We bought a process oven control panel, that has a Allen bradley 1771 PLC in it. It is missing the processor module. I was looking in the schematic and it called for a PLC 5/40, so i picked one up on e-bay. The panel has a panel view 1000e (if my memory serves me correctly). When i boot up the PV i see the program that was setup for this panel. When i go into the program mode, i see the program along with several others. I am wondering if there is a way to transfer the program onto the PLC?

I am just learning about PLC's and trying to read everything possible. So i really dont know much, hopefully i have not confused yall too much.

Basically PLC's read inputs, preform logic and then set outputs on or off based upon the logic. Many PLC's do not have a panel view attached, the operator interacts with the logic via pushbuttons and lights.

A panel view is used to allow interaction between the operator and the PLC, it contains a program that allows the operator to start/stop devices, monitor the process, etc... Instead of hard wired inputs and outputs, PLC memory ares are changed, a bit or word value is changed in the PLC by the Panelview.

The panelview and the plc are two separate pieces of equipment, neither one can be used to program the other.

To program the PLC, you need RSLogix 5, and RsLinx.
The panelview programs you have are just for the panelview, they contain graphics, and any indicators or pushbuttons are "mapped" to the plc's memory resistors.

Hope that helped, and BTW, welcome to the forum.

Have you been tasked with getting this machinery to run?
Do you have wiring schematics?
Do you know how it's supposed to operate, the step by step function of everything?

Greetings Tim ...

I agree with everything posted by my distinguished colleague Ken Moore ... here’s just a little bit more information ...



are you still in contact with the people you bought it from? ... are they able to provide you with the program for the PLC? ... basically it’s a computer file that USUALLY ends in .RSP (example: OVEN.RSP) ... without that, you’re looking at a long hard road ...

for one thing, the RSLogix5 software required to program the PLC is at least $3,500 for a legal copy ... for most people, there is at least a solid week of a learning curve - just to learn how to drive the software and interpret what is seen on the programming computer screen ... and then actually “programming” the beast is another curve which continues on from there ...

based on what you’ve posted so far, my recommendation would be that you try (DESPERATELY!) to get a copy of the existing program ...

suggestion: are other models of this same oven in use in other plants? ... possibly you could find a copy there? ...

once (actually IF) you can come up with the original program, then you will probably come out better to hire a local contractor (who has the RSLogix5 software available) to download the program into your PLC processor for you ...

if you can’t get a copy of the program, then someone is going to have to write a new one from scratch ... that will probably require someone with experience ... again, a qualified local contractor might be the best way to go ... if this is an “oven” then there is the distinct possibility that “PID control” is involved ... most people consider PID to be the “deep end of the pool” where PLC programming is involved ...

one more recommendation ... if I were you, I wouldn’t buy anything else for this project (from e-bay or otherwise) until I posted my intentions on the forum ... we’ll be glad to tell you what “makes sense” ... some things don’t ...

and by the way, WHERE in the United States are you located? ... welcome to the forum ...

good luck with your project ... hope this helps ...

The panel was purchased at auction. Every time i look i find another piece of literature that got stashed somewhere in the sub floor of the panel (i am talking very big panel LOL). I have a schematic of the panel, and I keep on searching through literature hoping there is a disk or at least a print out of the programming. I am located in Houston, Tx. The PLC was programmed to monitor all of the safety interlocks for all the ovens (this panel was controlling three ovens). It could also start and stop all of the motors along with controlling the burners by outputting a 4-20ma signal to the actuating valves, that were on the gas train along with some other actuators that would open and close some baffles. Right now i have it running, I am just not using the PLC, when they wired it luckally they made it totally independent of the PLC if it were to fail, but then they paralleled all of the start and stop contacts for PLC control. I have a friend that used to program Allen Bradley PLC's, but when he moved from his last job to doing on site service for another PLC company (I forget their name, but they are based in houston). He has offered to sit down and teach me some things, just lately when i have had time he has not. The PLC has about 4 110V output and input cards, along with a analog out card and a MV input card. Due it it had to work on the algorithm of when the burner reaches x temp then the actuator needs to cut back y mv. The PV is setup so you can change the setpoints of the burners, and it displays the process temps along with any problems, such as x air filter clogged.