Technical Review

Control System Design

A Condensed Guide to Automation increased productivity and reliability in all areas of manufac-
turing, utilities and material processing.
Control System Specification, You may have come to realize that an operation or
Design and Installation process used to produce your end product is very laborious,
time consuming, and produces inconsistent results. You may
Part 1: System Identification have also visualized ways that would allow you to automate the
and Safety operation. Automating the process will reduce the amount of
by Tom Elavsky,
manual labor, improve throughput and produce consistent
AutomationDirect results. You may have the skills to develop the mechanical
means and select the appropriate equipment to make this
happen, and although you have a basic understanding of elec-
trical control devices, you may not have the experience to put
it all together. Your first option may be to enlist the help of a
qualified System Integrator. If you do decide to use a System
Integrator, it would be beneficial to understand as much as
possible about automation control system devices and their
terminology so that your communications with the System
Integrator go faster and more smoothly.
In most cases, special expertise is required to design and
install industrial automation control systems. Persons without
such expertise or guidance should not design and install
automation control systems because they can fail and cause
serious injury to personnel or damage to equipment. The
information provided in this series of articles is provided "as is"
If you have not been directly involved in the world of without a guarantee of any kind. We do not guarantee that the
factory automation, data acquisition, process instrumentation information is suitable for your particular application, nor do
or electrical controls in general, then the above words and we assume any responsibility for its use in your application.
acronyms may be somewhat overwhelming. But these words, It is our intent to produce this series of articles as a
and many others, are part of the language that's used in the usable guide, with additional information, including a typical
industrial automation world. (For "A Guide to Common "real world" application that can be followed from concept to
Automation Terms" refer to http://support.automationdi- completion. It is not our intent for the guide to cover every
rect.com/docs/glossary.html.) possible topic dealing with automation control systems or to
The following is Part 1 of a four-part series of articles even suggest that the topics being covered are fully detailed.
on Control System Design that can act as a general guide to the Instead, the topics are aimed at giving the reader a good
starting reference for automated control systems.
specification, design and installation of automated control
systems. The information and references are presented in a
logical order that will take you from the skills required to
recognize an operation or process suited for automating, to In Part 1, we will cover the topics of Safety and
tips on setting up a program, to maintaining the control Identifying an operation or process that could benefit from
system. Whether you are an expert or a novice at electrical automation. In upcoming issues we will cover control device
control devices and systems, the information presented should specification, control system design and construction, control
give you a check list to use in the steps to implementing an system installation, and finally control system maintenance.
automated control system. The topics will be broken down as follows:
Electrical control systems are used on everything from Part 1 - SAFETY and IDENTIFICATION
simple pump controls to car washes, to complex chemical Part 2 - SPECIFICATION
processing plants. Automation of machine tools, material
handling/conveyor systems, mixing processes, assembly Part 3 - DESIGN and BUILD
machines, metal processing, textile processing and more has Part 4 - INSTALL and MAINTAIN

1-1
Safety: of NFPA, is being harmonized with the International
The first and most important item to Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) (Web site: www.iec.ch/)
consider before attempting an automated and the European Hazardous Location Ratings. For more
control system, or even a simple on/off control information, check the Instrument Society of America's (ISA)
for a pump, is safety, both for personnel who Web site at www.isa.org. Additional resources on the subject
may be working with or near the automated equipment, as can be found at www.ul.com/hazloc/
well as to prevent damage to the equipment. Another area of safety that needs to be considered for
To minimize the risk of potential safety problems, you automated control systems is lockout/tagout procedures as
should follow all applicable local, state and national codes that specified by Occupational Safety and Health Administration
regulate the installation and operation of your control system, (OSHA). "Lockout/tagout" refers to specific practices
along with the equipment or process it is designed to control. and procedures to safeguard operators and maintenance
These codes vary by area and usually change over time. It will personnel from the unexpected energization or startup of
be your responsibility to determine which codes should be machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous
followed and to verify that the equipment, installation, energy during service or maintenance activities. In order to
and operation is in compliance with the latest revision of have your control system make use of a lockout/tagout
these codes. procedure, the design should include the ability to shut off,
Most likely your control system will be dealing with neutralize, or isolate any energy source, such as the main
electrical energy, so your first goal will be to eliminate the risk electrical feed, but also any pneumatic, hydraulic or
of fire and electrical shock to personnel. The top organizations mechanical energy storage device. The means to do this should
that provide applicable standards and codes are listed below, be considered in the initial design of the automated control
but even before you get to this area of safety, it would be wise system. Additional information can be found on OSHA's Web
to educate yourself as much as possible about electricity and site at: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/controlhazardousenergy/
electrical equipment in general. A good understanding of basic There are many reasons why the electrical devices that
electricity, including DC and AC theory and practice, Ohm's you will use in the design of your automated control system
Law, etc. will go a long way in helping you understand the should be listed, approved or registered with a testing labora-
various codes and standards. There are many good tory. One reason is to ensure that the device meets standards
publications and articles on the subject of basic electricity and that will prevent failure that could lead to catastrophic results.
some local technical colleges offer courses covering subjects Another reason might be for insurance or compliance
dealing with basic electricity. Some even offer courses in purposes. One of the most specified and premier safety testing
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), which can be very laboratories is Underwriters Laboratories (UL). The most
useful when dealing with automated control systems. Also, applicable area of interest for control systems is UL's Standard
many Web sites offer free tutorials covering basic electricity for Safety 508A. If your control system panel requires being
and PLCs. It would be beneficial to have some understanding built to UL508A, then you will need to contract directly with
of electronic devices, such as the operation of a transistor and UL to become a UL508A panel builder or use an existing
other solid state devices, as well as understanding of the use UL508A panel builder. Additional information can be found
and operation of electrical test and measurement instruments, at: http://www.ul.com/controlequipment/devices.html
such as voltmeters, current loop meters, clamp-on amp Compliance to UL508A for AutomationDirect products
meters, etc. can be found on our Web site at:
At a minimum, you should follow all applicable sections http://support.automationdirect.com/compliance.html
of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) fire code, The following are other safety points to consider in the
and the codes of the National Electrical Manufacturer's design of your automated control system:
Association (NEMA). There may also be local regulatory or
- Emergency Stop - The control system must provide a
government offices that can help determine which codes and
quick manual method of disconnecting all system power to
standards are necessary for the safe installation and the machinery, equipment or process. The disconnect device or
operation of electrical control equipment and systems. switch must be clearly labeled "Emergency Stop". After an
Please keep in mind that if the automated control system Emergency shutdown or any other type of power interruption,
you are developing needs to be accepted in the international there may be requirements that must be met before the
market, the National Electrical Code (NEC), as a publication control system or PLC control program can be restarted. >>

