PLCinME

No you do not have to install the software on the second computer, any software on your workstation will be available once you are connected. It is a great tool, and has saved me a ton of time, and my company a lot of downtime waiting for me to get there in the middle of the night to get something going. Just be sure you have good high speed internet access. Good Luck!

I connect to our plant PLCs from home by connecting to my work desktop using our compnay VPN connection, and a VNC link to my own workstation. It works well, and I have access to all the software on my computer at work, as well as our entire plant network. It saves me a lot of time, I commute an hour, so if I can troubleshoot over the phone by viewing the ladder logic I can sometimes talk the shift maintenance personnel through the problem over the phone and save myself a trip in to the plant.

I normally use the self adhesive "peel and stick" engraved plastic plaques, if I am using them outdoors, or in a particually nasty area I just add a little super glue to the adhesive that is already there.

I have installed the AB PowerFlex, as well GE AF300 drives both with enclosures and without...I much prefer doing it in the enclosure, and including the line reactor, control transformer, and control relays all in the same enclosure (depending on the hp of the drive of course). This makes troubleshooting easier, because everything is right there in front of you, and I usually mount a remote HIM on the cabinet door, along with local/remote switch and some indicator lights. I am in a cement plant and dust is ALWAYS and issue, so anytime I can get something in a cabinet I do. If you want, I can send you a couple of pics of a few of the cabinets I have done with the HIM and indicators on the door...

The 3 most important words in programming; DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT. The amount of frustration that can be saved is definitely worth the initial time investment, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!

I use the Greenlee Drill/Tap combo as well, if using a cordless drill with variable torque you can reduce the torque to just enough to get the job done, and reduce the number of broken bits.