Timers

The most commonly used process control device after coils and contacts is
timer. The controller has an inbuilt clock for its functioning for executing its
instruction cycle or scan cycle or in that case any of the action, which is very
important.
Timer has an internal counter which counts the pulse of this internal clock and
generates the required delay. Moreover there are three types of delay
• Logical delay
• Process delay
• Execution delay
This internal clock is used as a reference when we want to have a logical delay
in our program. Depending on number of cycles of the clock the calculation of the
delay is calculated. The base time i.e. based on the crystal oscillator present in the
controller whose time is taken as the reference for the calculation of the delay can
vary for different manufacturers of PLC eg: 1ms, 10ms or 1s. In present scenario our
Schneider PLC has time base of 1ms.

Function of Timers

• Used with various contact arrangements and in multiples to accomplish

various timing tasks. E.g.: Wielding, painting and heat treatment.
• Predetermine the interval between two operations.
• Replace the use of industrial timers for driving motor, RC time constant or
dash pot it can be easily simulated.

Advantages of Timers

• Versatile and flexible than either the industrial or digital electronic timers.
• Its time may be a programmable variable time as well as a fixed time.
• Timer accuracy, Repeatability and reliability are extremely high because it is
based on solid state technology.

There are four types of timers which are described as follows:

1. On Delay Timer (OND):

On delay timers are the timers which are used in most of the applications. This
timer comes on after a particular time delay. Thus as the input goes from 0 to 1, the
elapsed time starts to increase and when it reaches the time specified by the input
preset, the output goes to 1.

The On delay timer as represented in Unity pro S is as follows:

 Fig1: On delay function Block

Parameter Description
Parameter Data Type Description
IN BOOL Start delay
Input Parameters
PT TIME Preset delay time
Q BOOL Output
Output Parameters
ET TIME Internal time

Bool:
BOOL is the abbreviation for the Boolean type. This is the basic data type in
computing. A BOOL variable can have either of the following two values: 0 (FALSE)
or 1 (TRUE).

Time:
The TIME type expresses a time in milliseconds. Encoded in 32 bits, this type
can be used to obtain times from 0 to 2 32-1 milliseconds. The TIME type has the
following units: days (d), hours (h), minutes (m), seconds (s) and milliseconds (ms).
A literal value of type TIME is represented by a combination of the preceding types
prefixed with T#, t#, TIME# or time#.
Examples: T#25h15m, t#14,7S, TIME#5d10h23m45s3ms
 Fig2: Timing Diagram and working of On Delay Timer

2. Off Delay Timer:

This timer is on for a fixed period of time before turning off. The timer starts
when the input signal changes from 1 to 0.

The Off delay timer as represented in Unity pro S is as follows:

Fig3: On delay function Block

Fig4: Timing Diagram and working of Off Delay Timer

3. Pulse Timer:
This timer gives an output of 1 for a fixed period of time, starting when the
input foes from 0 to 1 and switching back to 0 when the set time of preset has elapsed.

The pulse timer as represented in Unity pro S is as follows:

Fig5: Pulse timer function Block

Parameter Description
Parameter Data Type Description
IN BOOL Trigger Pulse
Input Parameters
PT TIME Preset Pulse Duration
Q BOOL Output
Output Parameters
ET TIME Internal time

Fig5: Timing Diagram and working of Off Delay Timer

4. Retentive Timer:
The working of retentive timer is similar to ON delay timer with a single
difference. In case of on delay timer, times as long as the enabling input is ON, but
reset as the enabling input is OFF. In case of retentive timer as the input goes off the
timer does not reset. The timer must be reset with a reset instruction. This timer is not
available in Schneider software Unity Pro S.

We can summarize as follows:

Timer Instruction
Instruction Use this instruction to Functional Description
On Delay Timer Program a time delay Use an on delay timer when an action is to
before instruction begin a specified time after the input become
becomes true true. E.g.: a certain step in the
manufacturing process is to begin 30s after a
signal is received from a limit switch. The
30s delay is the on delay timer’s preset value
Off Delay Timer Program a time delay to E.g.: for an external cooling fan on a motor,
begin after rung inputs go the fan is to run all the time the motor is
false running and for 5min after motor is turned
off. This is a 5min off delay timer. The 5min
timing cycle begins when the motor is
turned off.
Retentive Timer Retain accumulated value Use a retentive timer to track the running
through power loss, time of a motor for maintenance purposes.
processor mode change, Each time the motor is turned off, the timer
or rung state going from will remember the motor’s elapsed running
true to false time. The next time the motor is turned on,
the time will increase from there. To reset
this timer, use a reset instruction.
Reset Reset the accumulated Typically used to reset a retentive timer’s
value of a timer or accumulated value to 0.
counter