www.automationnotebook.com
1-2
Technical Review
Control System Design Continued
For example, there may be specific register values in the PLC - Finger-Safe and Dead Fronts - Another safety area to
memory that must be established (or maintained from the state consider is the use of devices that have finger-safe terminal
prior to the shutdown) before operations can resume. There connections, which are surrounded by insulated guarding. The
may also be mechanical positions of equipment that have to be use of protective guards over live circuits should also be consid-
moved or jogged to the proper position. ered, even on control panels that have limited access, so it is
- Accidental Powering of Outputs - Do not rely on the safer for maintenance electricians and authorized personnel to
automation control system alone to provide a safe operating troubleshoot or make adjustments to electrical control devices.
environment. You should use external electromechanical Dead fronts should be used on control system enclosures where
devices, such as relays or limit switches, that are independent of the operator needs to make adjustments to devices, such as
any electronic controlling device, such as a solid state relay or selector switches, thumbwheels, potentiometers, etc., and the
a PLC output module, to provide protection for any part of the controls need to be inside the enclosure so as to protect them
system that may cause personal injury or damage. These from outside weather conditions. The dead front is normally
devices should be installed in a manner that prevents any an interior door that is mounted in front of the main control
machine operations from occurring unexpectedly. For panel. The outside enclosure door may still require key entry
example, if the machine has a jammed part, the controlling by the operator, but the dead front interior door with
system or PLC program can turn off the motor rotating a saw adjustable devices is interlocked so that it requires a switch to
blade. However, since the operator must open a guard to open it, disconnecting power to the electrical devices mounted
remove the part, you should also include a bypass switch that on the main control panel.
disconnects all system power any time the guard is opened. - Closed-loop Control - It is your responsibility in any
- Orderly Equipment Shutdown - Whether using a type of closed-loop control system to ensure that if the feed-
control system designed around relays and timers or a PLC, an back signal is lost, the system shuts down so as not to cause
orderly system shutdown sequence should be included in your injury to personnel or damage to the equipment.
design. If a fault is detected, then any mechanical motion, valve Identifying Process for Automation:
position, etc., needs to be returned to its fail-safe position and The first step in configuring an auto-
the equipment/process stopped. These types of problems are mated control system is to identify what
usually things such as jammed parts, broken cutting tools, bin can be automated. You need to have a good
full, etc. that do not pose a risk of personal injury or understanding of basic electricity and safety.
equipment damage. If a detected problem would result in risk It is also important that you have an understanding of basic
of personal injury or equipment damage, then use other means hydraulics, pneumatics, mechanical operating mechanisms,
to deal with it, such as applying a brake to rotating equipment electronics, control sequences, etc. and a solid knowledge of
to stop it before personnel can come in contact with it. the operation or process that you are going to automate.
- Grounding - To prevent electrical shock, incorporate You should understand how to control motion and
good grounding practices in the design, construction and movement, regulate the flow of fluids, dispense granular mate-
installation of your system. Use protective devices for faulted rials, orient parts, sense product in position, detect when an
conductors to prevent fire, and also realize that good operation is complete, etc. As a simple example, let's say we
grounding practices can reduce electromagnetic and radiated have a conveyor that moves our product from point A to point
noise interference to sensitive electronic devices. B. The conveyor is powered by a 3-phase AC motor, which is
- Control Power Distribution - Develop a power turned off and on by a manually controlled motor starter and
distribution scheme in the control system circuitry, according includes, for fire protection, both short circuit and overload
to code, that ensures all circuits are protected with fusing, protection. The system requires an operator standing at the
circuit breakers or other interrupting means coordinated such motor starter to watch as the product reaches the entrance to
that only the faulted circuit will be opened (de-energized), the conveyor, and to turn the conveyor on to move the
allowing other powered equipment and devices to continue product. The operator must also turn the conveyor off once the
to operate. product has reached the discharge end.
- Unauthorized Access - Make sure all enclosures and To automate the conveyor, we will need to replace the
cabinets that have energized circuits are secured to prevent manually controlled motor starter with an electrically
unauthorized personnel from gaining access without the controlled motor starter, including short circuit and overload
proper tool, key or other authorized means. protection. We will need to size the motor starter to work

1-3
with the existing conveyor motor. (Refer to our Web site at: system, or they can be “hard-wired” for simpler applications.
http://www.automationdirect.com/static/specs/ You will also want to determine if your automated
fujimcselection.pdf for information on specifying control system will benefit from the use of an operator
and sizing motor starters.) interface, also referred to as a Human Machine Interface
We will also need to identify where to locate sensors such (HMI). If your process requires making changes to setpoint
as limit switches, photoelectric sensors, proximity sensors, etc. values, process time, flow rates, etc., then the use of an HMI is
that will indicate when an operation is completed. This is the best way to proceed. In these situations, you will most
required so our control system knows when to proceed to the likely need a PLC that can easily communicate with the
next step in our operation. As an example, we usually need a HMI device.
limit switch to detect when a cylinder is fully extended, as in If your application requires keeping data records for
the case when the cylinder is used to push our product onto a reference, traceability, history, trending, meeting regulations,
conveyor. The cylinder "fully extended" signal is used to de- etc., then you should look at using a control system that would
energize the solenoid valve that provided the air pressure to the fall into the category of a "Supervisory Control And Data
pneumatic cylinder. We also need a limit switch to indicate Acquisition" (SCADA) system. Most of these control systems
when the cylinder has fully retracted, and provide a signal to would be comprised of PLC-type I/O that interface to a PC
the start/stop control of the conveyor that the product push with appropriate software.
cylinder is out of the way for the next product. Another appli-
Part 2 will cover Control Device Specification.
cation for a sensor is to indicate when the product has reached
the conveyor. The sensor can be a limit switch with a roller arm
References:
that comes in contact with the product or a photoelectric
sensor that can detect the product by using an infrared beam of For information on "PLC Logic and Principles" by
light. The photoelectric approach may be the better choice Doug Bell of InterConnecting Automation, PLC training
books, and training through technical schools and
because the position of the product on the conveyor belt may
organizations visit:
vary. (Refer to our Web site at:
http://support.automationdirect.com/docs/training.pdf
www.automationdirect.com/static/specs/peselection.pdf
For Web sites with free tutorials that cover basic
for information on selecting photoelectric sensors.)
electricity principles visit any of the following:
We would continue with this analysis, looking at each www.thelearningpit.com/elec/bas/theory/etb-menu.html
piece of equipment or component in our system, and select a or http://www.kilowattclassroom.com/Index.htm or
device that could control or sense it. Some examples include an http://www.mrplc.com/ or http://www.plcs.net/
electrical solenoid valve to control water used to wash residue You may also want to visit the AutomationDirect
from a product, or a pneumatic valve to control air pressure to Customer Forums at:
a cylinder operating a gate that diverts product on a conveyor, http://forum1.automationdirect.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi
or energizing a control relay to signal that a product is in Information for the National Electrical Manufacturer's
position on a scale. Association (NEMA) can be found at their Web site at:
In some instances we may need to vary the speed, rate or http://www.nema.org. NEMA is also being harmonized with
position of our controlling device, such as varying the speed of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) (Web
a conveyor, changing the amount a valve opens to control a site: www.iec.ch/) and other European standards. Additional
flow rate, or remotely changing the setpoint level for a tank. information can be found at Global Engineering Documents'
This could be accomplished by using an analog output signal. Web site at: www.global.ihs.com. Global Engineering
Documents is also the source for obtaining NEMA, IEC and
An analog output signal is a varying signal that corresponds to
CE documents.
the real value we have determined and calibrated into the
Further information for the National Fire Protection
device. For example, a 0 to 10 VDC signal could represent a
Association (NFPA) can be found at their Web site at
conveyor speed of 0 to 500 feet per minute. An analog signal http://www.nfpa.org/. Some of the more useful publications
to the speed controlling device for the conveyor motor of 5 are the National Electrical Code (NEC), publication NFPA 70
VDC would result in a conveyor speed of 250 feet per minute. and also as a good reference refer to the Electrical Standard for
Identifying devices to control motion, flow, events, etc. Industrial Machinery, publication NFPA 79.
and sensing completion is basically identifying the I/O (inputs
and outputs) of our control system. Once these devices are
identified, they can be used as the field devices in a PLC-based
www.automationnotebook.com
1-4
Technical Review
Control System Design
A Condensed Guide to Automation Control System Devices

