I am very confused after a lengthy search of the allen bradley website and other online information regarding what is the easiest way to connect a SLC 500 to your computer.
Let me tell u what I have learned first.
More advanced processors have more communication options. Almost all PLC CPU's (same thing as a processor) have the DH 485 ports. Your computer has a familiar USB port.
So how do u connect the computer to the PLC processor? Well...hmm....
Is there such thing as a cable that has one end DH 485 and the other USB? I think the answer is no. Your computer needs to "interface" before it can talk to (communicate) with the PLC processor.
So what do you do? There is an expensive 1747 PIC controller, and it allows networking of multiple computer stations.
But if your doing this to learn like me, for fun...then why not investigate the 1747 UIC? It is a device that connects to your computer with a USB, and it has a little switch to let u select the DH-485 port or the big ugly RS 232 port. An RS 232 port has many pins and 2 screws to hold it to the cable. But forget the RS 232 port, just use the DH-485 because almost all processor types (SLC 500, 5/01, 5/02, etc.) use this.
Then the cat 5 or the more expensive allen bradley 1747 C10 cable connects from the UIC's DH-485 port into the processor's communication port.
Ok thats what I know. Probably there are errors in my logic.
First off, check out
http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/arch/topic/6991-1.html
This is where I found out that an ordinary CAT 5 cable would work instead of letting allen bradley do what they do best - rip you off-
Ebay sells cat5 cable, retailing for approx. 3 dollars CA
allen bradley sells 1747-C13, retailing for approx. 50 dollars CA
Question 1.Is this right? Is CAT 5 cable ok to use?
Question 2. Is there such thing as a cable that has one end DH 485 and the other USB? Is any computer/PLC processor interface even necessary?
Question 3. Is the PIC better for only using one computer to control small PLC applications, example: one PLC with a small power supply, one processor, and only a few I/0 cards in the same rack? Or is the UIC mentioned above a good choice?
Question 4. Please suggest any other thing I need to know about communicating with a PLC.
Question 5. What are your feelings about buying I/O cards off of ebay? They are cheap, but no manuals, specs, wiring diagrams? I guess its pretty much plug in the modular processor, I/o card, etc and go. plug and play in other words?
Question 6. Is there anyone who has tried using the 1747 UIC? Why did you buy it instead of connecting it in the more common PIC communication method?
Processor info:
http://literature.rockwellautomation.com/idc/groups/literature/documents/br/1747-br007_-en-p.pdf
Thanks for any help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andrew
please reply even if u can only answer one of the questions. thanks.
Let me tell u what I have learned first.
More advanced processors have more communication options. Almost all PLC CPU's (same thing as a processor) have the DH 485 ports. Your computer has a familiar USB port.
So how do u connect the computer to the PLC processor? Well...hmm....
Is there such thing as a cable that has one end DH 485 and the other USB? I think the answer is no. Your computer needs to "interface" before it can talk to (communicate) with the PLC processor.
So what do you do? There is an expensive 1747 PIC controller, and it allows networking of multiple computer stations.
But if your doing this to learn like me, for fun...then why not investigate the 1747 UIC? It is a device that connects to your computer with a USB, and it has a little switch to let u select the DH-485 port or the big ugly RS 232 port. An RS 232 port has many pins and 2 screws to hold it to the cable. But forget the RS 232 port, just use the DH-485 because almost all processor types (SLC 500, 5/01, 5/02, etc.) use this.
Then the cat 5 or the more expensive allen bradley 1747 C10 cable connects from the UIC's DH-485 port into the processor's communication port.
Ok thats what I know. Probably there are errors in my logic.
First off, check out
http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/arch/topic/6991-1.html
This is where I found out that an ordinary CAT 5 cable would work instead of letting allen bradley do what they do best - rip you off-
Ebay sells cat5 cable, retailing for approx. 3 dollars CA
allen bradley sells 1747-C13, retailing for approx. 50 dollars CA
Question 1.Is this right? Is CAT 5 cable ok to use?
Question 2. Is there such thing as a cable that has one end DH 485 and the other USB? Is any computer/PLC processor interface even necessary?
Question 3. Is the PIC better for only using one computer to control small PLC applications, example: one PLC with a small power supply, one processor, and only a few I/0 cards in the same rack? Or is the UIC mentioned above a good choice?
Question 4. Please suggest any other thing I need to know about communicating with a PLC.
Question 5. What are your feelings about buying I/O cards off of ebay? They are cheap, but no manuals, specs, wiring diagrams? I guess its pretty much plug in the modular processor, I/o card, etc and go. plug and play in other words?
Question 6. Is there anyone who has tried using the 1747 UIC? Why did you buy it instead of connecting it in the more common PIC communication method?
Processor info:
http://literature.rockwellautomation.com/idc/groups/literature/documents/br/1747-br007_-en-p.pdf
Thanks for any help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andrew
please reply even if u can only answer one of the questions. thanks.
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