The only big drawback to using a real SLC for testing is the fact that your rack configuration must match the actual hardware being used and that may not always be possible. You can cheat around the I/O cards in some cases but not the rack config.
A real SLC with matching hardware is of course the best way to test things though, since you can test I/O hardware and PID loops with it.
The ab website is better than most in my opinion. Their big problem is the volume of information they make available. They end up burying the basic stuff amongst a huge pile of superfluous details.
I have found that by searching the
literature library and sorting by Publication Type in Descending order that I am usually able to find user manuals and reference manuals quite easily.
I also really like the parts
configuration wizards that let you go in and select components and options and give you a list price. You just enter a part number and if it matches, you'll jump to a list price page with links to manuals, drawings, and sometimes a Modify button that takes you to the configuration wizards where you can change options. Only problem with the wizards is that they don't always have them updated with the latest hardware and they don't function when using Google Chrome as a web browser.
Once in a while I use the google search in the upper right corner of their home page to find obscure items.
The knowledgebase is pretty useful too, except that it is also overloaded with sometimes obsolete information and some of the articles, while timely and usually accurate, are not very elegantly edited. We are lucky to have tech connect access, and I think it's disgraceful that they require a contract to view way too many of those tech notes.
I don't know if you looked at this comparison:
9324-RL0350ENE (Logix 500/Emulate Bundle) = $1920
9324-RL0300ENE (Logix 500 Standard) = $1280
It might be hard to configure a full SLC rack for testing for under $640...
Good Luck!
Paul