Wow, what will now do with my 2 P2K hardware simulators. I still like using the hardware, but this will be so good good to troubleshoot existing units and new developments.
Hi Michael, Yes, this is a game-changer. The hardware is still good for specialty cards. I agree with using the simulator for troubleshooting existing units and new developments. Thanks for the comments. Garry
This video is great. Poking around at the simulator at home but didn't really understand what was going on. But now after watching the video I get it. Which could be dangerous. Thank you Gary. I'm getting there, on video at a time.
Thanks for the comment, GmanJimbo. The simulator is excellent for testing parts of your program for functionality before enabling it in the physical world. Garry
Gary I enjoy your videos very informative. I do have a question in am programming a p2000 processor. I have created 12 tasks. On one of the tasks it seems it's locked and can not make any edits. Have you ever run into this or known how to unlock it ?
Hi Raymond, Thanks for the comments. I have not seen this error before. Can you send me your program, so I can take a look? garryshortt@accautomation.ca Thanks, Garry
Hi Stunna Racing What version of Productivity Suite are you using? If it is Version 3.11.0(26) the simulator will not work because it is causing errors for the tags when transferring. Downgrade to version 3.10. If you are not using the simulator or connected to the actual hardware, then make sure that the program has been transferred. Also, make sure that once you change or modify the value a red box appears. Select the send edit(s) icon to make your edits active. If this does not work then please check your tag database to ensure that the bits and words that you are editing are forceable. If hope this helps you out. Regards, Garry
Thanks for your videos, it has helped me setup my first PLC and HMI. Is there anyway that I can use the productivity suite simulator with the C-more simulator?
Hi 2022mapleleafs The Cmore simulator will not communicate on the computer ports. It will only give you an indication on how your HMI design looks. Regards, Garry
Hi Jose, Yes, the simulator will communicate Modbus TCP (Client (Master) or Server (Slave)) In your case the HMI would be the Client. I have this already with the C-More line of HMIs and Factory IO. factoryio.com/ Note: Simulator will run for two hours before you have to restart it. Regards, Garry
@@ACCautomation Garry you can probably help me with the following. I installed in a virtual machine both productivity 3.8 and Indusoft 7.1 but no matter how hard I try to establish a connection with the simulator from Indusoft I don't get a response to communicate via Modbus. Do you have any idea what it might be due to or if I must necessarily have the SCADA software running on another PC?
@@JoseQuinteroPerdomo I have not used virtual machines in a while, but make sure that you have network connectivity. Call up a CMD window and enter IPCONFIG /ALL to view the IP address and settings. Once you ensure that you have network connectivity, I would then try something like the Modbus Poll software just to test the simulator. www.modbustools.com/modbus_poll.html Basically what you are trying to do is eliminate one item at a time to see what is causing the communication error. I hope this helps you out. Regards, Garry
Hi @heathfodor3515, Yes, you can connect this simulator to an HMI screen and communicate with it through Modbus TCP server/client connections on an external Ethernet port Regards, Garry
@@heathfodor3515 I currently do not, but that would make a good post for the future. Basically, you use the Productivity Ethernet protocol and point to the IP address of your computer running the PLC simulator. Regards, Garry
Hi Daniel, The productivity suite can only be used for the 1000 to 3000 series PAC (PLC) controllers. You would just use the Arduino IDE to program the P1AM-100. www.arduino.cc/en/software The P1AM-100 can use the P1000 cards. I hope this helps you out. Regards, Garry
@@MichiganCarWashes Here is a thread on the topic that may help you out. community.automationdirect.com/s/question/0D53u00002hQ90KCAS/productivity-simulator-shuts-down-moments-after-starting It mentions disabling unused ports on the computer. Regards, Garry
Hi Sabadier, The website post for the video will contain the download link to the software plus step-by-step instructions on how to use the simulator. accautomation.ca/productivity-suite-plc-simulator-software-free-download/ Here is the link... www.automationdirect.com/support/software-downloads Under software select Productivity Suite. Regards, Garry
Hi Mike, I have tested the simulator communication out with Factory IO. This works as expected. factoryio.com/ Note: Currently only Modbus TCP (Ethernet) can be used. I hope this helps you out. Regards, Garry
@@mikemc7540 The Do-More Designer is the only simulator that will handle serial communications. Hopefully, another release of the software will allow serial and additional protocols on the Ethernet for the simulator. Garry
@@mikemc7540 In my opinion, the Productivity line is the easiest to implement communication. Do-More has more communication capabilities. (MQTT, REST API, JSON, etc) ADC ladder can be done with the Do-More. I know that most of their examples use stage programming, but all of my posts have ladder logic only. accautomation.ca/series/brx-do-more-plc/ Regards, Garry
It is cool! The free price is even better on a fully functional PLC tag-based system. The entire productivity series PLC's can be simulated with the software without purchasing the hardware. Thanks, Garry
@@JamesSmith-ej1xh This thread may help you out. community.automationdirect.com/s/question/0D53u00002hQ90KCAS/productivity-simulator-shuts-down-moments-after-starting Regards, Garry
Wow, what will now do with my 2 P2K hardware simulators. I still like using the hardware, but this will be so good good to troubleshoot existing units and new developments.
