Created Date: February 19,2017

Created by: skent2

Hey guys,

I'm looking at both the Productivity2000 and 3000 controllers and it looks like the only option for software is the Productivity Suite.

My background at work is with NI and Labview - would anyone be able to elaborate on how they compare? I am building a setup for personal use at home with 8X 24V 1A solenoid valves, 6X 0-5V Pressure transducers, 2X thermocouples and 1X 800W heating element. Sorry if this comes off as ignorant, but I have never been involved in purchasing any DAQ/Control equiptment. So here are my concerns/questions:

-Is it relatively straightforward to input the slope and offset for transducers in this software?

-What about running basic scripts (e.g., I want to open 2X valves 0.5s from time 0 of cycle, hold open for 2s, close those 2 and open the other 6 for 2s and repeat that process 1500 times) would that be extremely simple with this software? Is it possible to control components based off the outputs of various components? (e.g, say I want a valve1 to open every time PressureTransucer1 reads over 50psi)

-It appears that there are plenty visuals to depict the pressure transducer plot (PvsT), so I think I am good there

-What about programming the valves - is it straight forward to ramp up the voltage at various rates? Can the voltage be controlled to 24V and then dropped down to 15V open actuation?

All-in-all, I am more less just trying to get an idea of what road blocks I might hit while purchasing all of my equipment.

With that being said, I look forward to hearing back!

Thanks in advance,

Stephen

Created Date: February 21,2017

Created by: OkiePC

Hey guys,

I'm looking at both the Productivity2000 and 3000 controllers and it looks like the only option for software is the Productivity Suite.

My background at work is with NI and Labview - would anyone be able to elaborate on how they compare? I am building a setup for personal use at home with 8X 24V 1A solenoid valves, 6X 0-5V Pressure transducers, 2X thermocouples and 1X 800W heating element. Sorry if this comes off as ignorant, but I have never been involved in purchasing any DAQ/Control equiptment. So here are my concerns/questions:

-Is it relatively straightforward to input the slope and offset for transducers in this software?

Yes. The data that enters the PLC from analog inputs can be scaled quite easily even if it is non-linear. There are blocks to do either type in which you enter the raw minimum and maximum values along with the desired scaled minimum and maximum values. Those values can be constants or Tags that you can adjust on the fly. You don't even have to worry about slope and offset, but if that is your preference, you can use a MATH block to do the scaling.

-What about running basic scripts (e.g., I want to open 2X valves 0.5s from time 0 of cycle, hold open for 2s, close those 2 and open the other 6 for 2s and repeat that process 1500 times) would that be extremely simple with this software?

It depends on your definition of "extremely ". I think this type of operation is simple, but I have been programming in ladder logic for 20 years. I get the impression that ladder logic will be new to you, but there is a lot of help to be had and I will suggest that you start with the basics and get a firm understanding of the PLC scan cycle before you get started.

Is it possible to control components based off the outputs of various components? (e.g, say I want a valve1 to open every time PressureTransucer1 reads over 50psi)

Yes. There are very few limits on making what you can imagine into actual controls.

-It appears that there are plenty visuals to depict the pressure transducer plot (PvsT), so I think I am good there

-What about programming the valves - is it straight forward to ramp up the voltage at various rates? Can the voltage be controlled to 24V and then dropped down to 15V open actuation?

The ladder editor does have some graphing capability built into it.

As for your last question...a 1A solenoid is normally controlled by a relay. You could use a PLC relay output or a PLC transistor output connected to a relay. You would typically wire the relay so that when energized, 24v is supplied to the solenoid, and when de-enrgized, no voltage is applied to it. The ability to switch between 24v and 15v at 1amp is not something I have ever seen done directly with a PLC (or a relay).

Created Date: February 23,2017

Created by: Brandon_

-What about programming the valves - is it straight forward to ramp up the voltage at various rates? Can the voltage be controlled to 24V and then dropped down to 15V open actuation?

All-in-all, I am more less just trying to get an idea of what road blocks I might hit while purchasing all of my equipment.

With that being said, I look forward to hearing back!

Thanks in advance,

Stephen

If they 're 24v valves, where is the 15v coming in to play?

With PLC discrete outputs, there is no ramping, or analog control of voltage. The transistor is either on, or off.

P2K/3K has the benefit of having a slew of discrete output cards to choose from. You would want either the 15TD1 (sinking) or 15TD2 (sourcing), or the 08TD1S (sinking) or 08TD2S (sourcing). The 15's are good for 1A / pt, the 08's are good for 2A / pt.

You could certainly use relays as suggested above, but I always do it via solid state if possible. Just make sure your solenoid valves have built in flyback suppression, or you add your own flyback suppression (via diode in the DIN cap or via a diode module at the PLC cabinet)

Created Date: March 05,2020

Created by: Tinker

"What about programming the valves - is it straight forward to ramp up the voltage at various rates? Can the voltage be controlled to 24V and then dropped down to 15V open actuation? "

If those are analog or "proportional " valves you'd probably want to use the manufacture's amplifier/controller to drive them, even if they might seem expensive. Said amplifier/controller would in turn likely be controlled by something like 4-20mA loop or a DC voltage, perhaps 0-10V either of which are possible with readily available analog output modules. An analog output of 15-24V at 1A is very specialized and is unlikely to be nativley supported by any PLC . Also a valve needing that kind voltage/current is probably just a dumb coil and may be quite non-linear, presumably the dedicated amplifier/controller would help with that.