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Thank you for the correction Panic

I always understood it as your definition. A 'Wet' contact can switch all voltages 5V and up. A 'Dry' contact switches to 0V or neutral.

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I was going to post the control panel section, but thought it might get more hits here, plus I am not talking about just control panel wiring. I am currently wiring a mod to a machine I added a PLC too a couple of years ago, the panel is so deep I have to sit inside. So whilst I am auto pilot wiring my 98 terminations I got to pondering about something I have seen here at my plant from the other 'Electricians' I served my apprenticeship in England, all the Electricians I worked under taught me to twist stranded wire before inserting into a terminal, this prevented stray strands not going in and possibly shorting out later. On smaller wire I strip twice the length of the terminal and twist then fold in half for a better connection. I was wondering what everyone else in the forum did. All the other guys I have seen here at my plant strip and terminate, including one from the Navy who worked on the Airplanes. No I am not smoking anything, just in a quiet area of the plant, sitting in a cabinet with several termination still to go and pondering another mystery of life So how do you all teminate?

Squeeze the poop out of type, I have some snap-on similar to Kliens that have a long handle. The Mutipurpose crimper,stripper bolt cutter type I don't like, I feel I never get enough squeeze. The only ratcheting type I tried, early on in my career I found I could still nip it up a bit more with my type.

Plastic Injection/Extrution for various products.

I was wondering if any of you know of a software design package for laying out panels and wiring schematics. I inherited designs at my company and these had been created using Orcad (about 1% of the programs abilities). Having been shown the way it was done I continued. Now I am looking at buying a better software program for my particular use. I've tried Visio and just didn't like the feel of it compared to what I am used to. The other side is I would like to be able to import my existing designs. One design has 3 files there 'types' are file, DXF and DBK. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I finally got my company to buy the version of RSLogix Ver. 7.1 to work with NT and XP. The installation was a pain but I got it working. As I am using it I am noticing a couple of problems. 1. When RSLinx Classic Lite ver2.5 opens up XP show the box below about hardware installation. I click continue and everything seems fine it is just annoying. Is there a setting in XP to disable this? 2. When I connect to a PLC (5/02) and goto store the program on an EEPROM, I get a loss of communications. I connect back on and the program in on the EEPROM. Has anyone else experienced this? I tried a search here and mostly found connection problems, not what I am experiencing. Thanks for any advice. I think I have this turned off now, under control panel/system/hardware/driver signing

Finally called Tech Support today for another more important reason, and mentioned the PIC problems, he told me to disable all IR ports in the device manager and also in my BIOS. Worked OK so far today. Just thought I'd pass this on.

Sorry I should have said 500 Thanks for the explaination Ken. Basically I am the only person here that works on the PLC's I have a laptop with all my software on. I use our network server for backup purposes. If I undestand you correctly I should be able to turn off the security setting when I get in. Edit to add:- Talked to Tech Support, they had me change the software through Add/Remove programs in the install wizard select modify program, then de-select the Enable RSsecurity, finish install wizard and all fixed. Most of you probably use the security feature due to mutiple users and networked PLC's, I have the best security, its only me.

Count me in also, never heard of direct 3 phase control of a motor. The only common way I can see to do this is to use the analogue output to pull in a 5V relay, then use the relay to pull a contactor in.

OK you guys seem to have a better understanding of this Factory Talk activation. Recently (1-2months ago) we got the latest RSlogix, IT helped install due to firewall, network etc. Factory talk was activated and a password was enter which I HOPE IT remembers. Program ran fine for the couple of times I needed it. Move on a couple of months, go to use the program and factory talk log on or security log in are asking for passwords. IT is not in yet and I was wondering if someone can explain in lamens terms what is going on? I not real hip with the whole networking thing, I just program and troubleshoot machines. Thank you

Do you know if productions "claim" is correct, if so what was changed in the upgrade/renovation including anything mechanical. If it worked before I would be looking at the changed items.

When I was first introduced to PLC's in 1990, I was in the last year of my apprenticeship. I was in awe of this new technology and immediately wanted to learn more. Fortunately for me the 'Older' electricians, who had trained me, stepped back from this new unknown technology. 16 years later, my experience allowed me to move from England to the USA and enter the design/programming/troubleshooting field, and I love it. I have had a couple of classes, but they all seem to repeat the basics. As said by others above, hands on is the best training. Ask anyone of us to write a program and you will get numerous different programs that perform the task, but are written differently. Good Luck in your endeavors.

This is the same as Directsoft from Automation Direct. All the tech support I needed was free. Also they have offered special deals to upgrade a version, cheaper than buying a full version.

Thanks for the infomation, I got some reading to do.

All my panels have had entry/exit points placed where they are safe/practical. An order I try to follow is bottom-sides-top. Top is always a last resort for the same above mentioned leakage. I do not work in a leaky environment, but our sprinkler system could go off someday. As far as NEC code, I believe the NEC does not extend to Industrial control panels, but OSHA does. I just try to build panels with common sense and safety in mind.

I cannot see IT guys viewing a machines process and logically being able to troubleshoot a fault. Brief statement but big brother may be watching.

If you are looking for Cheap, then connect Diodes in series from you 24Vdc, each Diode will drop about 0.7V so.... 24-15=9 9/0.7 is approx 13 Diodes. Hey you did ask for cheap

Yes my company just had to breakdown and replace my old version (not compatible with XP) we paid around $1132. I'll try and word this carefully, as I do not want to turn this thread into an AB ver AD bashing thread. Before I arrived at this company (1996) they had built several of our machines using AB PLC’s, Automation Direct was just starting to show up. My Boss liked the price and switched to AD. Everything we have built since then gets AD PLC’s. In 10 years we have had comparable failures with AD and AB (not very many either). Yes AB is more expensive and my company refuses to pay for tech support. One programming comparison is with AD you can program in one complete ladder or within Stages. It took a little while for me to switch to stage programming but I came from the ‘standard’ one ladder program and multiple interlocks, on Omron, Square D, AB and a few I’ve forgotten. Now I am not cheering in the corner of Stage programming, but saying, if you did learn this way you may find it a harder switch to other PLC’s in the future.

Not sure about it being illegal. Allen Bradley allows you to have a condition with no contacts on the rung, as you have. Directsoft does not, it will tie the condition to the rung above, but they do provide an Always on Bit. I looked in A&B and could not find an equivalent.

Hi all, My Company recently got a Radio Frequency Sealer, and of course I'm the one who has to figure out how to work it. It has a Mitsubishi FX24MR-UA1 PLC, I am familiar with PLC's but not with Mitsubishi. I'm trying to find a Manual for it and don't seem to be having any luck, or is the FX2 series including the FX24? Any help is greatly appreciated TIA

Thanks for the quick replies guys. I thought it would come under the FX series but wasn't 100%.

I can agree with your humour

Thanks for the reply and link. I guess I'll be living with it for a while my boss is still gasping from the price of the software.