Hi Michael,
Yes, this is a game-changer. The hardware is still good for specialty cards. I agree with using the simulator for troubleshooting existing units and new developments.
Thanks for the comments.
Garry
This video is great. Poking around at the simulator at home but didn't really understand what was going on. But now after watching the video I get it. Which could be dangerous. Thank you Gary. I'm getting there, on video at a time.
Thanks for the comment, GmanJimbo.
The simulator is excellent for testing parts of your program for functionality before enabling it in the physical world.
Garry
i hate to say it but you do better job making videos than AD
Hi Maciek Borucki,
Thank you for the comment. I appreciate it.
Garry
Gary I enjoy your videos very informative. I do have a question in am programming a p2000 processor. I have created 12 tasks. On one of the tasks it seems it's locked and can not make any edits. Have you ever run into this or known how to unlock it ?
Hi Raymond,
Thanks for the comments. I have not seen this error before. Can you send me your program, so I can take a look?
garryshortt@accautomation.ca
Thanks,
Garry
On p3000 I can’t edit the value or force it it gives a red box around edit
Hi Stunna Racing
What version of Productivity Suite are you using? If it is Version 3.11.0(26) the simulator will not work because it is causing errors for the tags when transferring. Downgrade to version 3.10.
If you are not using the simulator or connected to the actual hardware, then make sure that the program has been transferred. Also, make sure that once you change or modify the value a red box appears. Select the send edit(s) icon to make your edits active.
If this does not work then please check your tag database to ensure that the bits and words that you are editing are forceable.
If hope this helps you out.
Regards,
Garry
INTERESTING VIDEO!!!
Thank you for the comment.
Regards,
Garry
Thanks for your videos, it has helped me setup my first PLC and HMI. Is there anyway that I can use the productivity suite simulator with the C-more simulator?
Hi 2022mapleleafs
The Cmore simulator will not communicate on the computer ports. It will only give you an indication on how your HMI design looks.
Regards,
Garry
Sorry, that should be 2012mapleleafs. Maybe I was right in 2022 for the Maple Leafs!
@@ACCautomation haha maybe 2022 will be the year!
Hi! it's possible to connect the simulator with an HMI software like Indusoft or Ignition SCADA using Modbus TCP IP? How you made it?
Hi Jose,
Yes, the simulator will communicate Modbus TCP (Client (Master) or Server (Slave)) In your case the HMI would be the Client. I have this already with the C-More line of HMIs and Factory IO.
factoryio.com/
Note: Simulator will run for two hours before you have to restart it.
Regards,
Garry
@@ACCautomation
Garry you can probably help me with the following. I installed in a virtual machine both productivity 3.8 and Indusoft 7.1 but no matter how hard I try to establish a connection with the simulator from Indusoft I don't get a response to communicate via Modbus. Do you have any idea what it might be due to or if I must necessarily have the SCADA software running on another PC?
@@JoseQuinteroPerdomo
I have not used virtual machines in a while, but make sure that you have network connectivity.
