Greetings Damian,
Am I correct in assuming if I were to connect to the PLC and go online in the program. Then open the INPUT data table: When I press the on button I should see a bit on the table change either from 0 to 1 or 1 to 0?
basically, yes ... but with the MicroLogix 1200 that you are working with, the processor MUST be in the RUN mode for this to work ... in other words, the processor does not “read” inputs from the field unless it is in the RUN mode ...
The same on the out put table, but here if I change a bit from 0 to 1 the device connected to the PLC should turn on?
basically, yes ... but again, the processor MUST be in the RUN mode for this to work ... in other words, the processor does not “turn on” outputs in the field unless it is in the RUN mode ...
further ... IF you put a “1” on the output table ... AND the “1” stays there, then the field output should come ON ... but ... IF you put a “1” on the output table ... AND the “1” does NOT stay there (specifically it changes right back to a “0”), then the field output will NOT come on ... this “the-1-won’t-stick” effect will occur because something in your existing program is “controlling” the bit and turning it right back OFF again ... in that case you (the human) need “more power” ... you can use a “force” to override the ladder logic program and “force” the output come on in spite of the ladder logic program ...
now ... while all of this “pressing of the buttons” and “changing of the output bits” activity is going on, keep an eye on the little LEDs on the front of the processor ...
basic idea for inputs: pressing a button in the field SHOULD make the appropriate LED go OFF and ON ... if it does NOT do this, then the first thing you should do is check the field wiring, button contacts, etc. ... now you MIGHT CONCEIVABLY have a bad input on the MicroLogix ... but ... chances are that there is something wrong in the field ... specifically ... if the LED does NOT light up on the MicroLogix, then don’t waste your time looking at the Input Table with the software ... nailed down: if the LED doesn’t see the input signal, then the processor can NOT see it either ...
basic idea for outputs: forcing an output OFF and ON with the software SHOULD make the appropriate LED go OFF and ON ... if it does this, then you can expect the field device to go OFF and ON too ... if the field device still does NOT go OFF and ON, then the first thing you should do is check the field wiring, output device, etc. ... now you MIGHT CONCEIVABLY have a bad output on the MicroLogix ... but ... chances are that there is something wrong in the field ... specifically ... if the LED lights up on the MicroLogix, then don’t waste your time looking at the Output Table with the software ... nailed down: if the LED comes ON, then the processor is doing everything in its power (bless its little heart) to turn the field device ON ...
sorry I haven’t had time to download ANY of your programs ... work is pressing ... and ...
DISCLAIMER: I haven’t had time to proofread the information I’ve posted above ... but if I’m wrong, then somebody will probably correct it pretty soon ... sorry if I dropped a stitch ... got to get back to work ...