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Let me first say that I have absolutely no involvement with this seller, just stumbled across the listing on ebay. I'm not sure what GE charges for these, but it looks like a really good deal to me: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=150115096897

Do you have a computer with a serial port? If so, consider this: http://shopv2.mrplc.com/product_info.php/products_id/70?osCsid=d6077b92fa222c7e3ff59cc936d7abba

Wait a minute, you said SLC. Well maybe I'm not fully understanding your question, but 1 ms is one of the avail timebases for the TON instruction, so you would just trigger a TON with .01s as the timebase, 1 as the preset, and then monitor the status of the .DN bit

I don't know the answer, but suggest that you'll probably get a quicker response in the Siemens forum

My work has been with the Big 3 automakers, and they all have a detailed spec for what the supplier is to provide. Most of this relates to the drawing package. Each has a particular format they expect the suppliers to follow. The documentation for the PLC logic and HMI screens is pretty much what you would expect, simply the hardcopy output of the report generation function in a 3-ring binder. I've found that documentation for smaller programmable devices (like standalone temperature controllers, "red lion" style displays, etc) often falls through the cracks and gets overlooked however. Ideally, everything should be recorded that was done to the device from when it was taken out of the box to when the system was commissioned. This becomes a problem when the hapless field tech is called out to repair/replace one of these devices, and finds out that noone at shop remembers what they did several years ago to make the blasted thing produce useful output! Its customary for panel builders to gather up and include the installation instructions and user manuals, usually in a box in the bottom of the panel, to include in the documentation package. (Did I answer what you were asking?)

I'm sure some corporations have written specs that are that specific, but I can tell you that the Big 3 don't! I've never been made aware of any instructions that are "off limits".

Was it redundant? or a Safety PLC? You would think they would at least have to do that, unless it was controlling a function completely unrelated to the flight controls

actually if you really wanted to get fancy you could attach a 1761-NET-ENI and use ethernet, but those are a bit pricey

If you have a DH485 network set up (with 1761-NET-AICs), you could use a PCMK w/ a PCM4 cable and/or a 1747-UIC to communicate on that network. Otherwise you have to use the direct serial connection. Yeah, A-B hasn't been entirely dis-ambiguous in their use of comm. connectors over the years. I wouldn't disagree with you if you said it was frustrating and confusing.

Their application would be SEVERELY limited if they had no inputs at all :)

PM or email me, I can beat that price by quite a bit! how many do you need

Very simple and elegant explanation! I'll have to bookmark this

what exactly is the fault you're getting? sounds to me like an intermittant problem with one of the output cards? but then again, you're probably noticing the outputs being off BECAUSE of the fault, not as the cause of it. Anyway, in answer to your question, I believe if you had a backup memory module with the program loaded, the program would re-load and clear the fault when power is cycled. That's the best way I can think of offhand to solve your problem

I worked for a company that did gasoline fuel fill systems and have come to understand that controls in hazardous locations are not something to "ease your way into". you must either know it 100% or don't do it (yourself) at all. Maybe the best bet would be to work closely with an automation design house experienced with mining applications. You can learn from this project and apply what you've learned to future jobs that you may elect to keep in-house. Now with that said, as far as intrinsic barriers vs. PLC I/O, I've come to really respect the Allen-Bradley Flex-Ex product line. Keeps the wiring soooo much simpler than individual barriers and controls costs too. But, the I/O blocks may not be suitable for all your field I/O, you'll have to verify first.

Tell me what you think about this. To me, it just keeps on getting more and more wierd! A few months ago, we got new neighbors that moved in behind us. In introducing ourselves, we discovered that, like us, they had 8 kids, one being a newborn. They named their baby Konner. We named our baby Konner. Three of their girls are named Alexandria, Abigail, and Amanda. Two of our girls are named Alexandria and Abbigale, and my wife is named Amanda. The father is named Kevin. My name is Kevin. So by now, you're saying "so what?" But wait. In conversation this afternoon, he asked what I do for a living. Told him I program PLCs. Turns out, he does too! But wait, it gets better. I just finished a curriculum of CNC programming classes at the local community college. He took the same program a few years ago! So what do you guys make of that. Personally I think it's getting a little creepy :)

How attached to you to that particular notebook? Seems to me that replacing it with one that has PCMCIA slots would be the path of least resistance

You have real-mode USB drivers? Never heard of such a thing

I'm surprised Omron told you they didn't have a means of accomplishing this. I would have assumed all the major name PLC brands would have a non-volatile memory capability on at least one of their product lines. Maybe they didn't understand your question? Allen-Bradley would be another brand to consider, as this can easily be done with the SLC 500, micrologix (not the 1000 though), and I'm sure the ControlLogix family is fully capable of this as well, although I can'd speak to that from personal experience.

have you seen this thread: http://forums.mrplc.com/index.php?showtopic=8927

sometimes i wish i had a job that used higher math. it's been so long since I took those courses, I wouldn't be too far ahead of the por guy that couldn't solve the equation of a line :) 90% of the time, i'm looking at prox switches and pushing air cylinders back and forth.. and everyone around me thinks i'm some sort of rocket scientist!

This is an excellent utility for analyzing your computer's hardware and OS properties: http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

Like most mission statements it contains a lot of words but says nothing!

Here's proof: http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070924/photos_...jQ9.sDbGJyb.HQA The guy carrying the sign is the president of the UAW, and he apparently doesn't know basic punctuation :)

The more education have, the more it sets you apart in your field. You're right, you can be a good controls guy without any more than a high school education and O-J-T. This is probably more accepted in some ares than others. I can say with certainty, here in Detroit and in the auto industry in general, education takes a back seat to reputation and work experience. But in other areas a degree is expected. For example, I went on a job in Canada to a facility that makes products for their atomic power plants. they DID enquire into my level of education and it seemed to me that my involvement in the job was dependent on me having the BSEE. Even though I was just wiring up some field I/O. In the 90s I worked for an A-B distributor, and pretty much everyone they hired for an engineering position had an engineering degree. They prided themself in that. Several of them had an MS, which was an even greater prestige and distinction for the company. Once I find another company that will pay for it, I'm going to start working toward my MSEE. I've already got the BS and an AS in manufacturing engineering. I don't regret the time spent getting either one.

Just curious about the specs of the motherboard you've got. reason why i ask, is you'd really be surprised what you can run XP on. the oldest/slowest system i ever attempted it with is an old socket-7 motherboard, a Cyrix 250 MHz chip, 96 MB RAM, and a 3GB drive. (just a bunch of junk i had laying around!) Make no mistake, it was slow, but not unbearable. I do most of my work on a PIII-933 system. It's a screamer, does everything I need it to do. (And it's about the fastest motherboard I can find that has two ISA slots, and will talk to a 1784-KTXD and 1784-KTCX) But invariably, whenever I mention it someone emails me astonished that XP is running on a PIII. People must forget that XP was released 6 years ago when a PIII was state of the art!