Joe Tauser

The particular modules are not assigned any kind of ID; they're not smart. As long as the right module type is in the right place in the module string you'll be OK. Joe T.

You've learned that SB24 blows everything out and causes the PLC to reboot. Stay away from it. If you look at the memory table at the bottom of the screen you'll notice a column with a little electric plug looking thing. No, it's not a bell. This is for setting a power-up value. Enter "0" into the MIs and "Reset" into the MBs you want to clear. Joe T.

There are a couple of ways. Take the SB3 out as that doesn't address the problem. When you say "linearization table", did you really make a table or are you using a Linearization block? Is the sensor output linear or non-linear? First, start with the filtering property on the hardware setup screen. If that's not enough, look under the FB's menu at the Filter function block. Take the output of your scaling and use it as the input of the Filter block. If you post your code we can have a better idea of what you're doing and make some edits for you. Joe T.

If you wish to post your code we would certainly be happy to review it and make suggestions. Joe T.

Antonio - how many PLC ladder programs have you written? Sometimes we get a long thread going without realizing we are catering to a new programmer who is trying to do something in what he thinks is the best way but is really something based on another language style. Often there are functions that simplify the task significantly. Please give us more specific detail on what you're trying to do. Joe T.

Note that SB33 is for a "Standard Vision". Translation: "Old PLC we still sell". SB33 does nothing in your Samba, which has the newer platform and is referred to as an "Enhanced Vision". Joe T.

Is the code in a subroutine that is not being called? Joe T.

I had to look this up. According to the Help, here is the detailed scan order: 1. Read Inputs 2. Solve ladder program, starting with Main 3. Write Outputs 4. Service HMI screen - update variables, run subroutines associated with display, process keyboard input 5. Process Communications Repeat So the subroutine associated with the display runs after the Main ladder program and its subroutines are solved. Good question. Joe T.

Yes, they'll all run in the same scan. If it would make you feel better assign a bit to be on while the display is active and then call Sub2 from the Main routine with a contact tied to that bit. Joe T.

Did they also include a box lunch in your shipment? Joe T.

Please list what your sequence is supposed to be. Can't really troubleshoot code if we don't know what it's supposed to do. You've written a classic bit banger, which is the first instinct of a new programmer. As you've learned, they often don't work because they get themselves into a state that you didn't consider, and fixing that state requires piling on more coils and contacts. I replied to you on this same topic last October- http://forum.unitronics.com/topic/4333-when-set-coils-turns-on-it-turns-the-corresponding-reset-coil-on-also/#comment-15823 Go back and look that over, see if you can implement what I've put in the example and post your work. Joe T.

The Help says you get nine tries, and then if you reset the PLC you can try again. Did you cycle power on the V120? If that doesn't work, go into Information Mode and reset it from there. Joe T.

I'm guessing you can't post your code. All serial settings must match or it won't work. I personally use 9600 8,N,1, as setting the parity to even adds an extra level of complication. Is there any way to try this? Yes, 9600, 8E1 should work but it doesn't. You have to start trying other settings. Joe T.

I have seen ports fail if there's been an electrical surge in the system. If you have a programming cable you should be able to login via port 2 - the system will recognize the Visilogic request and change the port parameters. Joe T.

You should not be using Information Mode to make changes you want to keep. The PLC is just doing what you told it to. It's OK to have multiple Com Init blocks. Each time you call one from the program the port will immediately take on the personality of the last Com Init called. Joe T.

The Alarm Config Utility may be overkill for what you're trying to do. An alarm here goes into the alarm manager with a time and date stamp and is shown on the Alarm Manager display, which must be called. Are you looking for this functionality or do you just want a red box to appear on the display when the alarm happens? It's always a good idea to post your code when you have a ladder question. Joe T.

