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Control System home project

Control System home project

Control System home project

(OP)
Guys,

I'm very new to this but very interested on control system design. Is there any do-it-your-self project that you can do at home, books, etc?

Thanks
SLTG

RE: Control System home project

Are you interested in PLC programming as it relates to controls or overall system design?

RE: Control System home project

(OP)
Well,

I'm interested in the system design.

Thanks
SLTG

RE: Control System home project

Some of your control distributors have product literature that has theory and fundamental control system design in a reference area of the product literature.
Have you considered installing a basic security system in your home? It does not have to connect to the Police or anything it could just alarm and track when windows and doors were opened.
There are several control forums at this site. if you review some of these forums maybe some one has some reference material information.

RE: Control System home project

(OP)
Irob,

Great ideas!!, I guess that would be considered as home project. I don't want to just install though, I want to make one and install it. Any lead?

Thanks!
SLTG

RE: Control System home project

Try www.X10.com they have some home automation devices.
If you want to try some developing I will shortly...haha
be trying to interface the X10 over power line to a mini webserver that you can browse to and turn on/off my fishpond lights, waterfall, feeder, pumps etc I am also going to get it to email me if there is power loss or other problems using a GSM modem. This is going to be the core module that I use: http://62.180.233.51/
If you want more info just ask!

RE: Control System home project

try radio shack. they have a lot of home projects for control. I would recommend using power line carriers to eliminated a lot of wiring.

RE: Control System home project

Home Automation Basics by Thomas Leonik at Amazon

RE: Control System home project

The X10 products are very good. I have used these a few times and done a little interfacing with DL06 from Automation Direct. Total price was around $700 and I had lots of new toys to play (learn) with.

Bob

RE: Control System home project

I picked up an AB SLC 500, 4 Slot Rack, that was going to be scrapped during an upgrade. I won a 5/03 processor on eBay (pretty cheap); replaced the old 5/01.
I prefer the AB SLC because they are easy to work with, the control systems that I service run them, and I learned them in school.
I frequently visit http://www.ab.com/manuals/cp/#slc500 for technical info related to the AB products that I am using. The manuals contain instruction sets, communication protocols, and other technical info.

I also visit forums like these to get new ideas and help when I'm stumped.

Per the previous replies - You can purchase inexpensive PLC's through Automation Direct. The book "Home Automation Basics" is a good tool too. I couldn't get his "home made" VB drivers to work properly though...

Any way, it's a fun job and hobby!
Good Luck!

RE: Control System home project

MKALX if you are still following this forum I would like to correspond with you re:your home automatin experiment using FP.
Regards,
Dave

RE: Control System home project

I dunno if I am crazy or what, but I use my PLC to run my Halloween displays.

I have some pictures here:
http://www.plchalloween.com/index.php?ind=gallery

And some videos here:
http://www.plchalloween.com/index.php?ind=downloads

Every year, we have Halloween on Two nights. I had over 500+ trick or treaters this year. I have so much fun...

Chris Elston
Automation & Controls Engineer
http://www.mrplc.com
Download Sample PLC Ladder Logic Code
at MrPLC.com

RE: Control System home project

I also use an old CH D100 to run my Halloween Display!
Regards,
Dave

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