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The SLC-500 may be a good option because we have those where I work. I may be able to get my hands on one. I sent my professor a project proposal and he liked the idea, but said that I need to get it more involved. He suggested that when the PLC alarmed that it send a signal to dial my cellphone. How might one go about that?? He also suggested to take a store bought smoke detector and have it send a signal to the plc, which I think I'd be able to handle. Another suggestion he had was to add a keypad to arm and disarm the system. I think I'm going to try to do all three.........I'm gonna get a keypad and use the plc to where I can enable or disable the entire system. Also, I gonna program to where I can enable or disable parts, say I want to enable the fire alarm system, and disable the security system, I can. I think I can get the smoke dectector to work with the plc. The trouble is gonna be to get the system to dial my cellphone when it's in alarm. NOW, where to start??

OK.........again, I'm trying to graduate this December, and I'm operating on a limited budget......I do not work with nor have ever worked with PLC's, only on a very minimal basis......I have had a couple of programming classes in which I thoroughly enjoyed and I believe that I could do this for a living, given the chance to do it day in and day out......right now I'm an Instrument Technician trying to get an engineering degree so I can better myself. Sleepy Wombat, I'm with you and have thought of that......using two switches per window to keep from beating one.....I was actually planning on using 4 switches per window......the two initial, the first prying open of the window....a switch on the lock, and then another just for good measure.........the door, I was planning on using one on the deadbolt, and another two like the window........also one master switch to implement/kill the system.....and push button acknowledge and a pushbutton test.........also would need one input for a fire alarm. Outputs, I'm looking at sending signals to relays to control horns and lights, and doing a toggle in the program to get the "beep beep beep" and "flash flash flash" effect. The fire alarm, I'm still thinking on that......I'd like to have an alarm and a temperature switch.....the alarm to alert get the horns and lights to flashing to say "hey we've got a problem here"........and a temperature switch to when it realizes that "hey, this house is on fire!! Open the sprinklers" Is this a stupid project? Should I go back to the drawing board?? Any other suggestions to make it interesting?? so I guess I'm looking for something that could handle 10-12 inputs and a couple 3 outputs. I remember the professor talking about a shoebox PLC with a hand held programmer and thought that might be the way to go?? I'm not sure....like I've said, I've worked around this stuff but rarely with it. This may be way "under" some of you all, but I figure on walking before I run. I think it would be a neat project to work on. I may be wrong.

Hello......I just found this forum and thought I'd try to get a little advice. I'm a graduating senior in Automation and Control Engineering Technology and I need to do a senior project. I've got an idea but not sure how to go about it.....well, I think I know how to do it, but I need some help in selecting a PLC for this application. What I'm planning on doing is building a model of one side of a house(a door and two windows). I'm planning on using switches to create a security system for the house. In other words, write a program that when a switch was made, the PLC will send an output to flashing lights and a horn. I'm also gonna tie in a motion light, and fire alarm as well.....but anyway, what I'm needing to know is who makes a cheaper PLC that comes with/or can be programmed with a handheld programmer, since I don't have a laptop and software etc. Anybody have any ideas for a college senior with a wife and kids on a budget as to what route may be best. Thanks