Anyone that does PLC programming?

[UpAndComing]

Wanted to know your experience with it

I know PLC has it's own programming languages. Do you have to have a solid knowledge of Electrical Circuits to fully understand it?

When on the job, Are you more of a typical programmer (C++, Python, etc) or are you more of an Electrician?

 

[DrBanneker]

Wanted to know your experience with it

I know PLC has it's own programming languages. Do you have to have a solid knowledge of Electrical Circuits to fully understand it?

When on the job, Are you more of a typical programmer (C++, Python, etc) or are you more of an Electrician?

You need to understand basic electronics and systems, computer networking, and also basic electromechanical systems (valves, temp/pressure/level meters, etc.) but it is not like you are a circuit troubleshooter with a multimeter in most cases. You do need to understand the basics of voltage/current, analog/digital (and their converters), power supplies, etc. PLC programming is more programming and each manufacturer (Siemens, Allen Bradley, etc.) typically has their own language and systems.

If you are a focused technician like doing PLCs for large HVAC installs you will need to know how those systems work though.

P.S. I am not a PLC programmer but I worked with designing and quoting these for a while.

 

[UpAndComing]

You need to understand basic electronics and systems, computer networking, and also basic electromechanical systems (valves, temp/pressure/level meters, etc.) but it is not like you are a circuit troubleshooter with a multimeter in most cases. You do need to understand the basics of voltage/current, analog/digital (and their converters), power supplies, etc. PLC programming is more programming and each manufacturer (Siemens, Allen Bradley, etc.) typically has their own language and systems.

If you are a focused technician like doing PLCs for large HVAC installs you will need to know how those systems work though.

P.S. I am not a PLC programmer but I worked with designing and quoting these for a while.

Oh ok great
I've also been researching and it looks like there is a big market in joining the traditional Computer Programming languages (Python, SQL, C++) and putting it more and more in the manufacturing/industrial/trade world. Like I been seeing more jobs that are System Integrators that use SQL and Python to integrate all the PLC data together to improve production
Basically putting more Data Science in the industrial world

Do you think learning more about Python, Java, SQL, C++, etc etc would help me alot in the PLC field?

 

[DrBanneker]

Oh ok great
I've also been researching and it looks like there is a big market in joining the traditional Computer Programming languages (Python, SQL, C++) and putting it more and more in the manufacturing/industrial/trade world. Like I been seeing more jobs that are System Integrators that use SQL and Python to integrate all the PLC data together to improve production
Basically putting more Data Science in the industrial world

Do you think learning more about Python, Java, SQL, C++, etc etc would help me alot in the PLC field?

Yes, it definitely wouldn't hurt but it depends on where you want to work. Lots of PLC programmer types can either be internal or contractors. If the latter, dealing with a given system is more important since things are standardized. If you are within a larger company just doing their equipment (like a refinery) knowledge of other stuff is probably necessary to integrate middleware, etc.

 

[UpAndComing]

Yes, it definitely wouldn't hurt but it depends on where you want to work. Lots of PLC programmer types can either be internal or contractors. If the latter, dealing with a given system is more important since things are standardized. If you are within a larger company just doing their equipment (like a refinery) knowledge of other stuff is probably necessary to integrate middleware, etc.

Oh ok cool.

I been hearing this type of job called a "SQL Developer" is that website design? Is it something applicable to Industrial Automation like PLCs?

 

[DrBanneker]

Oh ok cool.

I been hearing this type of job called a "SQL Developer" is that website design? Is it something applicable to Industrial Automation like PLCs?

SQL is a general database query programming language. It is applicable for writing software to manipulate databases, extract/insert data, etc. This can overlap with PLCs but the main function of PLCs is plant/building automation, control, and monitoring. There can be a database with stores information related to the PLC but SQL is ancillary to PLC programming, not its main aspect.

 

[UpAndComing]

SQL is a general database query programming language. It is applicable for writing software to manipulate databases, extract/insert data, etc. This can overlap with PLCs but the main function of PLCs is plant/building automation, control, and monitoring. There can be a database with stores information related to the PLC but SQL is ancillary to PLC programming, not its main aspect.

Ok ok, gotcha. The job I'm working at has PLC
I'm at one of those companies where the supervisors are lackadaisical on teaching or either don't know themselves. They fine the way things are, and lack talent
If I know some shyt, I could move up quick
I want to get ahead, thinking of doing an online course on it

 

[DrBanneker]

Ok ok, gotcha. The job I'm working at has PLC
I'm at one of those companies where the supervisors are lackadaisical on teaching or either don't know themselves. They fine the way things are, and lack talent
If I know some shyt, I could move up quick
I want to get ahead, thinking of doing an online course on it

Find out what kind(s) (some shops have multiple) PLCs there are and make sure you are trained on that. A general class can help but a class specific to a PLC you don't use could be a waste though the concepts are the same.

 

[UpAndComing]

Find out what kind(s) (some shops have multiple) PLCs there are and make sure you are trained on that. A general class can help but a class specific to a PLC you don't use could be a waste though the concepts are the same.

