Crossbow

The big problem with handhelds is so many people understand the ladder logic but not nearly as many understand the instruction list code the PLC actually operates on. When you write ladder in GX-Developer, the program is still downloaded to the PLC as instruction list. That's the language it understands. And some people who are comfortable with the ladder and how it operates are confused when they see the instruction list. Handhelds typically only deal (especially on the older models) with instruction list. So it's a bit of a challenge for some people to write code that way when they are used to the graphical display of ladder.

funfrok, Actually that PLC is from the early 1980s, so if that was easy, life must be a piece of cake now...

That is the part number, FX-EEPROM-8.

S7-200 can only be a slave device on a Profibus network. S7-300 or another PLC is required to master the network. Only brick I've ever seen that can master Profibus is the Mitsubishi FX3U.

The MDFolder allows you to just right click on a folder and create a new subdirectory and it asks for the name. Microsoft requires you click IN the folder, pick New, then rename it.

Check for the manuals on www.telemecanique.com. I think you should be able to select Unitelway for this connection, not Modbus.

So what exactly are you asking? You can upload data values (D registers) from the PLC into GX-Developer. But I am not sure what you mean by AB data files?

The programming manuals are all available on www.meau.com in the Downloads section.

You do not change the chip on the memory module, you buy an EEPROM memory module.

As was mentioned above, there are two models with two different fiber connectors. One does use the more expensive connectors, and the other a more standard connector. One uses 125 micron fiber and the other 62.5. I would search out the manuals at www.meau.com in the Downloads section and see which is which.

Two utilities I can't do without for the right click menu are FastEdit and MDFolder. FastEdit will open any file (regardless of extension) in Notepad. MDFolder is a quick way to right click and create a new folder, just right click, pick New Folder, then type in the name. As for sync utils to keep my home laptop, work laptop, and external hard drive backups all the same, I use the Microsoft SyncToy power toy. Does a good job for what I need. Used to use SynchronX. FastEdit.zip MDFolder.zip

I placed the S7-200 programming manual in the Siemens download section a long time ago.

Modicon's upgrades are never free. But they may offer a discounted package for existing owners. Check with a local distributor.

If you want EEPROM memory, don't buy the FX-EPROM-8, get the FX-EEPROM-8.

I'm not sure, but I think they required at least version 4.1.

Last I knew Idec did demos that were fully functional offline but would not have comunication capabilities so they could not be used to actually talk to a PLC. The manuals for the PLCs should be in the same website where you found the software, but since the FA2 is obsolete, they may have removed the manual.

On the TSX Micro, you only get to install one card, and I'm pretty sure there is a Modbus Plus card available. But then for your RS232 you're stuck. TSX premium has serial modules available, as well as modbus Plus or Interbus. TSX Micro is not designed for that kind of expandability.

I don't know about GX IEC Developer, but in regular GX Developer there is no way to set the font size. There were some print size issues with the software, and most of them centered around a font file. After some testing I found that PCs with Microsoft Office printed fine, while PCs without Office (or even with Works) did not print right. Version 8.32 no longer exhibits this problem. But the font size is fixed to fit the width of the screen in ladder printouts.

The 8 pin port on the PLC is the same as a Macintosh serial cable. I had one customer who bought a Mac serial extension cable and cut one end off. The Q series uses a 6 pin which is the same as the PS/2 mouse and keyboard.

The FX Programming manuals are in the downloads section here.

If your thumbwheels are X0-X7, you can use [bIN K2X0 D0] and you'll get the BCD number from those 8 inputs in a binary format in D0. The K2 means 2 nibbles (2 digits).

Steve, the F2-20GF1 is obsolete and no longer sold. Mitsubishi (at least in the US) cannot get the unit anymore, so unless an office has one, they're out of luck. Paul, I've seen the PLCs and some handhelds on Ebay, but not the F2-20GF1. They are very hard to find.

If you have GX IEC Developer, you should consider the SFC (Sequential Function Chart) programming language, as it is similar to a flowchart. But I typically write primarily in ladder logic.

In the US, Alpha XL is called Alpha 2, and I mentioned that solution before. The IP55 mounting kit is also not available here.

The cables don't change with the software. Which PLC are you looking to connect to?