The glossary below is an excerpt from Jon Stenerson’s “Fundamentals of Programmable Logic Controllers, Sensors, and Communications”. For the complete list, go to the Technical Support section of the AutomationDirect Web site. Common Automation Terms • Accumulated value: Applies to the use of timers and counters. The accumulated value is the present count or time. • Accuracy: The…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookDiscrete SensingIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductTech Thread
Sensor Trends
Because of certain drawbacks of physical contact style sensors and switches such as limit switches and float switches, newer technology non-contact style sensors have become prevalent in industry, performing well in many applications. Proximity, photoelectric and ultrasonic sensors can be used in many applications for which they were previously never considered. These non-contact sensors are…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLC SpeakingProductProgrammable Control
Iboxes...The Latest Craze
In our last issue of Automation Notebook we introduced you to DirectSOFT5 (version 5.0), the latest version of programming software available for the DirectLOGIC PLCs. DirectSOFT5 received an overall facelift including selectable themes, configurable toolbars, dockable and floatable views, HTML help files, and a helpful “Tip of the Day” feature. However, the most notable improvement to the software…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookFYIIssue 6 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductProgrammable Control
PLC Tips from the Tech Team
AutomationDirect’s Technical Support Team receives a vast array of inquiries on programming and installation of our DirectLOGIC PLCs. We asked the team to provide some Tips and Techniques to help make programming and installation easier for our users. Here are some of the topics that come up regularly. Regular Topics Locating problem code: Having trouble locating a…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookEnclosures & AccessoriesIssue 6 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductTechnical ReviewTerminal Blocks & Wiring
A Condensed Guide to Automation Control System Part 4: Build, Launch & Maintain
In Part 3 (Fall 2005 Issue 5), we covered how to design our automated control system and the importance of documenting the design. We discussed the various types of documents that would be typical for an automated control system design, why and how we would use these documents, and finally the tools that can be…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookIssue 6 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductTech Thread
Answers To Questions About Our New C-more Operator Panel
AutomationDirect’s new operator panel is packed with lots of features. We’ve compiled a list of questions and answers that address some of these features: Q: Can I use the serial port on my laptop or desktop computer to upload/download programs via the serial port on a C-more panel? A: The C-more panel is designed to communicate with a computer via…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookIssue 6 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLC SpeakingProductProgrammable Control
The Latest In PLC Ladder Logic
Developed in the early 1990s to program DirectLOGIC PLCs, DirectSOFT programming software was one of the first Windows®-based ladder logic software packages on the market. Over the years, it has seen several major enhancements and improvements, but this year DirectSOFT is receiving the most dramatic makeover of its existence. DirectSOFT5 As users became more comfortable with the features…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookElectrical PowerEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryIssue 6 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductTechnology Brief
Dealing with Low-voltage Power Issues
Voltage Dip and Power Failure Voltage dip and power failure – these are two events that can cause everything in a manufacturing and processing facility to go dim. When a machine or processing line goes down due to a power failure, it can cost a company thousands of dollars in as little as an hour….
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookIssue 3 – 2005Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductProgrammable ControlTech Thread
A User's Guide to Configuring Serial Ports for DirectLOGIC PLCs: A Two Part Series
The capabilities of Port 2 of the DL06, DL250-1 and DL260 CPUs are often overlooked when designing a process control network. Like Port 1, Port 2 can be used for programming the CPU or connecting other RS-232 devices, such as an operator interface panel, to the PLC. Unlike Port 1, Port 2 supports different types…
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookIssue 3 – 2005Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLC SpeakingProductProgrammable Control
PLC Technology and Application Tips
Although the North American market for automation and controls has seen nowhere near the growth it did 15-20 years ago, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are still the preferred controller choice for industrial applications. What has changed for PLCs are the expectations and desired functionality of their specifiers and users. In this edition of PLC Speaking,…