PLC HARDWARE FAMILIARIZATION

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Lab Exer.# 1/1

PLC HARDWARE FAMILIARIZATION

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE
Upon completion of this laboratory exercise, the student technician will be able to
describe the application of PLC, describe the advantages of PLC, identify the two types
of PLC housing and identify the specifications of a PLC.
TOOLS & EQUIPMENTS
1. Siemens S7 PLC trainer
DISCUSSIONS

Figure 1: PLC
PLC is an acronym for Programmable Logic Controller. PLC as shown in Figure 1 is a
device invented to replace logical and sequential relay circuits for machine control.
Before the invention of PLC, automated machines are controlled using relay circuits.
Figure 2 shows the comparison between the control box of a relay controlled machine
and a PLC controlled machine. The invention of PLC has many advantages in industrial
and automation applications.

PLC HARDWARE FAMILIARIZATION

Lab Exer.# 1/2

The advantages of PLC are:

a) Smaller.
b) Less expensive.
c) More reliable.
d) Simple maintenance.
e) Simple programming.
f) Able and easy to make small changes on machine operation sequence and
parameters.

Figure 2: A relay circuit control box and a PLC control box

There are two types of PLC housing as shown in Figure 3. The types of PLC housing
are the modular type and the compact type. In the modular type, all the PLC
components are arranged in different modules according to requirements. In the
compact type, all the PLC components are available in one housing.

Figure 3: A modular PLC and a compact PLC

The major components in a PLC are the Central Processor Unit (CPU), Input module,
Output module, Programming device, Memory and Power supply. The main functions of
the major components are summarized in Table 1. The block diagram showing the
relations between the major components is shown in Figure 4.

PLC HARDWARE FAMILIARIZATION

PROCEDURES
Identify the major components of a PLC
1. Study the PLC thoroughly.
2. Identify and name the major components of a PLC.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)
Figure 4

a) __________________________________________
b) __________________________________________
c) __________________________________________
d) __________________________________________

Lab Exer.# 1/3

PLC HARDWARE FAMILIARIZATION

Specifications of a PLC
1. Study the PLC thoroughly.
2. Fill the specifications of the PLC in Table 2.
Table 1
Manufacturer
CPU type
Input power supply
Used DC voltages
1)
2)

Operation modes
3)
4)
1)
2)
3)

Status indicators
4)
5)
6)

Number of digital inputs

Number of digital outputs
Number of analogue inputs
Number of analogue output

Lab Exer.# 1/4

PLC HARDWARE FAMILIARIZATION

Lab Exer.# 1/5

Digital input voltage

Digital output voltage
to

Digital input addresses

to
to
to

Digital output addresses

to

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1.

List the advantages of using PLC in automation applications.

2.

Is the PLC shown below a Compact PLC or a Modular PLC? Why?

3.

Name TWO other PLC manufacturers other than Siemens.

FINAL CHECKLIST
1.
Clean your equipment and work benches before you leave.
2.

Return all equipment to their proper storage area.

3.

Submit your answers to the review questions along with your technical report to
your instructor before the next laboratory session.