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What I've seen has been that the windows update version of SP3 is broken and will exhibit some of the problems you're all listing above. However, if you use the download version, it works fine. I don't know what the difference is, but that's the pattern we've been observing. I'm using SP3 here with 5, 500 and 5000 and they all work fine.

I'm not aware of anything preconfigured like that, but it shouldn't be too difficult to develop that little pop-up screen to do what you want.

I believe, technically, RSLogix ~may~ run on XP Home -- but RSLinx does not. So, while it may run, you can't do anything with it...

There are also load cell signal conditioners. I've used Action Instruments WV448s. These convert load cell to 0-10VDC or 4-20mA. The only thing with these is that you'll have to calibrate the analog signal to the weight. The Hardy modules that rdrast mentioned are great! As are the MTs that Ken mentioned -- especially if you get one of the comm options (CNet, DNet, ENet, RIO, DH+, Profibus).

Are you sure??? While I don't have an 1100 to actually try this on, the software is allowing it, and it verified without error... See attached pic

Those are great examples that you have suggested yourself. Try them -- if you need help, post what you have, ask specific questions, then we can help. We won't do it for you, but we'll help. The elevator, stop light, and washing machine applications are very typical samples that are used in training classes. They are very simple applications that we are all familiar with. Ken's agitator suggestion is also a very simple, real life application. The way to learn to program PLCs is to FIRST - before you do anything else - define what you want your system to do. This can be a flow chart, a sequence of operations, an outline... whatever it takes to define your system. Answer questions like "How does it start?" "How does it stop?" "What happens next?" "What if there is a fault?" "How does it restart?" "How does it reset?" Then -- AFTER you've defined your system -- you can start defining the hardware required to meet your requirements. PLC, I/O, communication networks, HMIs, etc. While you're doing this phase, make your system drawings and document all of your I/O. Then you can start programming. It doesn't matter what your system is -- it can be a stop watch, an elevator, a stop light, a blending system, an oil refinery.... The process is all the same. With practice, you might just do some of these steps in your head on a small project, but you still need to go through the process. I've been doing this for 20 years and still do it this way -- every time! So, for your stop watch: 1) How does it start? 2) How does it stop? 3) How many timers do you want/need? 3a) Do they need to run concurrently, independently, consecutively, whatever...?? 4) How do you reset the timer(s)? 5) What other information do you need to be able to completely define this application...???? See what I'm doing?? Try answering those questions here... we'll be glad to help you if you miss something or get something wrong. Then you can move on with the "How to do it" questions, then on to the actual code.

In RSLinx, make sure the selected Device Type is PCMK. There is no field for a hardware address on a PCMK config -- that's for the KT or KTX(D) devices.

Best solution: Replace the PLC3. It's been obsolete for years...

Which firmware version? It seems like there was an anomoly in one version that did this. Perhaps one of the 12's or 13's??? (Might be wrong... I'm out on the road, so I don't have access to all of those notes...)

SE is an awesome platform, but it requires that you play exactly according to their rules. You can make absolutely NO shortcuts anyplace. Design you system according to their rules and it'll go well -- read the manual! Then read it again! After you have everything configured properly, the actual screen/tag development is just like anything else -- but the configuration MUST be done properly before you start.

We blow stuff around in all of our plants. The easiest way to monitor is like Bob said -- monitor pressure. I've even done systems where we used the line pressure as the input to a PID that was controlling the rate we were feeding product into the blower lines. This was done to 1) prevent chokes, and 2) optimize throughput to conditions and distance transferred.

Which version of Linx are you trying to use? To use RSLinx as a DDE server, it has to be one of the "licensed" versions. Not "Linx-Lite" that tags along with one of the RSLogix packages.

After you log into the AB site, this is the link you'll want for the chart. And the L32E is good up to v16.04.

Doesn't exist

SLC504 doesn't do ethernet. It's either DF1 or DH+ SLC505 is ethernet. To work with the PVP600, you're going to need RSView Studio. If you have PVP600, then you have RSView ME (Machine Edition) as rpraveenkum said. Not RSView SE (Supervisory Edition)

I'm not sure if it does or not... Check with your local AB rep. They'll know.

Good Linux-based SCADA?? What's out there that's worth the effort?? (I'm truly interested!!)

Believe it or not, I do exactly the same thing except for fluidizing flour. As soon as the whole vessel of flour is fluidized, you can easily detect a pressure change on the fluidizing air supply.

What did I ever do to you?? I live out in the middle of nowhere -- and 2 miles from the resort... errrr.... prison.

They could just take some of those basketball hoops and TVs and other "benefits" and convert that to more cages and guards. Jail/Prison is supposed to be punishment, not a vacation. I live less than 2 miles from a state prison and there are quite often repeat "residents" who commit some crime just to get back because prison is better than home...

Good point. But if I have one that I'm going to want to hook into a network for any reason, it's going to have a protocol available that will support that (Ethernet, DH+, Modbus, ...) I was thinking of the small, one-off, isolated machines that we all have, and the increasing difficulty in finding a notebook with a real serial port. Wasn't aware of the Omron with a USB. (but we're all AB...)

Or USB? Why aren't there any PLCs with USB ports yet...????

You should be able to edit the tags offline in Excel (or notepad or OpenOffice or... After all, it's just a text file...) , then reimport them. When you reimport, it'll ask what you want to do on a collision -- whether you want to keep the old data or overwrite with new. Select to overwrite...

Why are you wanting to delete USED tags? You really need to find where those tags are used and remove their references before you delete them...

As far as I know, there's no free running timer in Control/Compact Logix. But you can write your own with a "self-resetting" 1000ms timer, then either picking the desired bit in the timer.acc or using a LIM instruction on the .acc.