Control System Specification, The devices you need to specify in your control system
will generally fall into one of three categories; input devices,
Design and Installation output devices and the processing unit.
Part 2: Control Device Specification Input devices
Input devices are used to sense a condition, detect move-
by Tom Elavsky,
ment or position, indicate a limit or set point has been reached,
AutomationDirect
sense intervention by an operator, detect an alarm, etc. Typical
input devices may include limit switches, photoelectric sensors,

I
n Part 1 of Control System Design, we covered safety pushbuttons, proximity sensors, an operator interface, etc.
aspects involved in the use of automated control systems These input signals are generally in an ON or OFF state. We
and discussed some tips used in identifying which can look at an input from a device, such as a photoelectric
manufacturing equipment and processes can be automated. sensor used to detect an obstruction, and state that when the
In Part 2, we will cover how to sensor sees the obstruction, the sensor is ON; in other words
specify the various devices required for we have a true condition. When the sensor is not obstructed,
controlling the equipment in an auto- then the input is OFF; or we can say the condition is false.
mated system. Your specifications need to These types of signals are called discrete signals, meaning they
include not only the "controlling" devices are always one of two states; ON or OFF. They can be wired
for your application, but also items such into a PLC input module and the PLC can be programmed to
as the housing or enclosure for the devices, use the status of the signals to execute the logic to control the
the type of wire required to meet the various codes, agency automated system. Or these same signals can be used in a
approvals required for safety and insurance purposes, environ- "relay logic" system, where control relays are hardwired to
mental conditions, etc. create the system logic.
As stated in Part 1, special expertise is generally required Of importance to our specifications are the ratings of
to design, wire, install, and operate industrial automation these input devices:
control systems. Persons without such expertise or guidance • What is the operating voltage; 24, 120 or 240 Volt
should not attempt to design control systems, but should
AC or DC?
consider seeking the services of a qualified system integrator.
Control systems can fail and cause serious injury to personnel • If they are rated for DC, are they sinking or
or damage to equipment. The information in this series of arti- sourcing?
cles is provided "as is" without a guarantee of any kind. • What distances can they sense?
With that said, the first skill we need to develop in this • How much force can be applied to the actuator?
effort will be the gathering of all the equipment parameters and
• How much current do they require?
specifications needed to specify the devices required to control
the equipment. We need to be the proverbial detective who As a note, most PLC DC input modules can be configured as
would ask questions such as; sinking or sourcing 1.
• What is the operating voltage? Also keep in
mind that when
• What is the power rating?
selecting a sensor
• How much current does it draw? device, such as to
• What is the operating temperature range? detect the presence of
product or sense the
• What is the relative humidity range?
end of travel for a
• What are the mounting dimensions? mechanism, it is very
• What are the minimum mounting clearances? important to consider
• What is the duty cycle? the environment in
which the sensor will
• How will the system be used?
operate. This should
• Who will be using the control system? Typical wiring for sinking Figure 1 not only include
and sourcing input temperature and
devices humidity ranges, but in some

