really can not beat first hand experience to drive home just how powerful this art really is.

Hi Joe,

I'm PLCs beginner exactly like you. I'm also network specialist and programmer/analyst. The reason I'd like to learn PLCs programming is that I'm supposed to manage a project and do the PLC programming and PIC system development.

I like what S7Guy said.

1. Get something to miss around with.
2. Buy books.
3. Take training if possible.
4. Do assignments (Company or otherwise).

The most important two factors are Education and Commercial Experience. The first three are considered as Eduction and the last one is the hand on experience.

BLCs.NET is an exceptional forum, you will come accross experts with excellent attitude like Daniel, S7Guy and abviously like jv who started this thread just because of you.

I'm pretty sure that you will be an expert and that will be soon. You got the tools, so show us what you're worth. Hopefully we will see you helping people in this Forum one day.

jvdcande:

Thanks for sharing!! Also thanks Guys / Gals for your replies. Looks like I have a lot of building to do. I know my current skills will help me along as I start learning about PLC's. I like thie idea of just going with it. I will be purchasing some of the smaller PLC's like the AB micrologix 1000 to try things out.

You have made me aware of something very important, This FORUM! I am just realizing that as I progress with self teaching / Phil's book and this FORUM, there should be no question un-ANSWERED!!

Sincere Thanks to all!

Joe

I was handed a Mitsubishi A2, a Cincinatti Dynapro touchscreen & protocol converter never having seen a PLC before. My supervisor wrote the Touchscreen app and handed me the documentation to setup the protocol. I was given over a month more time than usual and some old programs to look at for the project but little help. I managed to get the program correct and the machine was well recieved by the customer. The machine was comprised of a load platform, 3 chemical/rinse baths with fill, drain, heating, and recirc logic. three motor product transfer system capable of midair transfer. It was a lot of fun.

Hi all
Like most of folks here i have learned PLC prohramming "on job" .Actually i think that there is some thing more important than taking courses in how to program a plc that you should have the capabilitiy to under stand the process you are going to program the plc for very quickly and accuratley this will ease creating the program and this also will increase with experiance and with every PLC you program you learn mors.
I think this part in not widley available in the books and courses or manuals ,most of us gaind this knowlage from work.
In the same time reading manuals is very important to know the commands of the PLC and benift fromeach of them in your programm.
Thanks

I was handed an Omron C200H, a handheld programmer and a manual (a very good one) and told to go at it. I already had an excellent knowledge of hardwired controls, troubleshooting and repair. It really wasn't much to convert the wiring diagrams of the old relay logic into ladder logic.

Hummm!!! I was the first to chose "Books". Yap! I bought a PLC and it came with a book.

If you are going to purchase a small PLC for training, might I suggest an Omron CPM1A instead of a Micrologix. You can perform online programming with the CPM1A. Also, CX-Programmer will program all the latest Omron PLCs. One programming package fits all. Better than buying several sets of very expensive software. It is very powerfull, programmable etc. A really good starting point. You can also purchase a simulator for Omron CX-Programmer and then you do not require a PLC for early training.
I will no longer purchase a PLC that cannot be programmed on line. Too much fiddling about starting and stopping processors etc.
beerchug

I learned how to program in school. At first we had a class that was centered around PLC programming and wiring connections. But I felt the class had nothing much to offer as usually the projects consisted of running just one or two motors etc...well, simple enough for me (although not entirely at first.) But then I became part of a student lab and my thesis project involved PLC programming so I grabbed the chance to actually study it, in-depth and without restraint (since the project did not really have a single solution, so I tinkered with the PLC for awhile.) I guess I chose school, but it was more or less self-study, and, well more work-based than attending classes. This is probably the best for me...I needed the basics, so I got that from attending classes. But the rest (beyond basics) came when interest overtook me...and I still am learning. (If I'd known about this site long before, then my answer would probably be this site.)

Great News

Hi All:
Thanks again for your replies. With your help and this forum I have been able to purchase a AB Micrologix 1000 with cable and download the RSLogix 500 software, as well as the RSLogix 500 Getting Results Manual, wire it up and actually activate an output!!!!

I naturally bragged about my sucess to my wonderful wife who looked over at me and asked, "so how's the house plans comming along". It was then I realized... its no hope, she will never understand!

I will begin installing different switches into the inputs and see what I can do to simulate different systems. As for the outputs, I am thinking of some lights and a motor or two.

As I progress through this learning process I will be working with the documentation I am able to dl from Rockwell Software as well as Phil's Book. I will also be simulating situations I come across in my day to day travels.

Is there a set of simulations I should be focusing on? I realize there are all kinds of combinations but I wonder if there are some that do a good job of covering most of what we do with these wonderful little plastic boxes!!

Thanks Again
Joe

I naturally bragged about my sucess to my wonderful wife who looked over at me and asked, "so how's the house plans comming along". It was then I realized... its no hope, she will never understand!

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You'll get that alot. It's a common phenomenon. People just don't understand if they don't do it.

Good job and keep it up!!

Keith