to use SLC-100 or MicroLogix 1500

[zephxiii]

I have a project where we are life cycling a piece of equipment. The cycle lasts a week long and has 6 modes of operation where 5 of the modes will energize an output and the 6th will have no outputs energized. Each mode of the cycle can vary in length from 30min, to 60, 120, 240, 330, and 1440min.

I have programmed a SLC-100 in the past for another test but it was rather simple with only 4 outputs with each one energized for 36s in succession of each other. It was something we had laying around and we had the handheld programmer for it and it works (and still working).

We also have a MicroLogix 1500 laying around unused but not the software to program it.

I was thinking we could pickup another SLC-100 for cheap and use that....but with its older limits (timer max at 999.99, 32 timers/counters max etc.) it seems like that would make programming more lengthy, complicated, and difficult trying to map out the program on paper

I was wondering if it does make more sense to stick with the 1500 and get the software as that would be easier to program?

or

If there is anything else out there that would be better suited?

 

[bernie_carlton]

If s SLC-100 met your needs before then a Micrologix 1000 or 1100 would probably do it now. The 1100 is expandable. What's more - they both can use the free "Micro Starter Lite" version of RSLogix 500.

 

[JeffKiper]

Where are you located in Indiana.

I would go with 1100 much easier to work with compared to an SLC 100

 

[jrwb4gbm]

I'm kinda partial to the SLC100 myself, but I'm old and retired. The 1st link is a link to a site for the interface and cable. Scroll about half way down the page. See 2nd link below for the software.
Cable Link:
http://www.ind-concepts.com/Allen_Bradley_PLC_Cables.htm

Software link:
http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/attachment.php?attachmentid=6323&d=1171421880

 

[TConnolly]

Welcome to the forum.


I'm adding another vote to use a Micrologix1100. The software is free for the 1100, while software for a ML1500 will run more than what a ML1100 will cost you. The ML1100 will also give you ethernet connectivity, online programming capability, and a LCD interface that can be used for things like changing processor mode, or in a pinch, modifying the program.

 

[Lancie1]

If there is anything else out there that would be better suited?

I'm with Tim and others. For your particular situation, buy a used MicroLogix 1100 for about $250, then upload the free Micro Starter Lite version of RSLogix500. If you accidently mis-wire a used ML 1100, it should not be a career-killer to lose $250.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=m570.l3201&_nkw=MicroLogix+1100+PLC&_sacat=0

 

[TConnolly]

I'm kinda partial to the SLC100 myself, but I'm old and retired. The 1st link is a link to a site for the interface and cable. Scroll about half way down the page. See 2nd link below for the software.
Cable Link:
http://www.ind-concepts.com/Allen_Bradley_PLC_Cables.htm

Software link:
http://www.plctalk.net/qanda/attachment.php?attachmentid=6323&d=1171421880

zephxiii,

JUST FYI: Should you decide to go the SLC100 route then you need to know the PCIS software will run on a WIN XP computer but it won't be able to access the serial port. In order to connect to the PLC you'll have to install and run a DOSBOX virtual machine and then install PCIS in the virtual DOS machine. There are several threads in the forum on how to do this, do a forum search on the keywords PICS or DOSBOX using the search option on the blue bar above the google search.

 

[zephxiii]

I am fond of the SLC-100 but for this project I want to go with either the MicroLogix 1000 or 1100 now that I've been playing with the software .

Ebay is definitely where I'll be picking one of those up. I did a quick scan and saw the 1000s for <200. If i can get the 1100 for less than 300 then that would be good. I did a quick scan and thought i saw them in the 400-500 range.

I need to get familiar with the model numbering scheme for both so that I verify the output sets ( I thought saw some models that were rated for 24dc etc. but not sure). I'll be working with 120VAC and need a minimum of 5 outputs.

Also is there a free emulator i can play around with the RsLogix Micro Starter Lite until i get a unit in?

 

[Mickey]

Also is there a free emulator i can play around with the RsLogix Micro Starter Lite until i get a unit in?

Yup, see link.

http://www.ab.com/linked/programmablecontrol/plc/micrologix/downloads.html

 

[Lancie1]

I'll be working with 120VAC and need a minimum of 5 outputs.

There are 3 voltage levels for most PLCs, including the ML 1100: voltage that powers the PLC electronics, voltage for the PLC Inputs, voltage for the PLC outputs. Each of these 3 levels can be the same, or all different. If you want a ML 1100 that runs on 120 VAC, then look at a model that has an "A" at the end:

ML 1100 models 1763-L16AWA and 1763-L16BWA run on 120 VAC. All other ML 1100 models run on 24 VDC. The 1763-L16DWD will also run on 12 VDC.

Model 1763-L16AWA also has an "A" after the I/O quantitiy, that indicates it also has 120 VAC inputs.

The 1763-L16BWA, 1763-L16BBB, and 1763-L16DWD all have DC inputs of 12 to 24 Volts DC.

The 1763-L16AWA, 1763-L16BWA, and 1763-L16DWD all have AC/DC relay outputs.

The 1763-L16BBB has FET (Field-Effect Transistor) 24 Volts DC outputs.

 

[kolyur]

It sounds like you have your mind made up already, but be aware that RSLogix Micro Starter (9324-RLM0100ENE) lists for $130 and will program all of the Micrologix PLCs including the 1500. It might come in handy someday if you need to work on a 1200 or 1400.

The 1500 gets a bad rap around here sometimes but it's a very solid performer in my opinion. The only significant omission is online editing, but to make up for it you have access to the extensive 1769 I/O platform and a much higher I/O count than the other Micrologix PLCs.

Then again, you can't go wrong with an 1100. Next to the 1400, it's my favorite for small projects.

 

[Tharon]

Well, I dislike the 1500 because I use the other Micrologix, and the 1500 doesn't use the same expansion I/O as the 1100, 1200, and 1400. Making it an oddball in my system. During a pinch, or a system upgrade, I can swap 1200s, 1100s, and 1400s, with minimal issue on machine I/O. 1200 to 1400 upgrades are very painless. They even use the same terminal blocks (with a small bit of rewiring needed).

I can see the advantage if you are a CompactLogix user, as it uses the same I/O as that family. But then the disadvantage being you'd need both RSLogix 5000 and 500.

IMO, this puts the 1500 at a disadvantage for both sets of users. One being hardware, the other being software. Either way it makes the machine using the 1500 an oddball out of a group of otherwise relatively similar machines. And lack of online editing is just a big negative.

 

[TConnolly]

Be careful in choosing your Micrologix-1000 if you want to use the free versions of RSLogix. The free version of Loigx500 only supports the 6input/4out DC version of the Micrologix-1000. If you want more IO than that then you'll need the Micrologix-1100 model, which is fully supported by the free software.

I forgot about the RSLogix Micro Starter software. That and the ML1500 you already have may be a good option for you.

 

[zephxiii]

Oh ok, i didn't know there was a RsLogix Micro Starter software for $130, I will have to get that so i can use the 1500 that we have. However I still need an 1100 as there is a 2nd unit I need to cycle with a slightly different routine so it's all good.

Thanks.

 

[zephxiii]

I'm not going to run into any memory limitations with the size of the program am I? The entire cycle is a week long and has 117 steps, which means 117 different timers and related things...at least with the approach I am trying.