2-1
cases, indoor or outdoor use, altitude, ability for the sensor to Certain output types may have derating curves depending on
be washed down, etc. Photoelectric sensors are sensitive to the the ambient temperature and the number of outputs energized.
atmosphere in which they can efficiently work. If there is a lot Keep in mind that DC output modules can be sinking or
of dust, dirt and/or mist in the air, then the optics can easily sourcing type.
become dirty or coated, reducing their sensitivity and oper- The processing unit
ating distance.
All control systems
Output devices can typically be
Output devices are used to control actions such as defined as having
motion, start/stop of equipment like conveyors and pumps, inputs, outputs and
on/off control of valves, operator alerts/prompts, status indica- some form of deci-
tions, etc. Typical output devices include relays, motor starters, sion making going
pilot lights, operator interface graphics and numeric display, on in between so
etc. These output signals, like input signals, are also discrete; that the outputs are
either ON or OFF. The signals can be wired from a PLC controlled based on
output module to control the devices, such as starting and the status of the
stopping motors, energizing a valve to control water flow, illu- inputs. This brings
minating a pilot light to alert an operator to a condition such us to our third cate-
as "Bin Full", etc. Output signals can also be wired directly to gory, the "decision Typical wiring for sinking
making" element. and sourcing output
Figure 2
a controlling device using hardwired relay logic.
This element can devices
Of importance to our specifications are the ratings of
be performed by a
these output devices:
PLC, where we have inputs, outputs and a central processing
• What is the operating voltage; 24, 120 or 240 Volt unit (CPU) that uses ladder logic programming to make deci-
AC or DC? sions based on input status and the logical conditions in the
• If they are rated for DC, are they sinking or program (see figure 3). A similar device that can be looked at
sourcing? in the same manner is a personal computer (PC). The
keyboard, mouse, scanner, etc. would serve as input devices
• What is the current draw? and the monitor, printer, speakers, etc. would be the output
• What is the duty cycle? devices. The microprocessor used on the motherboard, along
• What is the operating temperature range? with its memory, the operating system, and the application
program would serve as the decision making element. As a
• What are the mounting dimensions? matter of fact, PCs are used in some automated control systems
For example, if our process uses a solenoid valve to as the decision making element, together with industrial input
control water flow to a wash station, we would need to know and output (I/O) modules. These PC-based systems rely on the
the operating voltage of the valve and how much current it communication ports or Ethernet connections to monitor and
draws. We also need to know not only the on-state current control the I/O. The application software typically allows a
draw of a valve, but also the inrush current, so that we can programmer to develop a graphical interface that gives an oper-
properly specify a PLC output module or a control relay. ator interaction with the equipment or process. With some
Although a valve may be rated to draw 250 mA continuous research and experience, you will learn how to determine how
current, it may have an inrush of 800 mA when first energized. much "decision making" ability your control system requires.
If an output module has eight output points and each point is Cost restraints may require you to compare implementing the
rated for 1 amp continuous duty, after thermal considerations, control system with either a PLC, PC-based control, or simple
the entire output module has a total rating of 6 amps and hardwired relay logic. But don't forget the fact that a PLC >>
therefore has a common fuse rated at 6 amps. If we had
solenoid valves connected to all eight output points and our
program called for them all to energize at the same time, the
total inrush current would be 8 times 800mA or 6.4 amps, and
most likely would blow the fuse. The solution could be to
select an output module with a higher current rating or to use
the ladder program to sequence the valves, preventing them all
from being energized at the same time. Another option is to
split up the valves between several output modules, using the Figure 3
remaining points to power smaller loads such as pilot lights.
www.automationnotebook.com
2-2
Control System Design Continued
or PC-based control system allows easier changes and Duty Cycle
future expansion2. When using a solenoid valve, you will want to know its
Other device types operating voltage, nominal current draw and current inrush to
Another area of inputs and outputs involve the use of help select the type of output device required to control its
analog signals in a control system. Analog signals are variable operation. It is also important to have an understanding of the
and can represent a range of values. As a quick example, we solenoid valve's duty cycle (time on vs. time off ). We would
may want to monitor the level of a liquid in a tank that is 100 not want to operate a solenoid valve rated at 50% duty cycle in
feet tall. We can use a sensor that will produce a signal that is a continuous mode with an on time of 10 seconds and an off
represented by a voltage range of 0 to 10 volts DC, with 0 feet time of only two seconds. The short off time would not allow
being equal to 0 VDC and 100 feet being equal to 10 VDC. for the solenoid to properly cool down.
Analog signals are typically linear, so a 5 VDC signal would tell Surge Suppression
us the tank level is at 50 feet. The analog signal could be wired Solenoid valves, motor starters, etc. make use of an
into a PLC analog input module, and in the ladder program we inductive coil for their operation and the coil can produce high
could compare the actual level to a set point and produce a voltage spikes that can damage output devices and nearby
discrete signal that would cause an output point to start a electronic equipment. It is always recommended to use some
pump to raise or lower the level. form of surge suppression to eliminate these voltage spikes3.
Inductive devices Enclosures
When selecting a device to control a prime mover, such as Selecting a proper enclosure is important to ensure safe
an industrial motor to power a conveyor, or a valve to control and proper operation of your equipment. The minimum
a hydraulic cylinder, you will need to determine the ratings of considerations for enclosures should include:
the equipment:
• Conformance to electrical standards (Reference
• What is the operating voltage?
NEC)4
• What is the maximum current draw?
• What type of environment is it being used in? • Protection from the elements in an industrial
environment (Reference NEMA)4
• Common ground reference (Reference NEC)
• Access to the equipment (Reference OSHA)5
• Security or restricted access (Reference OSHA)
• Sufficient space for proper installation and
maintenance of equipment
Heating/Cooling
Ensure that the devices used in your control system aren't
subject to overheating, or if installed in a colder climate, the
devices aren't being used below the listed low temperature
An industrial induction motor may have ratings such as
operating range. Your control system, because of its physical
230/460 VAC, 3-phase, 1725 RPM, a FLA (full load ampere)
location, may require you to have both a cooling system, such
of 10.5 amps at 460 VAC, etc. This information can be
as an A/C unit, and a small heating unit as part of the same
obtained from the manufacturer's catalog or directly from the
enclosure. This will ensure the devices are always operating
motor nameplate. In the case of a motor, you will need the
within their temperature specifications. Basic thermal manage-
ratings to choose the motor starter or possibly a
ment is not difficult for most automated control systems.
variable frequency drive for either start/stop control or speed
Investing a little thought during the specification stage can save
control of the motor.
you a great deal of redesign down the road.
Other considerations
DC Power
There are other points to consider in the specification of
If using DC voltage from a power supply in your control
devices being used in your automated control system - duty
system, consider using a power supply rated for at least twice
cycle, surge suppression, enclosure type, heating and cooling,
the calculated load. This should satisfy one of the requirements
power, environment, static electricity and agency approvals.
if you need to have your control system UL 508 approved and
will allow the power supply to operate at a lower temperature,
thus increasing its life. >>

2-3
Control System Design Continued
Next step is Part 3, Control System Design.
The following table is an example of NEMA's common
environmental specifications that generally apply to
automation equipment. IEC also has a list of common
environmental specification designations for enclosures
and equipment4. Footnotes:

COMPARISON OF SPECIFIC NON-HAZARDOUS APPLICATIONS INDOOR LOCATIONS

1 For "Sinking and Sourcing Concepts" refer to
PROVIDES A DEGREE OF PROTEC- TYPE OF ENCLOSURE www.automationdirect.com/static/specs/sinksource.pdf
TION AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 1 2 4 4X 5 6 6P 11 12 12K 13 2 For "Considerations for Choosing a PLC" refer to
Incidental contact w/ encl. equip.
• • • • • • • • • • • http://support.automationdirect.com/docs/
Falling dirt
• • • • • • • • • • • worksheet_guidelines.html
Falling liquids and light splashing
• • • • • • • • • 3 For more information on surge suppression for outputs,
Dust, lint, fibers, and flyings
• • • • • • • •
Hose down and splashing water
• • • • see chapter 2 of any PLC user manual, available on our Web
Oil and coolant seepage
• • • site.
Oil or coolant spray and splashing
• 4 Information for the National Electrical Manufacturer's
Corrosive agents
• • •
Occasional temporary submersion
• • Association (NEMA) can be found at their Web site at:
Occasional prolonged submersion
• http://www.nema.org. NEMA is also being harmonized with
Static Electricity the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) (Web
site: www.iec.ch/) and other European standards. Additional
Most equipment and devices will operate down to
information can be found at Global Engineering Documents'
5% relative humidity. However, static electricity problems
Web site at: www.global.ihs.com. Global Engineering
occur much more frequently at humidity levels below 30%.
Make sure you take adequate precautions when you touch Documents is also the source for obtaining NEMA, IEC and
the equipment. Consider using ground straps, anti-static CE documents.
floor coverings, etc. if you use the equipment in low- 5 Additional information can be found on OSHA's Web
humidity environments. site at:
Agency Approvals http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/controlhazardousenergy/.
Some applications require agency approvals for particular 6 Additional UL information can be found at:
components. Some of these required approvals are: http://www.ul.com/controlequipment/devices.html.
• UL (Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.6)
• CUL (Canadian Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.)
• CE (European Economic Union)
The requirements for any of these agency approvals need
to be part of your specification and will determine the selection
of most of your controlling devices.
Enclosure Lighting and Convenience Receptacle
It is always a good idea to include interior lighting for
your control system enclosure or cabinet to help during routine
maintenance to the control system. Provide a convenience
receptacle inside the control system enclosure to supply power
to test equipment, calibration equipment, etc.
Product Selection
Suppliers’ literature and Web sites are an excellent
resource for evalulating product specifications. For industrial
control product selection information for AutomationDirect
products, refer to
http://www.automationdirect.com/static/specs/productselec-
tion.html

