RE: Inexpensive PLC Ethernet w/EPICS Driver

["Mark Rivers" <rivers@cars.uchicago.edu>]

Hi Kristi,
 
I've read the manual for the Web Server Module that you mentioned.  It is very different from Modbus or similar communications protocols.  With Modbus one can send a command to directly read and write I/O points in the PLC without having to do anything special in the ladder logic.  The Web server module requires writing the ladder logic to use "Communications instructions".  Furthermore, the Web Server Module is actually connected to the PLC via a serial link, so you will not get Ethernet speeds to and from the PLC.
 
Mark
 

________________________________

From: tech-talk-bounces@aps.anl.gov on behalf of Luchini, Kristi
Sent: Mon 3/17/2008 7:42 PM
To: tech-talk@aps.anl.gov
Cc: Lam, Briant
Subject: Inexpensive PLC Ethernet w/EPICS Driver 



Hello,

Can anyone suggest a low-cost options for a plc w/ethernet, touch panel and an existing epics driver?
We current we are looking at the IDEC PLC and Mark Rivers recommended the Koyu from Automation Direct which works with MODBUS.

 - Thanks, 
   Kristi

PLC (IDEC) Hardware
---------------------
Model          Description              Cost
------         ------------            ------
FC5A-D16RK1    Processor               $ 248
FC4A-HPC1      RS232 Module            $  44
FCA-ENET       Ethernet Module         $ 249   http://www.idec.com/language/english/manual/WebServerModuleManual.pdf

FC4A-J8C1      8 Channel (diff) Ai      $ 260
FC4A-K2C1      2 Channel Ao             $ 139
FC4A-N16B3     16 Channel Di            $ 136
FC4A-N16S3     16 Channel Do            $ 192
HG3F-FT22TFB   10.4 Inch Touch Panel    $1650
BX1D-S20A      Terminal Block           $  29
FC9Z-H100A20   Terminal Block Cable     $  34
FC4A-KC2CA     PLC-to Touch Panel Cable $  20 



-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Rivers [mailto:rivers@cars.uchicago.edu]
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 12:43 PM
To: Luchini, Kristi; tech-talk@aps.anl.gov
Cc: Lam, Briant
Subject: RE: PLC Ethernet Driver for the IDEC MicroLogix 1100

Hi Kristi,

I could not find an online manual for the  FC4A-ENET.  However, some
documentation I saw online for the FC5A-D16RK1 suggests that it is
Modbus compatible.  If so, then you may be able to use my Modbus driver,
which works with Ethernet or serial:

http://cars.uchicago.edu/software/epics/modbus.html

Note that Koyu PLCs from Automation Direct are also less expensive than
Allen Bradley, and they are definitely Modbus compatible.

Mark


> -----Original Message-----
> From: tech-talk-bounces@aps.anl.gov
> [mailto:tech-talk-bounces@aps.anl.gov] On Behalf Of Luchini, Kristi
> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 12:45 PM
> To: tech-talk@aps.anl.gov
> Cc: Lam, Briant
> Subject: PLC Ethernet Driver for the IDEC MicroLogix 1100
>
> Hello,
>
> Has anyone written an EPICC PLC Ethernet Driver for the IDEC
> ethernet module FC4A-ENET
> using MicroLogic 1100. The processor is model FC5A-D16RK1
>
> This is a much cheaper PLC Model than Allen-Bradley and we
> hope that someone else out there may have already had some
> experience with this hardware.
>
> Thanks
> - Kristi
>
>