A Nice, MicroLogix PLC for Home Use
A Nice, MicroLogix PLC for Home Use
(OP)
Hello,
I've been browsing the Net for a while and I'm having trouble finding the PLC that's right for me. I just graduated from Iowa State University and we used a MicroLogix 1000 controller with some type of Ladder Logic software. The class isn't what got me interested with PLCs, so I didn't pay too much attention to the details of the whole setup. Now, I'm working at the John Deere Product Engineering Center and they have PLC setups all over the place that fascinate me! I want one at home! The problem is, I want something small and sleek with a nice, contemporary look to it. The ones at work look ancient and they wrote the Ladder Logic for them in Windows 3.1! I'm seeing a lot of PLCs on the Net that have nice specs, but I don't see good images of them. I'm too scared to simply order something that might be gigantic and/or ancient-looking. I'd like to stick with a MicroLogix PLC, so if you know what would be good for me I'd really like to hear about it!
If you need to know what I'll be using it for, the possibilities are endless. I have a few stepper motors, air cylinders, light detectors, motion detectors, sensors, and other things laying around the house that I have either bought or made. I'll probably use anything that can be hooked up to this at some time or another!
Thanks a ton!
I've been browsing the Net for a while and I'm having trouble finding the PLC that's right for me. I just graduated from Iowa State University and we used a MicroLogix 1000 controller with some type of Ladder Logic software. The class isn't what got me interested with PLCs, so I didn't pay too much attention to the details of the whole setup. Now, I'm working at the John Deere Product Engineering Center and they have PLC setups all over the place that fascinate me! I want one at home! The problem is, I want something small and sleek with a nice, contemporary look to it. The ones at work look ancient and they wrote the Ladder Logic for them in Windows 3.1! I'm seeing a lot of PLCs on the Net that have nice specs, but I don't see good images of them. I'm too scared to simply order something that might be gigantic and/or ancient-looking. I'd like to stick with a MicroLogix PLC, so if you know what would be good for me I'd really like to hear about it!
If you need to know what I'll be using it for, the possibilities are endless. I have a few stepper motors, air cylinders, light detectors, motion detectors, sensors, and other things laying around the house that I have either bought or made. I'll probably use anything that can be hooked up to this at some time or another!
Thanks a ton!





RE: A Nice, MicroLogix PLC for Home Use
RE: A Nice, MicroLogix PLC for Home Use
RE: A Nice, MicroLogix PLC for Home Use
Micrologix 1000
Micrologix 1200
Micrologix 1500
For home use, I'd stick with the Micrologix 1000, (32) I/O model.
I picked one up on ebay for $89.00. They are very small, but fixed I/O.
If you want to expand your I/O, you might want to look at either 1200 or 1500. I don't know how much I/O you want to control in your home.
This is where you are going to crap...The software is very expensive to buy. It's called RS Logix 500, you'll get a free copy of RS Linx Lite, which is needed to communicate with the controller. You'll also need to purchase a programming cable. It's a special DIN shaped cable, unless you purchase a 1500 with the DB-9 connector on it which is the LRP controller, you'll have to buy the DIN cable to program the 1000 series. If you purchase a 1500 with a DB-9 connector on the side, then you can make your own programming cable to program the LRP series 1500 CPU.
If you have your heart set on a micrologix, I suggest buying a startup kit. You get a PLC, Software and a programming cable, I can't find the link to AB's website that describes it right now, maybe someone else can point it out.
For home use, you should get RELAY OUTPUTS, that way you can control any output, 110 or lowvoltage DC if you need it.
Info on 1000 and picture
http://www.ab.com/plclogic/micrologix/1000/
I/O cofiguration and catalog numbers
http://www.ab.com/catalogs/b113/micro1000/processor.html
Info on 1200 and picture
http://www.ab.com/plclogic/micrologix/1200/
Info on 1500 and picture
http://www.ab.com/plclogic/micrologix/1500/
Good luck
Chris Elston
Automation & Controls Engineer
http://www.mrplc.com
Download Sample PLC Ladder Logic Code
at MrPLC.com
RE: A Nice, MicroLogix PLC for Home Use
The MLX1200 has a single high speed output [O:2] and the MLX1500 has two.
RSLogix provides Pulse Train Ouput [PTO] function files for for controlling stepper motors using these high speed outputs. Models with suffix BXB [FET outputs]include the high speed outputs.