For only 18mins of video, this is the first explanation I’ve watched, in three weeks of UA-cam and LinkedIn learning, that didn’t give me anxiety and frustration. Most videos and courses, jump right into writing logic or showing how to connect to components that are not explained what they are or do.. I kept wishing that someone would give instructions with both the physical PLC and the software. I’ve subscribed to your channels and will set notify for when you release new content. Thanks for your quality contribution..
I'd be interested in your results, mine were THIS IS TOTAL GARBAGE. A waste of over $2,000.00. While EA9 and CO-ARE-D seem to work acceptably, adding the THM module FROM AUTOMATION DIRECT makes the system junk, dangerous, and most frustrating since technical support refuses to even answer simple questions. They do love to ask questions though I have determined these are designed to get me to do their job for them. Finding the defect in their equipment should not be left to the customer!!?
@mikeb4650 I went a different direction and used C++ to control a Teknic ClearCore machine controller. Using a programming language like C/C++ or python for machine automation control, has a superior benefit of community support and the skill of coding could be extended to other fields like software and application development
Phil; You are probably the best guy to help me with a project. I own a very old Relay-Logic automatic band saw I want to convert to PLC. Trouble is the PLC videos are all focused on wiring the PLC, ladder logic and they stop short of that. O.K. I have a signal to trip Relay 1... and that is where it ends. Einstein figured out the theory of relativity. He brought the bricklayers, plumbers, electricians all under one roof with a common language. The Surveyors are still stuck on links and chains. That is where you come in. There's nothing out there in youtube-land that brings the PLC into the real world. Running motors, timers counters in sequence with all things addressed. The practical side requires that I have to wire this up, sequence 3 or four motors and a counter with go-no go, analog inputs, ( Mechanical Limit Switches ) and possibly tag in a VFD or a servo/step motor that would crank the mechanical blade speed adjuster. Better to maintain the mechanical speed control rather than split wave it with the VFD and lose horsepower... I'd want it to run independent. I'd want to set at the saw, my mechanical length stop, ( Grab it, set it, tighten knob ) It has a power fed roller vise that the material feeds out to hit the limit switch...Select number of cycles, in the case of VFD, set Feed per minute or motor RPM... so a display and input is needed. Real world stuff. The saw is old, but the Iron and Motors are great. Saw weighs around 3,000# I think around 20 grand new. There is nothing wrong with the way it was set up at all. But all the switches, buttons and stuff are so old, out of production and literally crumbling in my hands due to old age. Perhaps we could collaborate with video support and do a project. I have feed stock limit. Blade up limit. Blade down limit. Empty vise limit. Coolant pump on, off switch. I need to power up, set fpm and all limit switches and part count at machine, and press cycle start. If the saw runs out of material, I want it to wait for me and continue until cycle count is achieved. You thoughts sir? Thanks, Mark
@@markrichardson239 I understand your problem. I have once replaced the relay logic of an automated band saw. It was a real pain because the wiring was so old and everything was greasy and full of metal dust. If I did go through all the trouble to a video on how to fo it, wiring diagram and programming, you and I would be the only ones watch to it. My videos focus on single concepts to develop beginning programmers. This would be too complicated for one of my videos.
Well done Mr. Wade! You have provided a very methodical introduction to getting started with the CLICK PLC, from the point of reference of someone who is completely new to PLC's. Thank you!
@@mikeb4650 Just trying to learn the programming, Sir. It looks like the click software is what I’m after. I don’t understand your quality system response.
@@garypoplin4599 Garry, as far as the programming goes it is an excellent learning tool. I worked with Allen Bradley for half a century and the click software is first rate. Incredibly easy to understand and translate. My issue is with the add on THM modules, the error allowance, and the communications, and most of all a module that is off by up to 15 deg F. I had to continually adjust my EA9 touch screen room set point to compensate for the drifting CLICK. Dispite TECHNICAL SUPPORTS insistence that the control's fine. I must have sent 20 pics and all they kept saying was do one crazy test after another. After some very choice superlatives I pulled out an old @% year old Watlow controler and bypassed that garbage click
Good point. That was a while back. If I remember correctly I had an issue with they Banner radio. It was old and did not want to communicate. I need to go back and follow that up.
@WadeCountryLiving thanks for the quick response. It always seems like it should be straight forward but then there is some minute detail that complicates the matter. Good luck.
I was AB as well but did Siemens and Keyence. Software cost were ridiculous. I retired and decided to make these videos for something less expensive and easy to learn.