Call up a CMD window and enter IPCONFIG /ALL to view the IP address and settings.
Once you ensure that you have network connectivity, I would then try something like the Modbus Poll software just to test the simulator.
www.modbustools.com/modbus_poll.html
Basically what you are trying to do is eliminate one item at a time to see what is causing the communication error.
I hope this helps you out.
Regards,
Garry
Is it possible to connect this simulator up to a HMI screen with the corresponding program and operate both at the same time
Hi @heathfodor3515,
Yes, you can connect this simulator to an HMI screen and communicate with it through Modbus TCP server/client connections on an external Ethernet port
Regards,
Garry
Hi@@ACCautomation
Do you happen to have any resources on how this is done?
Much appreciated for the reply.
Cheers,
Heath
@@heathfodor3515
I currently do not, but that would make a good post for the future.
Basically, you use the Productivity Ethernet protocol and point to the IP address of your computer running the PLC simulator.
Regards,
Garry
Hmm sounds reasonable I will give it a go!
can i use productivity suite to program the P1AM-100? OR can productivity suite only be used for 1000-3000 series?
Hi Daniel,
The productivity suite can only be used for the 1000 to 3000 series PAC (PLC) controllers.
You would just use the Arduino IDE to program the P1AM-100.
www.arduino.cc/en/software
The P1AM-100 can use the P1000 cards.
I hope this helps you out.
Regards,
Garry
you are the man
Thank you.
Garry
I keep trying to connect to the simulator, but I keep getting an error. Do you know what might cause this?
Hi James,
What error are you getting?
Regards,
Garry
@@ACCautomation Mine just says "failed to connect to SIM" after trying to connect to the simulator for several seconds.
@@MichiganCarWashes
Here is a thread on the topic that may help you out.
community.automationdirect.com/s/question/0D53u00002hQ90KCAS/productivity-simulator-shuts-down-moments-after-starting
It mentions disabling unused ports on the computer.
Regards,
Garry
so... wheres the download link?
Hi Sabadier,
The website post for the video will contain the download link to the software plus step-by-step instructions on how to use the simulator.
accautomation.ca/productivity-suite-plc-simulator-software-free-download/
Here is the link...
www.automationdirect.com/support/software-downloads
Under software select Productivity Suite.
Regards,
Garry
Should have tried simulating any of the communications functions. No Joy, functions do not even return a error, timeout or success.
Hi Mike,
I have tested the simulator communication out with Factory IO. This works as expected.
factoryio.com/
Note: Currently only Modbus TCP (Ethernet) can be used.
I hope this helps you out.
Regards,
Garry
yea that's the issue, I'm trying to work with RS-485 and can't even test the communication fail function because it won't do anything.
@@mikemc7540
The Do-More Designer is the only simulator that will handle serial communications.
Hopefully, another release of the software will allow serial and additional protocols on the Ethernet for the simulator.
Garry
@@ACCautomation I hope so. I've tried learning the Do-More system but at 68 it's a challenge to switch from ADC ladder to that. Makes my head hurt.
@@mikemc7540
In my opinion, the Productivity line is the easiest to implement communication.
Do-More has more communication capabilities. (MQTT, REST API, JSON, etc)
ADC ladder can be done with the Do-More. I know that most of their examples use stage programming, but all of my posts have ladder logic only.
accautomation.ca/series/brx-do-more-plc/
Regards,
Garry
Very cool
It is cool! The free price is even better on a fully functional PLC tag-based system. The entire productivity series PLC's can be simulated with the software without purchasing the hardware.
Thanks,
Garry
@@ACCautomation I keep trying to connect to the simulator, but I keep getting an error. Do you know what might cause this?
@@JamesSmith-ej1xh
Can you also tell me besides the error, the operating system that you are using?
Thanks,
Garry
@@ACCautomation I am using Windows 10 64-bit.
@@JamesSmith-ej1xh
This thread may help you out.
community.automationdirect.com/s/question/0D53u00002hQ90KCAS/productivity-simulator-shuts-down-moments-after-starting
Regards,
Garry