EL 260 - Programmable Logic Controllers

Credit Hours: 3

Introduction to PLCs; PLC architecture; memory addressing and I/O addressing; scan time; ladder logic programming; timers and counters; I/O modules; arithmetic instructions; sequencer instructions and troubleshooting PLC systems. Experiments include:

PLC I/O characteristics;
sinking and sourcing;
reading digital inputs and producing on-off outputs;
window comparators and alarms;
motor control logic;
time delays and timer intervals;
counting events;
reading AC inputs and controlling AC loads;
sequencer control;
troubleshooting PLC systems and PLC communications; and
controlling PLC and loads from a touch-screen panel interface.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

identify and use symbology of ladder logic;
write and execute programs using timers, counters and sequencing;
understand the PLC architecture;
choose the appropriate I/O loading configuration;
identify and interpret data manipulation and arithmetic operations for the PLC;
properly connect a PLC to control digital or analog devices;
properly program touch-screen interface modules and connect them to PLC; and
effectively work as a member of the technical team on larger design projects.

Prerequisites: EL 116, EL 158, EL 159
F (N)