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John_R

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Posts posted by John_R

  2. Request for tips and advice concerning best Practice use for Visilogic Software environment

    in Vision & Samba PLC + HMI Controllers & VisiLogic Software

    Posted

    On 3/7/2024 at 3:27 AM, MarvinP said:

    I am currently trying to optimize the software for a new company where I am working for and would like to create a bassline for the structure and organization of the program. I would prefer to base this baseline on practices from other more experienced users since I am fairly new to the software environment. 

    MarvinP; Seems to me you are making assumptions about the PLC programming environment, this is not some structured thing that you can treat like some Excel/Access/Powerpoint program.

    It entails understanding control logic, which is something you have to embellish from a real hands on type of structure, not spreadsheets and databases...

    7 hours ago, yyh2 said:

    And found zero resources on the subject.
    PLC programming is a top secret subject, apparently.

    yyh2, sorry, but no, this is not some  top secret subject, but it is something you have to learn and understand. Nobody can wave a magic wand over your head and give you all knowing  knowledge. You have to try (and yes fail from time to time), but if you first try (and that is the prerequisite), then ask questions, folks on this forum will gladly help you.

    But, sorry Charlie, nobody is gonna hand you a Golden Ticket...

  3. V350 screen is dead. How to establish remote access to the plc?

    in Vision & Samba PLC + HMI Controllers & VisiLogic Software

    Posted

    On 2/17/2024 at 12:49 PM, Joe Tauser said:

    You will need a serial cable - part number RS232-CB1.

    These cables are included with the PLC when you buy a new one (not some $100 cable you have to buy separately like some other manufactures).

    And any Unitronics supplier is likely to have some on hand.

    I have a half dozen new in package, would be happy to send you one for the cost of shipping,

    PM me if you are interested.

    JohnR

    • Upvote 1

  5. PCness sillyness.

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    On 2/10/2024 at 4:24 PM, Ausman said:

    Seriously, in Orstralia this is going to create so much fun and laughter in all the traditionally "blokey" trades that always use such stuff. And believe you me, the growing number of girls that are taking up such trades will be in on the laughter as well.  Just ridiculous.

    And I've found over the years, that coworkers with a "Goey-In" can be much more rude & crude than us with the "Pointy-Outs"..:rolleyes:

    Just sayin"...

  10. warning on profile pic?

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    Aus,

    I understand what you are saying, but don't know what I may have posted to trigger a NSFW?

    I know I am a sarcastic old fart, but that goes without saying when you are in your mid-60"s. 😇

    And Cara says she doesn't see anything that should trigger that.

    And if the Uni-Goddess Cara doesn't see it then what?? 🤔

  11. warning on profile pic?

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    Well gee Cara,

    If you don't know why it's there, then I must be in real deep trouble, "double secret probation"..🤪

    I'm assuming that I'm the only one who see's this on my screen, and anyone else who looks at my posts or profile don't see it?

    John

  12. One of sixteen from gray code?

    in Best Programming Practices

    Posted

    7 hours ago, kratmel said:

    It should be noted that your code is slightly offset from the standard Gray code

    Hmmm, well this is the Gray Code truth table taken from the CTS spec sheet. and my encoder does follow this pattern (checking each output step by step with a meter).

    I've never played with a Gray code (so it's a gray area to me).🥴

    Anyway, like I said, I thought a PLC program would be a good way of testing (but after 3 years of retirement, my coding is getting slow and rusty).

    JohnR

     

  13. One of sixteen from gray code?

    in Best Programming Practices

    Posted

    What I have here is a piece of audio gear that uses this encoder wheel to scroll through options.
    And sometimes it goes wanky, when it should be scrolling "up", it will go up one step then down a step (or vice-versa).
    I first assumed it was a quadrature encoder, either Incrementing or Decrementing some counter, and was missing pulses that confused direction.
    Turns out the encoder outputs this Gray code, which gives a consistent output step by step, checking with a meter.
    So I thought I would make a "quick and dirty" test program on a PLC, where I could watch the results of spinning the encoder at normal speed, maybe something is floating...
    The encoder is a 16 position mechanical switch encoder (CTS series 288), which I have already sprayed with De-Oxid contact cleaner, with no improvement.
    And following up on years of troubleshooting experience, programmed controllers don't go wanky (it either works or doesn't), more than likely a problem with the input devices..
    So here I am trying to find a way to real-time test this encoder..

  14. One of sixteen from gray code?

    in Best Programming Practices

    Posted

    Hey All,

    Any of you have have a Vision  routine made up to decode 1-16 from a 4-bit Gray Code?

    I'm picturing a lot of logic for a seemingly simple task...


