Lecture PLC
Lecture PLC
Lecture 10:
Programmable Logic
Controllers
Microprocessor Based
Onboard Memory for Storing Programs
Special Programming Language: Ladder Logic
Input/Output Ports
PLCs Are...
Dissimilar to Microcontrollers:
Intended for Industrial Applications
I/O Designed to interface with Control Relays
Emphasis on Maximum Reliability
PLCs
Widely Applied in Every Industry
Were Developed to Simplify the Implementation of
Control Automation Systems in Plants and Assembly
Lines
Designed to Minimize the Number of Control Relays in
a Process and Maximize the Ways Relays can be Used
First Applied to Automobile Industry in the Late 1960s
Flexible, Reliable and Low Cost
PLC Components
I/O Modules
Input Modules: Input Signals can be AC or
DC, Analog or Digital
Output Modules: Outputs are either AC or
DC Analog Signals (Although it is possible
to Construct Digital Outputs)
Modern PLCs have Expansion Ports to
Increase the Number of Available Inputs and
Outputs
Outputs:
24 V ac
120 V ac
120 Vdc
etcetera
Relays
In General, Relays Transform a Control
Signal into a Control Action
Relays Provide:
Isolation Between Input and Output
Leverage (Small Signal Can Control Large
Action)
Automation (Minimize Human Interaction with
a Control Process)
Relay Components
Relay Applications
Relays can be Designed to Perform Many
Functions
Detect Out of Limit Conditions on Voltages and
Currents
Start Motors
Prevent Motors from Over Heating
Control Assembly Lines
Adjust Lighting
Industrial Communications
RS-422 (EIA 422): Asynchronous Serial
Communications , similar in many respects
to RS-232
Faster (up to 100 Kbps) than RS-232
Better Noise Immunity
Differential (Balanced signal) Protocol
Makes use of Twisted Pair lines - 1 pair for
transmit, one pair for receive (4 Lines vs. 3)
EIA-422 Basics
Can be 1 Master Transmitter feeding up to
10 Slave Receivers
Can be Peer-to-Peer, like RS-232
Data is sent and received via Differential
Ports - Common Mode Rejection (Noise
common to both inputs is attenuated)
Twisted Pair also reduces EMI at low cost
Counters
Counter Relays must Count a pre-determined
number of events before changing contact status
Can Count Up (UpCounter) or Count Down
(DownCounter)
e.g. An UpCounter is set to 8 and is programmed to
detect every occurrence of a 5 Volt pulse. When it
has detected 8 such occurrences, the NO Contacts
close and the NC contacts open.
Great for making Real-Time Clocks, etc
Special Functions
Modern PLCs can perform many Math and
Logic Functions without additional Ladder
Logic Programming
Differentiation, Integration
+, -, *, /
Boolean Logic Functions (AND, NOT, OR)
Master Control Functions (Reset, etc)
Motor Protection
Essential Part of Motor Control
Protect against:
Under Voltage
Under Frequency (AC Machines Only)
Over Current
Over Heating
Over Speed
Over Load
References
Skvarenina/DeWitt, Electrical Power and
Controls, Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2004