@@WadeCountryLiving I have seen all you video’s, your sr great! ( my mentor) I am very new at this,but I have task myself to learn PLC’s . For my indoor aquaculture system . Do you offer classes?
@@mattrayl1612 No. I'm just a retired guy that started making some videos on a subject that I thought could help industrial electricians move toward industrial programmers.
I worked with AB for over 40 years. I've spent over $2,000.00 on this junk, for a home project. Total frustration and teck support without any support. I'm on my THIRD THM module in under two years. This thing gives phantom readings when no thermocouple is attached!!! After two years I would be most interested in your evaluation of these things!
@@WadeCountryLiving Nice videos, for Never land or Cloud City they are exiting, In reality they are a financial and production nightmare. I worked with Allen Bradley for over 40 years and if given the software this click junk would be in the can. pure trash!!!
Having used the Click, here is my assessment: Pro's: It's cheap. You really can't touch it price-wise. That includes Pi's and their derivatives. The Pi might be cheaper, but the effort needed to harden the I/O on your Pi to survive the real world will blow your budget. Software is free. Support is also free. Great way to get familiar with PLCs. Con's You have to stop the processor to load your program. In most places that's a non-starter. The I/O while being "industrially hardened" (take that with a grain of salt), is nowhere near as durable as the I/O on a Turck. Or for that matter what GE used on their Genius I/O 30+ years ago. Keep in mind that it's on a par with Rockwell (AB) I/O, so it's not horrible by any stretch. I used one for sending production counts and faults to a PC that was being used for data logging. For this purpose it worked great. The system that it was connected to was an old Gencor burner without any PLC controls of its own so there was a bit of integration involved. :) Modbus ASCII was used to communicate between the PC and the PLC. Would I use one for playing around? Yes. Would I use one on a project of mine, probably not.
No problem with your assessment. It is a very cheap but powerful PLC for the price. Yes, it is bottom of the line but covers a lot of needed area. Automation Direct has more powerful lines that do pretty much all needed (as long as you only use ladder logic)
@@WadeCountryLiving I think that it's major contribution is forcing the big companies to "protect their flanks" price-wise. It's forced them to come up with alternatives that while not being inexpensive by any measure, do give a few alternatives to the megabuck PLCs. So for that I am thankful. My current project is one where we are replacing the Rockwell PLC with a Turck because of the environment that it will be used in. That being Antarctica. It turns out that you can't leave your electronics behind during the off season (even unpowered) since the cold will destroy them. So at the end of the season you have to box up all of the electronics and put them in a relatively warm place (no colder than -40C). The old design had everything mounted in a huge Pelican box and the whole enchilada would be packed up and sent out. Our design will use a industrially rated server rack that uses 3U tray slides (rated for 500 pounds) and each "tray" will lay in the slide and be connected by Harding connectors. At the end of the season you simply pop off the connectors and put your "cookie sheets" (the trays are aluminum plates with the devices mounted to them, and kinda look like cookie sheets) into a bag and off you go. And of course it offers a simple backup/redundancy system where you could build up extra cookie sheets and drop them in if there is a problem. We currently have a reefer unit set up in the yard with a shaker that we are testing out. It's -15F (-26C) inside. And we have folks from all over the world coming out tomorrow to freeze their butts off. :)
Great analysis. I would add support is sub par and you do not have the option in the software to test the project, without purchasing the PLC. Also expecting modules for the click to meet their specs is a disaster waiting to happen. I will never use one again, except as an example of why you do not install junk.
@@mikeb4650 Thanks! :) I wanted a PLC that spoke "ASCII Modbus", which is what the AD Click documentation said that it did. What really happened was that AD left out the comma in the documentation, and it should have been "ASCII, RTU Modbus" or at least "ASCII, Modbus". Imagine my surprise. Ever write a ASCII Modbus routine for a PLC? I have. :) The AD engineer was less than helpful, not owning up to the error, or providing any useful support. I've had good support from AD (back when they were Koyo), but this guy, at least on that day, was a jerk. And it's a toy PLC. For what I was doing with it (data collection), it was fine. It wasn't going to take down civilization when it died.
My brother is an engineer and plays your videos on our living room TV. I found them very entertaining and informative. Great video!
Thanks. More are coming.
Videos are great, the equipment unfortunately is not.
