ACC Automation: PLC & Industrial Control Learning
Practical Tips and Techniques
Node-RED will be used on the Raspberry Pi 4 to communicate serial Modbus RTU to a Solo process temperature controller and Click PLC using twisted pair RS485. This will be done on the same serial network so the devices will be daisy-chained together on the two wires. We will be reading the PV (present value) … Read more
We will be installing an industrial USB to RS485 converter on our computer. The Waveshare USB to serial port is a 2-wire USB to RS-485 serial communication adapter for RS485 use. It does not require an external power supply or complicated configuration. It has a Type A (plug) USB connector for the computer side and … Read more
If you want to install a USB to RS485 adapter on your computer, you’ve come to the right place. We will use the CH340/341 USB to Serial port, an adapter that translates USB data into RS-485 communication. There is no need for an external power source or a head-scratching setup. It’s as easy as insertion, … Read more
We will now look at creating BRX Do-More dynamic web pages on our PLC web server. These pages are great for operator information display. A dynamic web page is a web page that displays different content each time it’s viewed. For example, the page may change with the time of day, the user that accesses … Read more
We will now be looking at LEDs that we can wire and program using our Arduino Uno super starter kit. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor devices that will show light when current passes through them. This light is produced within the solid semiconductor material so it can be called a solid-state lighting device. We will … Read more
We will now look at the capacitive pushbutton sensor switch and indicator. Normal pushbuttons on a panel are usually a mechanical device. They can become “sticky” when too much dirt or oil is present. Capacitive push buttons do not have moving parts to stick, so the life expectancy is increased. Disinfectant sprays can be applied … Read more
We will look at Arduino variables data types that can be used with our P1AM unit. Data types in the C++ language are used to determine the variable or function applied for the given type. The type will determine the size of the storage (bits), and the method to interpret the information. Microprocessors can only … Read more
The MOSAIC Modular Safety Integrated Controller can be programmed for your safety control application. Steps to programming our MOSAIC include writing the program, verification, simulation, downloading and monitoring. In part 1, we wrote, verified and simulated our program. Our first program has an emergency stop switch with status indication. We will now be using the … Read more
We will now look at the BRX Do-More HTTP JSON instructions in the PLC. One of the features of the BRX Do-More Series PLC is the ability to expand its capability to fit your application. Software and hardware changes are ongoing so the PLC can grow with your needs. Communication is something that the BRX … Read more
We will now wire a stack light to the Click PLC. Stack lights are usually modular stackable components that provide a visually illuminated and audible indication for machines, systems, and processes. They are usually located on top of equipment to provide this notification to personnel in the area. Stack lights are also known as signal … Read more