A dusk to dawn sensor usually is discrete on/off of the lighting control. If we want to vary the lights to mimic more of the sunset and rise, we would use an analog output to control the lights. I was recently asked about such a program. Every day they wanted the lights to go off at 10 pm and come back on at 6 am. At 9:30 pm the lights would be on at 70% or 7volts of a 0-10V signal. In the next half hour, the program will bring the lights from 70% down to 0%. In the morning the lights will come back on within the half-hour from 0% to 70%. Poultry Farms are one place that would utilize this program.
We will be developing a program that will do this with our Click PLC. Let’s get started! Keep on Reading!
Tag Archives: click plc system hardware
Click PLC HMI Rotary Encoder Dial Input
Rotary encoders are modern digital devices that have taken over from the potentiometer in stereos and many other applications. This is because of their fine digital control and they can fully rotate without end stops. We can connect the rotary encoder into the PLC using just two digital inputs. This human machine interface (HMI) has the advantage over touch screens and other methods of control into the PLC. The operator can control the rate and set point with the dial (rotary encoder) without looking at the control. This will allow the operator to concentration on other tasks.
We will be connecting a rotary encoder with dial into the Click PLC. The signals being sent from the rotary encoder will be explained. Different methods of programming this input in our PLC will be discussed. Let’s get started. Keep on Reading!
Click PLC Update Firmware
Firmware is usually PLC operating system code that is written into a read only memory. The BIOS (Basic Input Output System) of a PC (personal computer) is a good example of firmware. It provides the low level interface between the hardware and software. The Click PLC firmware comes with the programming software.
https://support.automationdirect.com/products/clickplcs.html
We will be updating our firmware of our Click PLC from 2.10 to 2.30. Let’s get started! Keep on Reading!
Modbus RTU Click PLC Master to BRX PLC Slave Communication
Recently I was asked to demonstrate communication between a Click PLC and BRX PLC using Modbus RTU. Both PLCs are available from automation direct com. Modbus serial communication (Modbus RTU) is a standard protocol used in many automation devices. It works on a Master / Slave configuration. You can have only one master per network on Modbus RTU (Remote Terminal Unit). A maximum of 32 devices (Nodes) on the network can communicate to the master. A review of the Modbus RTU protocol (RTU frames) can be seen at the following URL.
http://www.rtautomation.com/technologies/modbus-rtu/
Using the Click PLC as a Master we will be communicating to the BRX PLC (Slave). Our example will read 10 registers from the BRX PLC and write 10 registers to the Click PLC. Let’s get started! Keep on Reading!
Click PLC AdvancedHMI Communication
Advanced HMI is a powerful, adaptable HMI/SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) development package that takes advantage of Visual Studio. There is no coding required and you can simply drag and drop items onto the page. The best thing is that the software is free. We will look at using AdvancedHMI with the Click PLC. Our sample Click PLC program will read the present value (PV) and the indicating lights on our Solo Process Temperature Controller. It will then write the set value (SV) to the Solo. This communication will be done using Modbus RTU protocol over a RS485 serial port on the Click. The AdvancedHMI package will communicate Modbus TCP over Ethernet to the Click PLC. We will be able to monitor our PV and set our SV on the Solo via the AdvancedHMI window. Keep on Reading!
Click PLC Send and Receive Instructions
Receive and Send instructions will allow you to send and receive serial data to an external device. The communication method that you setup can be ASCII or Modbus. ASCII (American Standard Communication for Information Interchange) can be used to send to devices such as a printer. Receiving ASCII can be used for connecting barcode scanners to the PLC. The barcode will be read as an ASCII string in the PLC. Modbus serial communication (Modbus RTU) is a standard protocol used in many automation devices. We will demonstrate the Send and Receive instruction by communicating Modbus to a Solo Temperature Controller. Our example will read the current process (PV) value and write the set point value (SV) in the controller. Keep on Reading!
Click PLC Drum Instruction
Drum instructions are great tools when you have a simple sequence of events that need to occur at a set time interval or as a result of an event. They mimic an electromechanically drum sequencer. The Click PLC has a drum in the instruction set. We will discuss the drum instruction and look at an example of controlling traffic lights. Keep on Reading!
Click PLC Shift Register Instruction
Allot of times when programming a PLC you need to track what has previously happened. Shift registers allow you to do just that. The Click PLC has a shift register in the instruction set. We will discuss the shift register and look at an example. Keep on Reading!
Click PLC Program Control Instructions
The program control instructions will allow us to specify what parts of the logic get solved and when this happens. This will control how the PLC will scan and solve your logic in your program. Keep on Reading!
Click PLC Timers and Counters
Continuing our series, we will now look at timers and counters and how they are used in the Click PLC. Previously we have discussed:
System Hardware – Video
Installing the Software – Video
Establish Communication – Video
Numbering System and Addressing – Video
The programming software and manuals can be downloaded from the Automation Direct website free of charge. Keep on Reading!