2-4
 Technical Review
Control System Design
A Condensed Guide to Automation
Control System Specification,
Design and Installation
Part 3: Design
by Tom Elavsky,
AutomationDirect

I n Part 2 of Control System Design we covered specifying

the various devices required for interfacing and
controlling the electrical equipment in an automated
control system.
In Part 3, we will cover the steps needed to design our auto-
mated control system. The design topics will include
planning by defining our sequence of operation, creating a
schematic with the devices shown in a high-voltage to low-voltage
order, input to output design layout, panel layout, wiring
diagrams, bill of materials, software tools to document our design,
choices between using hard-wired relays versus a PLC with
programming, etc.
As stated in the previous articles, special expertise is gener-
ally required to design, wire, install, and operate industrial
automation control systems. Persons without such expertise or
guidance should not attempt control systems, but should consider
seeking the services of a qualified System Integrator. Control
systems can fail and may result in situations that can cause serious
injury to personnel or damage to equipment. The information
provided in this series of articles is provided "as is" without
a guarantee.
Design
The design for our control system will
be in the form of a documenting task. The
challenge will be to get our design specifics
down on paper so that it can be easily
understood. It is important that anyone can
look at our documents in the future and be able to interpret the
information. Useful to us at this step will be any notes and lists
that were developed during the "Identifying" and "Specifying"
phases of our automated control system.
Sequence of Operation
In most cases, the first step in designing our control system
will be to define the process or actions to take place, by way of a
"sequence of operations" description. The sequence should show
or list each operational step in our process.
Our particular application may be better suited to using a
flowchart that shows the sequence of operation by means of deci-
sion-making steps and actions that need to take place. Figure 1
shows a partial example of a flowchart.
A flowchart can be developed with graph paper and a pencil,
or an application software program such as MicroSoft Visio®.
MicroSoft's Word software program has a built-in drawing tool

3-1
 that contains flowchart
symbols.
In some cases,
the application may be
better suited to using a
timing chart, in which
each condition and
event is graphed in a
time relationship to
each other, as shown in
Figure 2.
Once we have a
sequence of operation
developed and a list of
Figure 1 our input and output
devices, we can deter-
mine if our automated control system is best suited for hard-wired Figure 3
relay logic or can benefit from a PLC1. A PLC can be cost-effec-
tive when used in place of only a half dozen industrial relays and It is normal practice to show any high-voltage devices, such
a couple electronic timers. It adds the flexibility of making future as 3-phase motors, 480 or 240 VAC auxiliary equipment, etc. in
"logic" changes without the labor of making wiring changes. this first section of the schematic. Next, we will show a control
power transformer used to step the higher incoming voltage down
to our system control voltage (115 VAC). Our control voltage can
be something other than 115 VAC; for example, we could have a
control voltage of 24 VDC, which is common for many electrical
control devices. The control transformer needs to be sized
(VA rating) based on our known or calculated "load" of devices
that will be powered from the transformer in our automated
control system.
Figure 2 At this point in our schematic, we need to look at device
wiring isolation strategies. PLCs provide ideal isolation because its
Schematic circuitry is divided into three main regions separated by isolation
boundaries as shown in Figure 4. The PLC's main power supply
The next step in our design is to develop a schematic. Most
includes a transformer that provides isolation, and the input and
electrical designers and engineers define a schematic as a drawing
output circuits that use opto-couplers to provide additional isola-
that shows the logical wiring of an automated control system. A
tion. When wiring a PLC, it is extremely important to avoid
control schematic is normally drawn in the form of a ladder,
making external connections that connect logic side circuits to
showing the various wiring conditions. This analogy of a ladder is any other.
what PLC ladder logic was based upon. It made the transition to
PLC ladder logic easier for engineers and electricians because they
were accustomed to trouble-shooting hard-wired relay control
systems shown in a ladder fashion.
It is normal practice, as shown in Figure 3, to show input
type devices on the left-hand side of drawings and output devices
on the right-hand side. For example, the symbols for protective
devices (fuses), contacts and overload relay elements are shown to Figure 4
the left, while the symbol for the motor is shown to the right.
The schematic should start with the incoming power, Electrical isolation provides safety, so that a fault in one area
including protective devices such as circuit breakers and/or fuses. does not damage another. Using Figure 5 as reference, we see a
Our design should show the distribution of the AC power and transformer which provides magnetic isolation between its
include all circuitry and required devices for conformance to the primary (high voltage) and secondary (control voltage) sides. A
National Electrical Code® (NEC®)2 and any local codes that powerline filter provides isolation between the control power
might apply in our area. source and the electronic devices.
3-2
www.automationnotebook.com
Technical Review
Control System Design Continued
Figure 5 also shows some general suggestions for device secondary, can provide additional suppression of EMI from other
grounding and distributing the control power to various devices, equipment. Isolation transformers should be used near equipment
along with individually fusing these devices. that produces excessive electrical noise.
Proper grounding is one of the most important things in If DC power is required in our control system, we need to
good automated control system design. The more details we can calculate the worst case amperage draw (load) of all the devices
show on the schematic to reflect all points that need to be that will be powered from the DC supply. We also need to look at
grounded, the better chance we have of a properly grounded the amount of "ripple" the devices being powered can tolerate and
control system that provides both safety and functionality. select a DC power supply that can meet the most stringent
requirement. Ripple is the amplitude of the AC component that
rides on the DC voltage signal. A typical rating for most applica-
tions involving DC powered sensors would be 100 mV peak-to-
peak. It is also a good idea to double the calculated amperage
capacity of the DC power supply. This is especially important if
our control system needs to meet Underwriters' Laboratories,
Inc.® (UL)3 508A.
The next section of our schematic will show the hard-wired
devices that are powered from our control voltage (115 VAC). If
our control "logic" is based on hard-wired relays, this is where we
would show the hard-wired connections, along with the normal
115 VAC powered devices, such as DC power supplies, 115 VAC
power to PLC power supplies, auxiliary devices, etc. Figure 6 is a
partial example of the hard-wired section of our schematic.

