The Programmable Logic Controller is the solution to today's electrical switching requirements. The PLC is as reliable as a traditional switch, but has the ability to solve the complex switching requirements of today.
Electrical Switching Using A Programmable Logic Controller
Eugene Kowch | P.I.D. Consultants Inc.
Electrical Switching Using A
Programmable Logic Controller The Programmable Logic Controller is the solution to today's electrical switching requirements. The PLC is as reliable as a traditional switch, but has the ability to solve the complex switching requirements of today. |
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Switch - noun - A device used to break or open an electrical circuit or to divert current from one conductor to another.
Recently these same switches, because of their simplicity, are making it difficult for electrical designers to solve some complex switching requirements. Wall clutter, switching from multiple locations, flexibility to assign switches to other loads without major renovations, tie-in with security and other electrical systems and control from personnel computers to name a few. Electrical switching using a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) will help solve all these and future switching requirements.
Programmable Logic
Controllers are not a new product in the market place. These controllers have
been in use for over 50 years in the industrial world. They have proven to be a
very reliable and affordable means of switching complex electrical systems in
many manufacturing and large plant applications. These same PLCs can now be used
in commercial and residential electrical designs to solve the complex switching
requirements mentioned above.
Low voltage keypads, strategically placed throughout the office or home, provide the inputs for the PLCs to determine which outputs to activate. These keypads have multiple buttons in a single gang configuration, which removes the wall clutter that conventional switches create.
Each button on the low voltage keypad is a unique input to the PLC. The input is assigned to an output only through a logic program resident in the PLC. Therefore any button on any low voltage keypad can turn on or off any or all-electrical systems, like lights, throughout the facility. The electrical designer now has the ability to switch loads from multiple locations and the flexibility to assign switches to other loads.
Security has become an
important issue in the commercial and residential community. Electrical
designers ensure that a security panel is installed in all facilities but do
not have a means to tie-in to other electrical systems, like lights, to enhance
the security system. With a PLC, the security panel can switch one of the low
voltage inputs and have all or some of the lights flash off and on when an alarm
situation occurs.
Local Area Networks (LAN)
are becoming common place in all commercial and residential installations.
Computers throughout an office or home are being networked together and also
connected to the outside world via the Internet. Electrical designers, using the
PLC, have the ability to connect PCs to all the electrical systems in the
facility for remote control or reprogramming.
The Programmable Logic Controller is the solution to today's electrical switching requirements. The PLC is as reliable as a traditional switch, but has the ability to solve the complex switching requirements of today.
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of HomeToys
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