Basic function of both PLC and DDC is same.

We use PLC for industrial / process

applications and DDC for Building automation (BAS/BMS) applications.

Both has digital input, digital output, analog input, analog output for the basic
operation.

Basicaly the PLC is more powerful, faster and has redundant system. Suitable for
complex and high level process applications.

The main reason for selecting the DDC for BMS Application over PLC are ,

1. The communication protocol,

Most of the building automation devices use BacNet/Lonwork protocol. PLC don’t
support these protocols. we need to use the gateway (protocol convertors). One of my
project we used allen bradley compact logix plc for Building automation application.
Modbus to Bacnet convertor helped me to communicate with the VRF system. It gave
some problems initially. Better to use DDC for hassle free programming.

2. Programming

DDC programming is much easier than PLC programming.

Overall PLC is designed for industrail application and DDC is designed for BMS
(Building management system) applications. Use it wisely to avoid unwanted
communication issues.

PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is a small hardware device. It can be a bunch

of logic gates, a micro-controller or contain a simple CPU.

DDC (Direct Digital Control) is a term used in building automation for the concept of
reading sensor data, processing the data in the digital domain, and controlling
actuators

Source: google.

PLCs are basically devices on which you could store a program and run it forever
with just power supplied. The program could be anything a bunch of logical
arguments such as if button is pressed then open door and so on. Where as DDC is
something which obtains data from sensors and makes them understandable to the
actuators like if there is an inductive sensor which can detect metal then it sends a
signal to the pneumatic valve to create a vacuum to grip the object.

Anyway, DDC is a direct digital control units which is a network based control system
with hardware linked to computer as the brain. It is more commonly used in the
building automation/management.

On the other hand, PLC is more better and powerful control and process device. One
PLC can simultaneously handle two processes with more than 200 I/O running
simultaneously. PLC systems are more sophisticated and can be applied to many
sectors such as Oil & Gas Industry, Energy industry, Factory Automation, Waste
treatment plants, water industry
 PLC VS SCADA

SCADA normally refers to the software that plays the role of supervisory system,
while PLC is the device that receives signals from field and then perform operation
logic, as well as communicate to supervisory. in fact, both of them are actually the
essential elements in a SCADA system. Typically speaking, a complete SCADA system
consists of field instruments, PLC or RTU, supervisory (or many called them SCADA
software), HMI, and network.

PLC is Programmable Logic Controllers. They are normally communicating directly

with devices from field, that includes reading and writing signals to them. On the
other hand, they will be converting these signals from field into digital data, and then
transfer them to supervisory (SCADA software). The fact that they are called
"Programmable Logic Controllers" is because they can be programmed with logics,
mostly fundamental operation can be programmed and performed by PLCs.

Many SCADA software found in the market comes with HMI front-end. Supervisory
system is the central system which receives and process the digital data from
RTU/PLC for monitoring and data acquisition. It also acts as the brain to send out
control commands to the process. A supervisory system normally will comprise of a
database or data storage server, which will be used to log necessary data as well as
retrieve them for reporting or other purposes.

1.BACnet IP BACnet MS/TP

2.Modbus TCP Modbus RTU Modbus TCP

2.LonWorks

3.Serial ASCII

4.