Figure 6
Figure 5
This is a good point to mention surge suppression. Surge
suppression devices are an important component in achieving a
Why is grounding important? Electronic instrumentation
reliable power distribution system. These devices protect the elec-
such as PLCs and field I/O are typically surrounded by various
types of electronic devices and wires. These electronic devices may tronic components from sudden power surges that can cause
include power supplies, input/output signals from other instru- considerable damage. Inductive load devices (devices with a coil)
mentation, and even devices that are near the instrumentation generate transient voltages when de-energized with a relay contact.
enclosure. All these may present a risk of Electromagnetic When a relay contact is closed it "bounces," which energizes and
Interference (EMI) or transient interference. This type of interfer- de-energizes the coil until the "bouncing" stops. The transient
ence may cause failure or erratic operation of the device. voltages generated are much larger in amplitude than the supply
We should consider using a second transformer to source voltage, especially with a DC supply.
AC power to DC power supplies. Input circuits should be utilized
If using a PLC, the final section of our schematic will show
to isolate the output circuits and prevent voltage from the output
transients (spikes) from being induced into the input circuits. In the input and output modules. Figure 7 is an example of the
some cases, we may need to use a constant voltage transformer to wiring for an input module.
stabilize the incoming AC power source supplying the PLC to We would make use of reference line numbering and, in
minimize shutdowns due to power surges, voltage dips and most cases, we would show all of the input modules first, then the
brownouts. When using a constant voltage transformer to power output modules. If we have analog I/O, we would want to show
a PLC, the sensors connected to the PLC inputs should use the
the analog inputs, then the analog outputs, and finally our
same power source. Otherwise, the AC source voltage could drop
low enough to cause inaccurate input data. Also, the use of an discrete inputs and outputs. Generally we would use one sheet of
isolation transformer, for example 115 VAC primary to 115 VAC our schematic to show each module.

3-3
 Terminal blocks can be sized, organized and even color-coded to
handle the different types of signals that enter and leave our
control panel. We may choose to use black for high voltage, red
for inputs, violet for outputs, etc. We should try to locate the
terminal blocks so they provide the best wire routing from the
components to the terminal blocks. The terminal blocks also
make it convenient for the electrician to terminate his field wiring
when the control enclosure is installed.
Our design should include the selection of the enclosure
that will house our control system. We need to consider the envi-
ronment where the enclosure will be located. Outdoors? Indoors?
Wash down required? Refer to the section on enclosures in Part 2
Figure 7
of this series of articles for references to NFPA's National Electrical
Code (NEC)2, the National Electrical Manufacturer's Association
Panel Layout (NEMA)4, OSHA5, and a list of items to consider when selecting
an enclosure.
Once we have our schematic finalized, the next step is a
panel layout drawing. In most cases, the actual panel is referred to Bill of Materials
as a subpanel. We can mount all the components to a structure The Bill Of Materials (BOM) should list each component in
(the subpanel), wire all the components, and do this before our automated control system, the quantity of each component,
mounting the subpanel in the control system enclosure. The panel any designations or "marks" that allow us to easily identify the
layout drawing should be done to scale and include dimensions component on our schematic, a description of the component,
for the panel builder to follow when laying out the components. and its part number. We also have comments or remarks about the
Special attention should be given to component location and component that will help the panel builder know what needs to be
spacing. We need to follow the manufacturer-recommended done when the control panel is being built. Figure 9 is a short
mounting distances and clearances. Figure 8 is a partial example example of a bill of materials.
of a panel layout drawing.

Figure 9

The BOM can be in the form of a table drawn on one of the

Figure 8 sheets along with the schematic and panel layout. It can also
be done as a spreadsheet, which would allow easy indexing and
The higher voltage devices (those that operate at 240/480 future referencing.
VAC) should be mounted toward the top of the panel, keeping as Wiring Diagram
much distance as possible between the high-voltage devices and
any electronic devices, such as PLCs, DC power supplies, elec- A wiring diagram, sometimes referred to as an intercon-
tronic timers, etc. Keeping the high-voltage devices toward the necting diagram, is used mainly for installation by the electrician
top allows us to cover all of the high-voltage devices with a non- for routing and terminating the wiring between the various
conductive safety shield for personnel safety. It keeps the lower devices and enclosures in the control system. Figure 10 is a good
voltage devices grouped together, allowing access to wiring termi- example of a wiring diagram.
nals that will aid in troubleshooting our control system. In some
cases, a metal partition between the high-voltage section of our
control panel and any sensitive electronic devices can act as a
shield from any EMI generated by the high-voltage devices.
In our panel layout design, we need to include wire duct
between the various components. The wire duct simplifies the
wire routing between components, keeps the wires in place, makes
working with the wires easier, and gives the panel a well-organized
Figure 10
look. We should also make use of terminal blocks in our design.
www.automationnotebook.com
3-4
Technical Review
Control System Design Continued
It should include all control enclosures or cabinets, any external devices that are wired
into control enclosures, junction boxes, conduits, wireways, etc. The wiring diagram
usually includes conduit sizes, distances, number of conductors between devices, wire
sizes, colors, wire numbers, terminal blocks, etc. The wiring diagram is also useful for
system startup and later for locating wire routing and devices during troubleshooting.
Design Tools
Although all of the tasks related to documenting the design can
be performed with nothing more than a pencil, paper and a ruler, it
is normally more efficient to use a software drafting utility, such as
AutoDesk's AutoCAD® or AutoCAD LT® software. The biggest
advantage in using a software drafting program to create schematics,
panel layouts, bill of materials and wiring diagrams is the ability to
re-use the work for future electrical control system designs. The
drafting software can also be used to create our sequence of operation, flowchart or
timing diagram. Add-ins for the various drafting software packages are geared toward
electrical control system design. These add-ins contain pre-constructed elements of
different manufacturers' electrical devices. This may include schematics of PLC I/O
modules, power supplies, communication devices, etc. These pre-constructed elements
also include scaled outlines of relays, motor starters, terminal blocks, etc. that can be
dropped into your panel layout design. One such add-in package that works
with AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT for electrical control design and includes
some pre-constructed elements for various PLC manufacturers is ECT's "promis•e draw"
software. More information on the promis•e draw can be found at:
http://www.automationdirect.com/static/specs/pcdrawspecs.pdf. This software has the
ability to act as a database for components that would be used in our control system
design and can aid in coordinating the components between our schematic, panel layout
and bill of materials.
Discussion of automation control systems will continue in Part 4 - Build, Launch
and Maintain.
Footnotes:
1 For "Considerations for Choosing a PLC" refer to:
http://support.automationdirect.com/docs/worksheet_guidelines.html
2 The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA ®) produces the National
Electrical Code® (NEC®), publication NFPA 70. Further information can be
found at http://www.nfpa.org/. Another good reference from the NFPA is
Electrical Standard Industrial Machinery, publication NFPA 79.
3 Additional UL information can be found at:
http://www.ul.com/controlequipment/devices.html
4 Information for the National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA) can
be found at http://www.nema.org. NEMA is also being harmonized with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) (www.iec.ch/) and other
European standards. Additional information can be found at the Global
Engineering Documents' Web site (www.global.ihs.com). Global Engineering
Documents is also the source for obtaining NEMA, IEC and CE documents.
5 Additional information can be found on OHSA's Web site:
(http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/controlhazardo)

