What I/O card to use???
What I/O card to use???
(OP)
I am trying to replace an old Siemens TI-500 PLC which we use for monitoring Thermocouples, RTDs, 110VAC discrete contacts and a few 4 - 20 mA signals. The PLC has a TIWAY serial connection to a local PC and from there the data is available on our LAN. I cannot even figure out how to access the current program with the old 286 laptop and DOS software that we have for it. There really shouldn't be much of a program anyway because the PLC is only used to monitor - no control funtioning.
I recieved pricing on a replacement Siemens 505 PLC but it is too costly for all that the PLC needs to do. So someone on this forum suggested Automation Direct's KOYO plc series... I got pricing and it s half of the Siemens cost. Only instead of a standard PLC CPU, I use an Ethernet Base Controller. The Process Engineers use FIX 7.0 SCADA software to work with the field data collected through this PLC.
My point? I would like any suggestions, comments, etc. that may help me to understand my options for this application. Is KOYO a good choice? Should I (can I) put a PLC in the system also, in case I need to do some control later down the road? I am in Ontario, Canada and Automationdirect does not have a local support person available in the area, is there anyone who might be cabable of implementing this for me (system integrator?) Would you recomend the Advanced training for myself and a few electricians in order to be comfortable with this system? Any experience with the Automation Direct training programs?.. or the Video training?? Any expert comments, advice would be appreciated.
I recieved pricing on a replacement Siemens 505 PLC but it is too costly for all that the PLC needs to do. So someone on this forum suggested Automation Direct's KOYO plc series... I got pricing and it s half of the Siemens cost. Only instead of a standard PLC CPU, I use an Ethernet Base Controller. The Process Engineers use FIX 7.0 SCADA software to work with the field data collected through this PLC.
My point? I would like any suggestions, comments, etc. that may help me to understand my options for this application. Is KOYO a good choice? Should I (can I) put a PLC in the system also, in case I need to do some control later down the road? I am in Ontario, Canada and Automationdirect does not have a local support person available in the area, is there anyone who might be cabable of implementing this for me (system integrator?) Would you recomend the Advanced training for myself and a few electricians in order to be comfortable with this system? Any experience with the Automation Direct training programs?.. or the Video training?? Any expert comments, advice would be appreciated.





RE: What I/O card to use???
One quick and dirty way to determine if any control is done in the PLC is to see if there are any output cards. If there are (descrete or analog) then be careful, there might be some control logic in the PLC.
Siemens might be able to help you in accessing the program.
RE: What I/O card to use???
Franklin Empire Inc. / Control Mart
1180 Martin Grove Road
Rexdale, Ontario M9W 5M9
Canada
Phone:(416) 248-0176, or
1-800-263-4961 (in Canada)
Fax:(416) 248-2735
E-mail: rex@feinc.com
Web Site: http://www.feinc.com
These guys also do integration.
Ask for Phil Aitken, we've worked on some projects together.
Carl
RE: What I/O card to use???
Good Luck.
Steve
RE: What I/O card to use???
RE: What I/O card to use???
Steve, I would appreciate the sample program. What demo software can I run it in? Even though I am not actually using the CPU in this Application, I am selecting an appropriate PLC line in order to be able to standardize our PLCs for future installations in the plant. So we will definately be using the PLC programming in the near future. I have downloaded the DirectLogic Demo software but since I don't have a PLC yet I don't think that I can do much. It does'nt have a simulation mode does it??
Thanks for you input folks.
RE: What I/O card to use???
The demo version of the software would only write to 10 bytes of memory. You could connect and download an "END" statement and that's all. I would suggest buying the DL05 plc, DS software package, and cable...so for a little over 2 bills, you can have a fully functional plc and software package.
No, there is no simulation mode as far as I know.
Glad I can help out.
Carl