Here are Andrew's schematics- On to the question. The TetraCon 325 is the actual conductivity sensor, which must be connected to a conditioner/amplifer. You have mentioned a WTW LF96 for this. Clicking the English flag for the link you posted reports that particular item is not available, so we'll move on. Page 4 of your schematic shows the analog inputs, which you currently have as two wire loop powered sensors. If whatever conductivity amplifier you choose has an analog output, it is most likely powered by the amplifier. So you connect the + of the analog output to AN4 and the - to COM on the module. Joe T. electro schematics.1.pdf

So I answered a post yesterday where the user was concerned that the cost of the controller was over $500, implying that this amount was putting the project out of reach. This morning a few of the things we take for granted and never question came into my mind- Decent tires for my Jeep cost about $1,000 A new cell phone costs $600, but it's a "free upgrade" because it's rolled into your next 24 payments A trip to the grocery store for a week or so of food is $300 for a family of four My furnace/AC upgrade to a high efficiency unit was $7,000 Getting my car fixed by someone else is usually about $600, no matter what the problem is. Sometimes it's a lot more. Health insurance is >$700 / month And so on..... It seems like machine controls get the short end of the stick a LOT. Why is the perceived value of what we provide so small? Systems I've installed are still running fine after 20 years! I know not every customer feels this way, but it get this response frequently with people new to control systems. I'm afraid I'm not far from becoming a full-fledged curmudgeon. Joe T.

Adding Modbus I/O to a Samba will quickly push the system price above a Vision. The Samba is not intended to be expanded. I, too, know my way around electronics. The Nuts and Volts magazine I subscribe to has proven time and time again the ingenuity of what can be done with a basic microcontroller, some external function-specific ICs, and some well designed circuitry to connect a 5 volt brain to a 24 or 120 volt world. PLCs have gotten ALOT cheaper since I started in the biz, but they are not in the same leaque as a controller like an Arduino or Raspberry Pi. You're paying for a canned system where someone else has figured out the interface circuity, professional finished appearance housings, and ease of programming. So many programmers I know do not value their own time. You are wise in not wanting to make a system you'll be married to. If your experience is with microcontrollers you're going to experience sticker shock with PLC hardware. But you can have a finished PLC control system in a couple of days, once you've learned ladder logic. Unitronics is by far the best bang for the buck in PLC land. I can't say I've programmed them all, but as a system integrator I've programmed many. Your own research has proven this. Figure on spending about $1,000 on hardware for a capable V350 system as you describe, which includes a three channel load cell interface module. You can shave a few hundred dollars off with a monochrome V130. The color touchscreen does look a lot better, though. Joe T.

You've learned one of the PLC truths - they are a blank slate and their function is TOTALLY up to the programmer. There are no canned programs that fit everyone's needs, because at the end of the day a seemingly simple requirement has a little user twist - like your requirement for different temperatures on different days of the week. I don't know if you can adapt a commercial product, but I did a little searching on programmable thermostats and found a Honeywell RTH8500D that allows four setpoints on each of seven days- http://yourhome.honeywell.com/en/products/thermostat/7-day-programmable-thermostat-rth8500d It was definitely an interesting discussion! Joe T.

Email it to me and I'll upload it for everyone to see - joe@jtauser.com. Joe T.

Go to the software section of this website and get UniDownload - http://unitronicsplc.com/Download/SoftwareUtilities/UnitronicsUniDownloader_5_0_B25.exe It's designed for what you're trying to do. Joe T.

My MalwareBytes doesn't like zippyshare. Can you upload a pdf? Joe T.

Unfortunately, there is no data table screen object. I really wish there was but that's not going to happen. If you want to use data tables for storage you have to read and write row values to MIs for display on the screen. Do you want a different set of setpoints for each day of the week? How many setpoints per day can they have? Will you pass through midnight with the same setpoint? I would make an hour generator for the whole week (168 hours) and then look up the setpoint based on the hour of the current week, resetting the hour counter at midnight on Saturday. It would make looking up the sepoint easy. You could display day and time based on the hour value. Post one of you programs so we can see what you've done. Joe T.

Convert the date to a string and write it - chose option #7 in the RTC to ASCII block. If you need help post your code and I'll hack it in. Joe T.