            ABEF
    1 -   0000
    2 -   0001
    3 -   0011
    4 -   0010
    5 -   1010
    6 -   1011
    7 -   1111
    8 -   1110
    9 -   0110
    10- 0111
    11- 0101
    12- 0100
    13- 1100
    14- 1101
    45- 1001
    16- 1000

    Regards,

    JohnR

     

     

     

  19. About timers and preset values

    in Vision & Samba PLC + HMI Controllers & VisiLogic Software

    Posted

    Over the years, I have written a lot of code using timers, sometimes with favorable results, other times (as you have experienced), the timers can give odd unexplained results.

    And I don't believe the Creators are going to put much effort into de-mystifying this in the Vision series.

    Like Aus, I favor the Counter/Compare scenario, us "old folk" was programming like this back when dirt was still young & moist...:rolleyes:

  23. PLC Self-Extrication Mode

    in Vision & Samba PLC + HMI Controllers & VisiLogic Software

    Posted

    12 hours ago, RickL said:

    They landed a spacecraft on the moon with little more than an Altair 8800 running a few kalman filters, what makes you think a  PLC can't control an hydraulic elevator?  .... that its "out-of-the-realm" of such control?

    So... here comes some more of my innate sarcasm... it was not an Altair 8800, but the original Atari 2600 that led us there.

    So you are one of those people who think that the moon landing in 69 with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin was real?

    Naw, that was all staged in the in the deserts of Arizona..

    I was 12 years old, and my summer school teacher, Sister Mary Vagina gathered us all to the assembly hall to watch this hoax on TV...

    Anyway, my point was not that a PLC is not capable of controlling an elevator, or some sort of extrication sub-routine, but merely that such operations need to be well documented and certified. also you state that your extrication protocol would "bring the elevator down to the next floor". In my childish mind, the elevator would have some sort of ratcheting pawl system (much like a roller coaster going up the first hill, click, click, click, if something should happen it holds you there), so I would take the disabled elevator UP to the next floor, going DOWN means you have to release said safety device and risk the elevator free falling to the bottom.

    Again, Just because you can, doesn't mean you should....

    Just my opinion....

    16 hours ago, RickL said:

    I've been involved in the hotel/motel industry for many of years now. It has afforded me a great span of design challenges across many technical fields (HAVC, plumbing, electrical, EPABX phone systems, data networks, commercial washer/dryers, swimming pool filtration/de-humidification, etc ... and so much more!) 

    So, you are just a Hotel Handyman? And I suppose your Uncle Roy-Bob owns the joint, and has promised you a healthy bonus if you can find a way to circumvent the high-priced repairs needed to keep his hotel afloat??

    How's that for sarcasm??   Learn it, Know it, Live it....🤓

    JohnR

  24. "Indexed" Sort?

    in Vision & Samba PLC + HMI Controllers & VisiLogic Software

    Posted

    10 hours ago, RickL said:

    Should the lead pump see that the water is still rising when it turned on, the PLC will call in upto three "Helper Pumps".

    Do you see the crazy and un-predictable "run times" the pumps will be experiencing? I am keeping "run time hrs" on the pumps to even out the load share of the pumps over the days and weeks.

    Sorry,  I see your intent, but again I ask if you are putting too much emphasis on the time each pump runs...

    You should already have some understanding of the mean runtime each pump can tolerate before rebuild/replacement.

    And when your helper pumps have to kick in, you should also track how much run time is involved there.

    But as I mentioned earlier, you can track the run time of each pump and put a time limit on which pump is the "main pump", and sequence from there.

    And contrary to your opinions in previous posts, I have been involved in "industrial control" since the late 80's, but I retired from the work-a-day world a little over two years ago.

    I still maintain a presence on this forum mainly to contribute some knowledge to the next generations (who often feel they know it all, but still show up here asking redundant questions).

    So please bare with my sarcastic responses...

    JohnR

  25. "Indexed" Sort?

    in Vision & Samba PLC + HMI Controllers & VisiLogic Software

    Posted

    4 hours ago, RickL said:

    I take it Joe's your father or guardian,  I don't know why you need to seek permission from Joe to respond to forum questions, are you not capable to stand on your own  merits??  ..... Are you old enough to be posting on here?   I gonna tell your mom your messing around on the computer here instead of doing your homework!      :  (

    Well, that's kind of a tongue-in-cheek-inside-joke... And my mom just turned 90 last Monday, so please don't tell that I'm on the 'puter again.

    But seriously, are you controlling these 4 pumps via PLC?  Can't you simply put a counter/timer on these and when each pump reaches it's allotted run time, you increment to the next?

    Or it that what you mean?  You make it sound like you are attaching some external run time device in each pump.

     

    5 hours ago, RickL said:

    They use Hobbs meters in aviation for engine run times ....... yes!     but our bulldozer has them too!   :  )

    Technically, yes...   but we always called the ones on bulldozers, tractors, combines, lawn-mowers and such, just plain  "hour meters"

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