Ok so it looks like there's alot of different PLC manufacturers I'm seeing in my job. It's an old place that looks like they mix and match different companies
Although I do see mostly Allen Bradley products when I'm walking around

Would it be ok if I take a general course in PLC? Would that help in the long run?

 

[DrBanneker]

Ok so it looks like there's alot of different PLC manufacturers I'm seeing in my job. It's an old place that looks like they mix and match different companies
Although I do see mostly Allen Bradley products when I'm walking around

Would it be ok if I take a general course in PLC? Would that help in the long run?

Yeah it would definitely help. Then you can apply it to the specific of the PLCs at your facility. You can't go wrong with generalist training it is just in the end every one has its different twists.

 

[UpAndComing]

Yeah it would definitely help. Then you can apply it to the specific of the PLCs at your facility. You can't go wrong with generalist training it is just in the end every one has its different twists.

Hey. Do you know about Object Oriented Programming with PLC?

Or IOT with PLC?

 

[DrBanneker]

Hey. Do you know about Object Oriented Programming with PLC?

Or IOT with PLC?

I don't know much about object oriented programming with PLCs but I assume it is similar to regular PC type OOP.

IOT with PLC is, in my limited experience, the PLC being plugged into an internal Internet access point and interfacing I/O with devices based on their IP addresses on the Intranet. Historically, PLCs did I/O with devices on point to point protocols like 4-20mA HART, Modbus, Fieldbus etc. (though the latter two can go over IP I believe) and the wires from the devices went through junction boxes to to the PLC where it monitored and controlled them.

With IOT and packet switched IP networks, you can just dynamically add/remove devices on the same network (or remotely) and monitor and control them. PLCs can deal with almost any device that gives them access via a specific protocol and port so it would be like controlling a device except less wiring and BS.

 

[UpAndComing]

I don't know much about object oriented programming with PLCs but I assume it is similar to regular PC type OOP.

IOT with PLC is, in my limited experience, the PLC being plugged into an internal Internet access point and interfacing I/O with devices based on their IP addresses on the Intranet. Historically, PLCs did I/O with devices on point to point protocols like 4-20mA HART, Modbus, Fieldbus etc. (though the latter two can go over IP I believe) and the wires from the devices went through junction boxes to to the PLC where it monitored and controlled them.

With IOT and packet switched IP networks, you can just dynamically add/remove devices on the same network (or remotely) and monitor and control them. PLCs can deal with almost any device that gives them access via a specific protocol and port so it would be like controlling a device except less wiring and BS.

Thank you so much breh

It's crazy how there's so much you can do with a PLC. I want to eventually learn IOT with PLC for my company and for side jobs
How can I gain skills for that, would I have to learn more about Cloud services?

Would I have to learn more about Networking?

 

[DrBanneker]

Thank you so much breh

It's crazy how there's so much you can do with a PLC. I want to eventually learn IOT with PLC for my company and for side jobs
How can I gain skills for that, would I have to learn more about Cloud services?

Would I have to learn more about Networking?

Networking, absolutely. You have to know the basics of packet switching networks, Ethernet, TCP/IP, and probably throw in ICMP for network diagnostics and SNMP for device communication.. Then you probably will have to learn the specifics of some application layer depending on the devices. Networking is not hard and you don't have to know as much as someone getting Cisco certs or nothing, just the basics of network communication, troubleshooting, etc.

Cloud services I think is pretty secondary. You aren't running a SaaS or website so cloud functionality, while helpful to know, probably isn't going to be huge though things change so fast I could be wrong.

A good place to start (as with most things tech) is the O'Reilly book on the subject. There is also a free PDF book here. There is a PLC subreddit and they recommend some online courses. I would encourage you to join and start asking the hard questions there. If you have a local community college that offers night classes that may actually be the best, most affordable solution to get some sort of certification or accreditation.

 

[UpAndComing]

Networking, absolutely. You have to know the basics of packet switching networks, Ethernet, TCP/IP, and probably throw in ICMP for network diagnostics and SNMP for device communication.. Then you probably will have to learn the specifics of some application layer depending on the devices. Networking is not hard and you don't have to know as much as someone getting Cisco certs or nothing, just the basics of network communication, troubleshooting, etc.

Cloud services I think is pretty secondary. You aren't running a SaaS or website so cloud functionality, while helpful to know, probably isn't going to be huge though things change so fast I could be wrong.

A good place to start (as with most things tech) is the O'Reilly book on the subject. There is also a free PDF book here. There is a PLC subreddit and they recommend some online courses. I would encourage you to join and start asking the hard questions there. If you have a local community college that offers night classes that may actually be the best, most affordable solution to get some sort of certification or accreditation.

Thank you so much for all this information breh

I'm aware of the PLC subreddit. I lurk sometimes, but I should join them and get serious on it

So what are the PLC certifications or accreditation that I can get? Is there any popular ones that the industry recognizes?

My main thing I want to eventually go into is to learn how to extract data from a PLC and use software to analyse the Data