3-5
Technical Review
Control System Design
A Condensed Guide to Automation installation manual for that device or PLC.
• Each terminal connection can accept one 16 AWG or
Control System Specification, two 18 AWG size wires. Do not exceed this
Design and Installation recommended capacity.
• Always use a continuous length of wire. Do not splice
Part 4: Build, Launch & Maintain wires to attain a needed length.
• Use the shortest possible wire length.
by Tom Elavsky,
• Use wire trays for routing where possible.
AutomationDirect
• Avoid running control wires near high energy wiring.
• Avoid running input wiring close to output wiring

I
n Part 3 of System Design, we covered how to design our where possible.
automated control system and the importance of • To minimize voltage drops when wires must run a long
documenting the design. We discussed the various types distance, consider using multiple wires for the return
of documents that would be typical for an automated control line.
system design, why and how we would use these documents, • Avoid running DC wiring in close proximity to AC
and finally the tools that can be used to create the documents. wiring where possible.
In Part 4, we will cover the steps needed to build, start • Avoid creating sharp bends in the wires.
up, and maintain our automated control system. The build • Install a powerline filter to reduce power surges and
section will include tips on the use of a subpanel, terminal EMI/RFI noise.
blocks, grounding, shielded cable, etc. We will cover the steps Important Wiring Safety Recommendations
to start up the system so that it is brought online in a safe and Warning: Providing a safe operating environment
logical manner, and also give some suggestions for developing for personnel and equipment is your responsibility
a plan to maintain the control system. and should be a primary goal during system plan-
As stated in the previous articles, special expertise is ning and installation. Automation systems can fail and may
generally required to design, wire, install, and operate result in situations that can cause serious injury to personnel
industrial automation control systems. Persons without such or damage to equipment. Do not rely on the automation
expertise or guidance should not attempt control systems, but system alone to provide a safe operating environment. Use
should consider seeking the services of a qualified System external electro-mechanical devices, such as relays or limit
Integrator. Control systems can fail and may result in switches that are independent of the automation equipment,
situations that can cause serious injury to personnel or damage to provide protection for any part of the system that may
to equipment. The information provided in this series of cause personal injury or damage.
articles is provided "as is" without a guarantee of any kind. Warning: Every automation application is different.
Build: Therefore, there may be special requirements for
your particular application. Be sure to follow all
During the design of our control
National, State, and local government requirements
panel, we pointed out the benefits of
for the proper installation and use of your equipment.
using a removable subpanel. In building
the subpanel, it is best to secure the Plan for Safety
components from the front side. This will make it easier to As we have stressed in previous articles, the best way to
replace any failed device or component in the future. provide a safe operating environment is to make personnel and
We can also make installation and maintenance easier by equipment safety part of the planning process. Examine every
using terminal blocks mounted to the subpanel that will aspect of the system to determine which areas are critical to
connect to all external devices. This will allow the installing operator or machine safety.
electrician to quickly dress and terminate the field wires. If you are not familiar with system installation practices,
Another terminating method that has added benefits is to or your company does not have established installation guide-
design our control panel with mating connectors so that the lines, you should obtain additional information from the
field wiring could be plugged into connectors mounted on the following sources:
panel. 1
NEMA : The National Electrical Manufacturers
Wiring Recommendations Association, located in Washington, D.C., publishes many
The following guidelines provide general information on different documents that discuss standards for industrial
how to wire most automation equipment. For specific control systems. You can order these publications directly from
information on wiring a particular PLC or device refer to the NEMA. Some of these include:

4-1
 • ICS 1: General Standards for Industrial Control and Shielding of Electronic Equipment
Systems Once all the important considerations mentioned above
• ICS 3: Industrial Systems have been determined, the mounting, bonding, and grounding
• ICS 6: Enclosures for Industrial Control Systems of the chassis may be started. The following list provides a brief
2
NEC : The National Electrical Code provides explanation of each of these terms:
regulations concerning the installation and use of various types • Mounting: refers to the actual physical installation of
of electrical equipment. Copies of the NEC Handbook can each device, instrument or component to either the
often be obtained from your local electrical equipment subpanel or other connected equipment.
distributor or your local library. • Bonding: refers to the joining of metallic parts of a
Local and State Agencies: Many local governments and chassis such as; frames, shields, assemblies and
state governments have additional requirements above and enclosures. Joining or bonding these components
beyond those described in the NEC Handbook. Check properly reduces the interference from EMI and
with your local Electrical Inspector or Fire Marshall office ground noise.
for information. • Grounding: refers to a connection to a grounding
conductor to provide overload and interference
Grounding
protection.
Why is grounding important? Electronic instrumenta- As mentioned before, grounding protects the instrumen-
tion such as PLCs and field I/O are typically surrounded by tation, devices, or components from power surges and reduces
various types of electronic devices and wires. These electronic the effect of EMI and ground noise. Figure 1 shows a typical
devices may include power supplies, input/output signals from method for grounding the subpanel to the enclosure cabinet to
other instrumentation, and even devices that are near the assure proper grounding.
instrumentation enclosure. All these may present a risk of
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) or transient interference.
This type of interference may cause erratic operation of
components and cause failures.
In addition to device interference, automation
equipment and devices could be damaged by powerful line
surges. These line surges may come from common voltage
fluctuations from a power supply, lightning, or unintentional
contact with a high voltage line. A power surge will cause a
temporary failure, fuse burn-up, or even very serious damage to
the equipment.
Grounding provides a low impedance path that limits
these voltages and stabilizes interference. Grounding is a must Figure 1
to protect your automation equipment and devices from
serious damage, failures, and even potential risk to users. Note: Please remember that bonding and
Grounding is the foundation of achieving a reliable grounding are important safety requirements that
power distribution system. During the panel and control are mandatory by local codes and regulations. The
system build, it is important that a reliable grounding system installer must verify the local codes to determine
be implemented. Poor grounding or improper or defective what grounding and bonding methods are
wiring may be the cause of most problems affecting power permitted. Always make sure that power supplies
quality. The following is a list of existing grounding standards are properly grounded to ensure elimination of
that may be used for reference: electronic noise interference.
• IEEE Green Book (Standard 142) Note: When using ground lugs and installing more
• IEEE Emerald Book (Standard 1100) than one on the same stud, make sure to install the
• UL96A, Installation Requirements for Lightning first lug between two star washers and tie it with a
Protection Systems nut. Install the second lug over the nut of the first
• IAEA 1996 (International Association of Electrical lug followed by a star washer and another
Inspectors) Soars Book on Grounding tightened nut.
• EC&M - Practical Guide to Quality Power for
Electronic Equipment
• Military Handbook - Grounding Bonding and

