TheEquineFencer

LOL< this looks a lot easier than AB RSLogix 500 software!

Several years ago I took some classes at the local community college, two of which were basic PLC programming. The classes were centered around AB RSLogix500 and Logic Pro 500 software. A couple of years ago I had a live rack of AB RSlogix500 PLCs and was saving to buy a stripped down software version, but the shop burned down and all that was lost. I have the shop back now for the most part and want to start back learning and building things again. Recently in my search of a newly found salvage yard I've started finding some PLC controlled devices that I can purchase at a rather good price. The guy that runs the yard doesn't have a clue what a PLC is and really doesn't care. In my shop here at home I have some equipment I'd like to play around with and "automate" it if I can do it on the cheap. I just started a new job and after talking to our IT guy, he found out I'm a whiz at electrical problems and like to "tinker with things", so he's checking to see what free, legitimate software for PLCs he has I can get. He's a pretty cool guy, he's looking around to see what he can come up with for a used/new laptop for installing the software on.  I really want to "brush up" on PLC work as I've had some headhunters call me recently with offers looking someone with PLC experience. The equipment I found at that salvage yard has pneumatic devices and optic sensors and such. I'm pretty decent at AB PLC searches and figuring out what the different modules can do when I find them, but Siemens are a different animal to me. Trying to figure out the model numbers and what the device is capable is a little difficult. I took some pictures of the devices and here's the numbers I could find on them. 6ES7-212-1AB22-OXBO, S7-200 and what looks like 6EP1 332-1SH41 on the other. I guess I need a crash course in Siemens PLCs and how/what legitimate software I need and what it cost. Around here from what I see AB and Siemens are the two most popular. I think learning Siemens software would be a good idea for diversification.  Right now my brain is geared toward wanting/needing a PLC with basic relay type outputs. I have a couple of ideas for later on that I'll need analog I/O.  BTW, I'm a 1960's vintage guy with a 16 year olds desire to learn and do. Recently my body has been reminding my brain it's 1960's vintage, so I guess it's time I started using my head more than my body to make a living. Thanks for any help you can offer,  Floyd.  

Thanks! I'll try to get up with the Siemens distributor here in the states when I get time.

My main reason for wanting to buy the equipment at the scrap yard was to try to get my feet wet with Siemens PLC software and programming and use it for some "projects" here at my shop. I had a rack of AB RsLogix 500 here before the fire, the building was a total loss, no insurance on the contents. So I'm "starting over."  What I'd love to find is a rack of PLCs that I can get software for without breaking the bank and do some fun stuff with it. The rack I had was basically relay outputs with 120v-240v digital inputs. I also had two analog inputs "cards" on that rack. I found I could get a "stripped down" version of 500 software for $1500 USD. 

So a standard Siemens does not use this logic? That's what I'd like to know as I'd like to learn more about PLC programming and thought this might be a good way to get my feet wet with it. 

What software is needed for this and do you have an idea of cost?

To start with,I'm a real newbie to all this. I have 1746-NIO4I I'd like to use to monitor DC input voltage for a homemade wind mill. The DC Voltage will probably be going from 0VDC to 90DVC max in a worst case situation. Is there a way I can adapt this module for what I want to do? I see that the MAX input rating is 10VDC. I'm looking a cheap way out. I'm building this for home useage, so building something to adapt it is right up my alley.

Sorry for such a late reply. I'm using DC servo brush type motors for the generator. The faster you spin them the more voltage they put out. The ones I have a rated at 90VDC, my target RPM is around 320 RPM for 14.6 VDC. To get the max 90VDC out it would be turning around 4000 RPM, I doubt I'll ever have that much wind. The projects on the back burner for now, shortage of money and about to get canned at my new job. If it last the next two weeks I'll have the software to start back on the project.

I'm in need of a new laptop and AB software to run a rack of SLC 503s I have at home for my personal training. I need to find out what I need in the way of the software I need on the computer and what AB software I need. I'm presently unemployed, so I'm looking the cheapest way to get what I need. The rack has two 120/240 VAC input cards and two 120/240 VAC relay output cards and one analog input card. I plan to build a "trainer" for myself and later intergrate the rack to "automate" my shop for the fun of it. At present I do not plan to use any type of HMI, just digital I/O, from/to lights and such. At some point I plan to use the Analog input card for use with either my Wood fired hot water heater and maybe a windmill I'm working on. What required software do I need for the laptop and what version of AB software do I need for what I want to do? What are my options if I decide to upgrade later on with the AB software? Do I have to buy the AB software from my local distributor or are there others I might be able to get a better price on it from?

I just got a call back from the local Distibutor feild service guy, he said I needed the 300ENE to do what I want. With the dongle I'll be able to have it on two differant computers and jsut move the dongle. He said the activation will be on both computers but would need the dongle to work on which ever compter I was using it on.

I've never in my life had such a hard time trying to find out something like this PLC software. I've been talking with the RA people and keep getting sent to the distriutor level and no one seems to be able to give me a good answer. I've been told differant stories about what I need. 9324-RLO100ENE is $641.00, 9324-RLO300ENE is $1410.00 and a USB "Dongle" is $110.00. I've been told the 100ENE will do what I want and then another tells me it will not, same with the 300ENE. Is there a RA person in here that actually knows? My first priority id being able to do basic programming for a SLC503, my second priority is doing the MicroLogix line. The "dongle" is so I can use the activation on two differant computers. Right now I'm wiating for the feild service guy to check into it and get back with me, for the second day.

