Namellac (Customer) asked a question.
Referring back to my original post
Maybe I'm old school, but I'm a bit surprised by the lack of product support—especially considering we're looking at deploying over 100 of these units, not including another 100 or so across our subsidiaries. I would have expected a more sales-oriented response from their tech support team, but they simply pointed me back here. As I mentioned, I'm relatively new to AutomationDirect.
To give some context:
I'm a hands-on Arduino developer who's been tasked with building two prototype systems based on the following scenario.
We’ve got over 100 machines spread across 40 acres of under roof facility space. The network team understandably doesn't want to run 100 ethernet drops, so we're looking at Wi-Fi-based solutions. Our only goal here is to count product as it comes off the line.
Here’s my challenge—and maybe it’s just me—but management doesn’t want this setup to look like a "project box." For instance, they’re concerned about exposed wiring between the power supply and the P1AM-100, and the Wi-Fi shield lacking a proper enclosure.
Does anyone have photos of a professional-looking implementation using the P1AM-100 and Wi-Fi shield? I’d love to show my manager, “Here’s how others are doing it.”
Thanks in advance.
Craig Alleman
MD Products, OKC
I do not have any "photos of a professional-looking implementation using the P1AM-100 and Wi-Fi shield". But I can share some ideas to address your challenge. You have a large project, employing 200 units across multiple locations. So you want to get this right. I agree you need to do some serious design work to layout these systems. A product support tech team can help you solve product issues, but they cannot be expected to design your individual system, regardless of the size. If you will be tackling the "professional-looking implementation" yourself, take time to develop design specs, layouts, and schematics. Familiarize yourself with all the panel-building parts on the Automation Direct website: enclosures, cable glands/ cable entry systems, cables, conduit, DIN rails, power supplies, etc. Or bring on a system integrator and/or an electrical contractor with experience in controls building and installations. A good system integrator can help bring about a successful project. I agree that having a "project box" is not the final solution. There are a lot of photos on the internet showing well-designed control systems (and also some ugly-looking ones). Photos can only show so much. There are a lot of details to quantify, a lot of design specs, layout drawings, and schematics to develop. The more upfront design, the better. Sounds like a fun project.
I would recommend you contact one of the authorized system integrators found HERE
In your signature you have OKC, If you're in Oklahoma City:
"We’ve got over 100 machines spread across 40 acres of under roof facility space. The network team understandably doesn't want to run 100 ethernet drops, so we're looking at Wi-Fi-based solutions. Our only goal here is to count product as it comes off the line."
The "network team" is doing it wrong in my opinion. For home use of commercial office space that's fine to do wifi, but industrial machinery is supposed to be reliable. 100 machines shouldn't be thrown onto wifi with prototype grade wifi hardware.
That said, if you all insist on wifi I would throw the entire PLC system into a proper rated enclosure for all the controls. Have the external wiring come in through dust tight connections and attach an SMA type of wifi connector through the enclosure that an external antenna can be screwed onto that then connects to the wifi shield inside the enclosure. Use a decently high gain omni antenna for this as well so you have less problems with it.
if you are looking for a more turn key solution i would suggest looking at a click +. i understand that you where looking more for something more like an Arduino but the Ladder should be simple for these projects.
https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/shopping/catalog/programmable_controllers/click_plus_plcs_(stackable_micro_modular)/cpus/c2-02cpu-2
if the Click + cant do everything you are looking for there is also a c2-nred that could be added that runs node red that may be helpful.
https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/shopping/catalog/programmable_controllers/click_plus_plcs_(stackable_micro_modular)/cpu_option_slot_modules/c2-nred