www.automationnotebook.com 4-2
Technical Review
Control System Design Continued
Shielded Cables
A shielded cable is an insulated cable consisting of strands
of copper or other material enclosed with a metallic shield
underneath a jacketed sheath. Shielded cables are used to
reduce the interference from electrical noise.
Some instrumentation requires the use of shielded cables
for specific connections. When installing instrumentation,
verify whether any connection requires a shielded cable. Failure Figure 2
to use the shielded cable will result in erratic readings or signals instrumentation must take into consideration that the panel
from the instrumentation. If the product being installed layout accommodates all the necessary components. In
requires shielded cables, the grounding specifications provided addition to the panel layout, the following specifications
by the manufacturer manual must be followed. Improper should be considered:
installation of shielded cables may cause a ground loop that
Electronic instrumentation can be affected by
will cause failure on a processor or would allow noise into the
interference from other electronic devices or EMI. This
logic circuit.
interference causes static that may interrupt communications
There are various types of shielded cable available or signals from other devices. Use these guidelines to prevent
for different uses. The shielded cables listed below are the any possibility of interference with your equipment:
most commonly used for automation control systems • Environmental specifications that cover the operating
and instrumentation: temperature, humidity, vibration, noise immunity, etc.
• Foil Shield: These cables consist of aluminum foil • Power requirements are specific to each piece of
laminated to a polyester or polypropylene film. The equipment. When installing instrumentation always
film provides mechanical strength and additional make sure to follow the manufacturer's power
insulation. The foil shield provides 100% cable requirement guidelines for your specific piece
coverage for electrostatic shielded protection. Foil of equipment.
shields are normally used for protection against • Use components with Agency Approvals such as UL,
capacitive (electric field) coupling where shielded CE, etc.
coverage is more important than low DC resistance. • Make enclosure selections based on component
• Braided Shield: These cables consist of groups of tinned, dimensions, recommended mounting clearances, heat
bare copper, or aluminum strands. One set is woven in a dissipation and EMI.
clockwise direction, then interwoven with another set in If installing a PLC base or chassis which consists mainly
a counter-clockwise direction. Braided shields provide of mounting, bonding, and grounding, it is very critical to the
superior performance against diffusion coupling, where proper operation of the PLC and its related devices and
low DC resistance is important, and to a lesser extent, components to closely follow the manufacture's recommenda-
capacitive and inductive coupling. tions. There are many cases of a PLC experiencing "noise"
• Spiral Shield: The spiral shield consists of wire (usually problems, when the problem is found to be that the base
copper) wrapped in a spiral around the inner cable wasn't grounded to the subpanel.
core. The spiral shield is used for functional shielding
against diffusion and capacitive coupling at audio I/O Testing
frequencies only. The last item to consider at the completion of building
• Combination Shield: These cables consist of more than your control system is to do a complete I/O checkout. This will
one layer of shielding. The combination shield is used assure that the point-to-point wiring between the I/O module
to shield against high frequency radiated emissions terminals and the field wiring terminal blocks has been done
coupling and electrostatic discharge (ESD.) It combines correctly.
the low resistance of braid with 100% coverage of foil To start, create a list with each I/O point shown and
shields and is one of the more commonly used types of include any details of what criteria is being tested. It is also
shielded cable in today's industry. helpful to include a check box that can be used to check off
Figure 2 shows a typical cross sectional area of a shielded cable each point after it is tested. Normally this list can be created
that makes use of combination shields. from an I/O list or tag name list that was created when
Mounting of Electronic Instrumentation designing your PLC ladder logic or HMI operator interface.
Electronic instrumentation is typically installed inside an Include the test criteria for each point on the list. As an
enclosure with other devices. Therefore, the installation of the example, discrete input and output points would be listed as

4-3
normally "off" and then checked for their "on" state. Analog importantly, it will help eliminate future problems. Set up the
points, both input and output, could be checked at different schedule based on a monthly or quarterly time period,
values. For example, if using a current input module, you may depending on the item to be done. The following are some of
want to simulate 4 mA (low value), 12 mA (middle value) and the items you may want to consider in your maintenance
20 mA (high value). schedule:
The actual testing normally requires a two-person team. • Check and record voltages at various circuits
One person uses a PC connected to the PLC to view the status • Tighten all connections (with power removed)
of each point tested and to simulate outputs, and the other • Check backup batteries, and/or replace on a routine
person physically applies a signal to inputs and monitors schedule
outputs with the use of an indicator on discrete outputs and a • Check indicators and perform lamp tests
meter on analog outputs. • Visually inspect for loose or frayed wiring, moisture in
enclosure, etc.
Start Up:
• Check to make sure plug-in connectors are tight and
The startup of our automated secured
control system begins once we have • Test all alarm systems, horns, sirens, etc.
installed our control system enclosure • Check and record any configuration settings
and auxiliary equipment, terminated all field wiring, and • Perform and record calibrations
completed required testing. This process is also called • Check all I/O points on a yearly basis
"commissioning" the automated control system and related • Check and record power usage
equipment/process. • Check equipment run times for determining
As a starting point, it is best to isolate the various sections maintenance or replacement
of our control system power wiring by removing the fuses • Measure device current to set a benchmark and
and/or opening circuit breakers. The best tool to use during compare for changes
commissioning is the schematic diagrams. We will want to start • Review any diagnostic history, including events and
at the incoming power, and basically work our way through the alarms
entire schematic. • Check diagnostics that may be programmed into the
HMI operator interface
As a first step, we may want to apply power to the main
circuit breaker or fused disconnect of our control system.
Then, measure the voltage for proper values, phase-to -phase
and each phase-to-ground, if the incoming power is three
phase. Next, we can turn on the main circuit protector and
check the voltage at each device that is fed from the main
source. Then start turning the circuit breakers on or replace the Footnotes:
fuses one circuit at a time and make additional voltage checks 1 Information for the National Electrical Manufacturer's
and test equipment operation that may be powered from Association (NEMA) can be found at their Web site at:
the circuit. http://www.nema.org. NEMA is also being harmonized with
Keep in mind that every control system will not be the the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) (Web
same. Therefore, each system will require a different strategy to site: www.iec.ch/) and other European standards. Additional
bring the equipment online safely. Consider having motors information can be found at Global Engineering Documents'
uncoupled from their respective loads, air pressure off, Web site at: www.global.ihs.com. Global Engineering
disabling hydraulics, and using Documents is also the source for obtaining NEMA, IEC and
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures. CE documents.
Measure voltages as you go. If using a 2 The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
PLC, connect a PC to it and monitor the produces the National Electrical Code (NEC), publication
ladder logic to make sure conditions, NFPA 70. Further information can be found at their Web site
states, etc. are responding correctly. at http://www.nfpa.org/. Another good reference from the
Maintain: NFPA is Electrical Standard Industrial Machinery, publication
NFPA 79.
It is important to develop a routine maintenance
schedule for your automated control system. Having a routine
schedule for checking critical components and devices in the
system will increase the longevity of the system and more

www.automationnotebook.com 4-4