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Programmable Controllers

This comprehensive Activ® interactive multimedia training program consists of three individual lesson CD's that train participants to understand programmable controller system operations; interpret power flow through ladder logic; and principles of operation, characteristics, and capabilities of analog control using programmable logic controllers.

Audience: This program is excellent for the training of electricians and instrument technicians as well as for the multi-craft training needs of process and manufacturing facilities.

Principles of Operation

Prerequisites: This lesson is designed for participants familiar with AC/DC theory, electrical safety, basic electrical maintenance procedures, and electrical print reading.

Description: This lesson covers the basics of programmable controller systems. It describes what a programmable controller is, its hardware and software components, and how it functions in an industrial environment.

Objectives:

  • Identify the major hardware components of a programmable controller system and how they work together
  • Identify the various software components of a programmable controller system and their functions
  • Identify I/O terminals through addresses and use I/O documentation to find the addresses of field devices as well as use I/O modules indicators and tables to determine status of input and output devices
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Interpreting Ladder Logic

Prerequisites: This lesson is designed for participants familiar with the principles of programmable controller system operation, AC/DC theory, electrical safety, basic electrical maintenance procedures, and electrical print reading.

Description: This lesson teaches how to interpret programmable controller ladder logic. The lesson defines the program elements of ladder logic and the functions that they perform. This includes contacts, coils, and data functions as well as many of the common ladder logic arrangements.

Objectives:

  • Interpret power flow in circuits containing many program elements
  • Circuits designed to start equipment
  • Start circuits with sealing (holding contacts)
  • Stop circuits, and in circuits that contain the following: normally open contacts to represent normally closed field devices, timer functions, counter functions, math functions, data comparison functions and data transfer functions
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Programmable Controllers for Analog Control

Prerequisites: This lesson is designed for participants familiar with digital electronic theory, programmable logic controllers and digital instrumentation.

Description: This lesson teaches the difference between discrete and analog control and how PLC's implement PID control modes. It shows different hardware configurations and how process data is transmitted between components on a data highway. Programming languages including ladder logic and function block statements are presented. Additionally, the lesson shows how PLCs actually work in different process applications and some routine and preventative maintenance techniques.

Objectives:

  • Describe the differences between discrete control and continuous process control
  • Describe how PLCs implement proportional, integral, and derivative process control
  • List and explain hardware for PID control
  • Explain the purpose of a/d converters
  • Describe typical field devices connected to PID modules
  • Describe the types of input signals generated by analog field devices
  • Explain the functions of a data highway
  • Explain factors that could affect the speed of data transfer and communications between PID modules
  • The PLC/PID systems to monitor a given process
  • Explain the uses of single loop and group displays
  • Identify typical programming languages for PID control
  • Explain how PID algorithms are configured in PLC software
  • Identify other configuration functions available for analog control
  • Identify other configurations for advanced control strategies
  • Describe the execution of a typical PID program
  • Explain how scan times affect program execution
  • Describe how to change from automatic to manual control modes
  • Describe the application of PID control using a PLC in a blending process
  • Describe the application of PID control using a PLC for water quality control
  • And explain analog I/O verification
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