Will the new free version of RSLogix™ Micro (Version 8.10) run a Allen Bradley MicroLogix 1000, 1761-L32AWA, SER C ? There's one I'm looking at that's for sale. If it will what else do I need to buy to operate it and connect to it?

What is the differance bewtween 9324-RL0100ENE and 9324-RL0100ENF ? I'm guessing 9324-RL0100ENE is what I need?

Now I just need to find the product number for this "stripped down version" and get it installed if I can. This has been a lot of help so far, thanks, you guys are wonderful!

When you say does not allow online programming, what do you mean? I'd ne happy if I could just program the PLCs and then be able to monitor it with the PC and see what's happening with the program for now.

The PLC's in your above post will work just fine. Or maybe I'm not following your question. See link below for AB PLC info. http://www.ab.com/programmablecontrol/plc/

So these will not work? Do you have a catalog number for the AB PLCs I can use so I'll know what to look for?

I found a 1761-L20AWA-5A for $280 and a Allen Bradley Micrologix 1000 1761-L32AWA Series D for $119, both plus shipping. How do you think these will work for doing basic program and some basic functions? What about the price? I also have a question about the PLC to PC Cable, will the Cable I have for the SLC503s work with these? Or do I need another cable? I'm not commiteed to either PLC yet, I'm just looking at my options. I reopened the Micrologix Lite I have and played with it a little while, it does program just about identical to the SLC500s. I'll bet I could write the programs in MicroLogix and get the PLC programmed and then rewite it the same in RSLogix500 and it would probably work. What do you think?

Just taking a quick look, I'm guessing the 9324-RL0300ENE is what I need? 9324-RL0700NXENE is probably for doing the HMI stuff?

From what I've seen in a few work enviroments around my area, most are using the Micrologix and the SLC500 series, most have gone up to the SLC505 with the networking capabiliteis. As far as the XP software, that is what I have on a laptop I can use now, but it is the Home Edition not the Pro version. If memory serves me correctly a year or so ago I talked with the local AB dealer and was told I needed at least XP Pro version, that AB did not support XP Home Edition. I guess what I need is some straight answers from AB or someone that can tell me exactly what OS software I need for the Computer and what Software I need for the PLC end of things for the rack I have. What software is needed for the Compactlogix line or perhaps the Controllogix line? I've not looked at it at all. I'm guessing it will not work with the SLC500 version of software? What is the part number for the AB I need for the SLC500? I'm looking at spending around $1500 for the software and maybe $5-$600 for a new laptop with just what I need for software to run the AB software or if It's more cost effective, upgarde the laptop I have access to now. I've asked at school about the AB software for students, they do not have it. another school about 150 miles from me does, it's time limited and you have to be registered as a student in the PLC program to get it, cost is about $100 a year. It sounds great, I think it's about a $5500 package if you bought it out right, but like i said, it's time limited and they do check for the student being a registered student.

I have the free version now. The reason I want the SLC503s, the local Community College here uses them on the trainer they built. There's just one trainer and at times 15-25 students. I plan to "duplicate" the trainer they have here at my shop. That way instead of having to "wait my turn," I can try the programs here at home and get ahead. If there's a glitch or programming error in the program we write, we do not get but a few minutes to look at what is actually happening in real life to troubleshoot it. I also figured, hopefully later in life it would be more usefully working with the SLC500 series CPU that the 1000 series. The software on the computer is what may be an issue, I've heard I need something like XP Pro and I'm not sure if it comes on new laptops. I need to know what OS I need on a laptop that is compatible with the AB software and what version of the AB software I need for what I want to do. I want all the OS for the laptop and the AB software to be legit and above board in case I happen upon a chance to do some simple programs for some of the electrical contractors around here. I've had one already approach me about doing some if I could get the PLC program after he saw me working on the LogixPro simulator.

Is there a way to install The RSLinx that comes in the Zip file you get when you download the free starter version of RSLogix onto a computer that has XP Home Edition? When I try to load it it say XP Home Edition is not supported.

I was thinking of something along the lines of a voltage divider, using resistors to drop the voltage, but I could not for the life of me remeber how to do it until Mickey woke up my other brain cell with that post. Thanks! Yes I am aware of what's needed, I have the above mentioned items. What I do not have is working software yet. A copy of 7.10.0.9 "mysteriously appeared" on my computer after my geek nephew left a while back, but it has RSlinx 1.72. I used it so I could write programs here at home to use in class at school. It made things go a lot faster. I'm looking into buying the real software in a few weeks. I think I might have to go with XP Pro for my operating system on the Laptop I want to run it on. I've not figured out how to get just RSLinx for free off the Rockwell site as of yet. Or might I say, I may have it downloaded and have not figured out how to get it installed. I downloaded something that I thought was it that took forever and have it on a thumbdrive. I'm not a real geek when it comes to things like that. I'm just good at figuring out what I want and how to get it done by "networking from my freinds" I think that's the techno term my nephew uses. I have a 7 Slot rack with a 1747-L532C/D CPU, (2) 1746-IA16 16-input 100/120VAC modules and (2) 1746-OW16 16-Output (Rly) 240VAC plus this analog card and power supply to play with. I want to learn PLCs as I see it as a way out of for me to get a paying job. Thanks, for your input. I'm trying to do this on a shoe string budjet while I'm out looking a job.