Few newbie questions

[drbitboy]

The site seems like it would be really helpful, sucks that a lot of the pictures don't show up correctly.

Oh dear, yes. Some of the <img> links use HTTP instead of HTTPS, so recent browsers may refuse to load the images.


Hmm, I just loaded them again and they all seem to work, even though the <img> links are still HTTP.

 

[OkiePC]

Thanks all so far, all very helpful.

One other issue I'm encountering is, RSLinx is hanging when I open it saying 'checking activation'. It won't move forwards from there. The launch control panel says the application is running, though it's stuck on checking activation. Any ideas? Thanks.

This is not terribly uncommon, even though you are using the RSLinx Classic Lite version that does not require a license, the startup of the software will search the known universe for a license before looking at your local hard drive (just kidding, but that's how it feels). There are some ways to make it better, and once you get it to run, just leave it running.

This thread has some links to tips that *might* help.

https://plctalk.net/qanda/showthread.php?t=79862

 

[drbitboy]

Stuck here at the moment....

Did you install RSLinx Classic Lite along with RSLogix Micro Starter Lite and RSEmulate 500, e.g. per one of the many YouTubes out there*?

You might have another (non-free?) version of RSLinx. The center of my RSLinx Classic Lite splash screen looks like the image below; the "Lite" shows up at the top of the window after the splash screen.

* E.g. Here; the download demo starts at about 1:45.

​

 

[Squarewave]

Did you install RSLinx Classic Lite along with RSLogix Micro Starter Lite and RSEmulate 500, e.g. per one of the many YouTubes out there*?

You might have another (non-free?) version of RSLinx. The center of my RSLinx Classic Lite splash screen looks like the image below; the "Lite" shows up at the top of the window after the splash screen.

* E.g. Here; the download demo starts at about 1:45.

View attachment 67492​

Yes, and it all came from the RA website via an account I made.

Edit: Here's the splash screen.

 

[Squarewave]

This is not terribly uncommon, even though you are using the RSLinx Classic Lite version that does not require a license, the startup of the software will search the known universe for a license before looking at your local hard drive (just kidding, but that's how it feels). There are some ways to make it better, and once you get it to run, just leave it running.

This thread has some links to tips that *might* help.

https://plctalk.net/qanda/showthread.php?t=79862

Will take a look through that thread.

RSLogix Micro does take about 5 mins to start - but the RSLinx just hangs on 'checking activation'.

 

[drbitboy]

Will take a look through that thread.

RSLogix Micro does take about 5 mins to start - but the RSLinx just hangs on 'checking activation'.

Try turning off the network, see if it starts faster then.

 

[Squarewave]

So, over my morning coffee I'm taking another look. In case something wasn't right, I've uninstalled RSLinx and factory talk, restarted my computer. Now RSLogix Micro starts in about 30 seconds, happy with that I guess.

So now I need to work out what to do with RSLinx, as I'll be needing that of course.

 

[Squarewave]

Ok chaps, I don't know what's happened, but after the uninstall last night, today all I've done so far is installed RSLinx.....

I got as far as the installation and then clicked the text for activation instructions, but it crashed Acrobat, I use acrobat a lot to look at schematics and have never had a problem with it until now...

 

[Squarewave]

So not knowing what to do next, I restarted my PC and then tried to open RSLinx and it worked. At first I didn't see the splash screen where it checks for activation, or I looked away at that time. When I close it and open it again, I see the splash screen for a few seconds and it opens. So I never actually followed any activation through as such, as I couldn't even view the instructions, but it's working, perhaps as someone says as this is the lite version, it is licence free as such, maybe?

Anyway it all appears to actually work.....

....so expect more stupid questions from me on the actual ladder logic.

Thanks so far.

 

[ASF]

What an absolutely quintessential Rockwell experience

Carry on, and bring on the stupid questions! You can't get to the smart questions until you've asked enough stupid ones to get past the peak of the Dunning-Kruger curve

 

[Squarewave]

Thanks.

What online resources would people recommend? I'm looking for something where I can teach myself how to write a program and understand what I'm doing and why. Whether it's a programming course or small tutorials to help me along the way.

I do have a 1761-L10BWB and an L32BWB which I could connect and use to aid learning.

 

[drbitboy]

Thanks.

What online resources would people recommend? I'm looking for something where I can teach myself how to write a program and understand what I'm doing and why. Whether it's a programming course or small tutorials to help me along the way.

I do have a 1761-L10BWB and an L32BWB which I could connect and use to aid learning.

The @Ron Beaufort bootcamp video series link in Post #10 here lays a solid foundation for understanding PLCs. It puts a model how PLCs work, specifically how the scan cycle, memory, and instructions work, into your head, which will eliminate much confusion down the road. PLC programming is primarily about time, and the scan cycle is the clock.

The Contact and Coil link in Post #13 here provides the most common patterns of ladder logic that are used again and again.

There are many youtube videos and tutorials that can be found with the terms rslogix 500, and micrologix 1000 (or just micrologix). Most are basic (how to set up communication, how to code a start/stop circuit pattern, how to download the program to the PLC and put it into Run mode, how to monitor and change memory bits, and force inputs and outputs, in a running PLC program), but some go farther (timers, counters, and other instructions). There are many more using other vendor's hardware (e.g. Siemens by @hegamurl) that will cover topics that are cross-platform and would be applicable to ladder on your specific hardware.

The Udemy PLC courses are well-rated and inexpensive.

 

[Squarewave]

Thank you, quick scanning over the thread I'd missed some of those posts, so I've made a note of them. I don't expect I'll become an expert, but so long as I can make basic things work and get an understanding of what I'm looking at if ever fault finding, then that'll be a good start for me.

 

[Squarewave]

I've been watching the Ron Beauforts videos - difficult to follow, he spends more time telling us what other technicians have got wrong rather than sticking to any kind of syllabus from what I've seen so far.

 

[drbitboy]

I've been watching the Ron Beauforts videos - difficult to follow, he spends more time telling us what other technicians have got wrong rather than sticking to any kind of syllabus from what I've seen so far.

Yes, the first few videos are about that; I think that, when he ran his course:
1) that many of the attendees were people with some previous experience, who had other mental models of how PLCs work, and was trying to open their mines.
2) that bootcamp video was also a a sales pitch for the paid course, so some implicit "I know how to teach PLCs, my way is better, come here and get useful learning" is good salesmanship.

You are a newbie so that may not apply to you, but if you ignore that part and get to the "1s and 0s" for boolean memory, "True or False" for rung status, "look for a 1/0" explanations and examples of reading PLC code, and understand them, then you will have a solid foundation and understanding of how PLCs actually work, which will make it easier to program them, i.e. tell them what to do, because you will know how they react to what you tell them to do.