This is one of the best structured PLC tutorial (Intro) i have seen. Great job. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Phillip
For only 18mins of video, this is the first explanation I’ve watched, in three weeks of UA-cam and LinkedIn learning, that didn’t give me anxiety and frustration. Most videos and courses, jump right into writing logic or showing how to connect to components that are not explained what they are or do.. I kept wishing that someone would give instructions with both the physical PLC and the software.
I’ve subscribed to your channels and will set notify for when you release new content.
Thanks for your quality contribution..
I'd be interested in your results, mine were THIS IS TOTAL GARBAGE. A waste of over $2,000.00. While EA9 and CO-ARE-D seem to work acceptably, adding the THM module FROM AUTOMATION DIRECT makes the system junk, dangerous, and most frustrating since technical support refuses to even answer simple questions. They do love to ask questions though I have determined these are designed to get me to do their job for them. Finding the defect in their equipment should not be left to the customer!!?
@mikeb4650 I went a different direction and used C++ to control a Teknic ClearCore machine controller. Using a programming language like C/C++ or python for machine automation control, has a superior benefit of community support and the skill of coding could be extended to other fields like software and application development
Phil;
You are probably the best guy to help me with a project.
I own a very old Relay-Logic automatic band saw I want to convert to PLC.
Trouble is the PLC videos are all focused on wiring the PLC, ladder logic and they stop short of that.
O.K. I have a signal to trip Relay 1... and that is where it ends.
Einstein figured out the theory of relativity. He brought the bricklayers, plumbers, electricians all under one roof with a common language. The Surveyors are still stuck on links and chains.
That is where you come in.
There's nothing out there in youtube-land that brings the PLC into the real world. Running motors, timers counters in sequence with all things addressed.
The practical side requires that I have to wire this up, sequence 3 or four motors and a counter with go-no go, analog inputs, ( Mechanical Limit Switches ) and possibly tag in a VFD or a servo/step motor that would crank the mechanical blade speed adjuster. Better to maintain the mechanical speed control rather than split wave it with the VFD and lose horsepower...
I'd want it to run independent. I'd want to set at the saw, my mechanical length stop, ( Grab it, set it, tighten knob )
It has a power fed roller vise that the material feeds out to hit the limit switch...Select number of cycles, in the case of VFD, set Feed per minute or motor RPM... so a display and input is needed.
Real world stuff. The saw is old, but the Iron and Motors are great. Saw weighs around 3,000# I think around 20 grand new.
There is nothing wrong with the way it was set up at all. But all the switches, buttons and stuff are so old, out of production and literally crumbling in my hands due to old age.
Perhaps we could collaborate with video support and do a project.
I have feed stock limit. Blade up limit. Blade down limit. Empty vise limit. Coolant pump on, off switch.
I need to power up, set fpm and all limit switches and part count at machine, and press cycle start.
If the saw runs out of material, I want it to wait for me and continue until cycle count is achieved.
You thoughts sir?
Thanks,
Mark
@@markrichardson239 I understand your problem. I have once replaced the relay logic of an automated band saw. It was a real pain because the wiring was so old and everything was greasy and full of metal dust. If I did go through all the trouble to a video on how to fo it, wiring diagram and programming, you and I would be the only ones watch to it. My videos focus on single concepts to develop beginning programmers. This would be too complicated for one of my videos.
@@WadeCountryLiving Thanks Phil; The video was a great help!
Mark
Well done Mr. Wade! You have provided a very methodical introduction to getting started with the CLICK PLC, from the point of reference of someone who is completely new to PLC's. Thank you!
.As someone who has worked extensively with Allen Bradley PC's, believe me , THIS IS JUNK.
Skip to 16:27 if you just want an introduction to the click software.
Skip completely if you want a quality system.
@@mikeb4650 Just trying to learn the programming, Sir. It looks like the click software is what I’m after. I don’t understand your quality system response.
@@garypoplin4599 Garry, as far as the programming goes it is an excellent learning tool. I worked with Allen Bradley for half a century and the click software is first rate. Incredibly easy to understand and translate. My issue is with the add on THM modules, the error allowance, and the communications, and most of all a module that is off by up to 15 deg F. I had to continually adjust my EA9 touch screen room set point to compensate for the drifting CLICK. Dispite TECHNICAL SUPPORTS insistence that the control's fine. I must have sent 20 pics and all they kept saying was do one crazy test after another. After some very choice superlatives I pulled out an old @% year old Watlow controler and bypassed that garbage click
Very helpful videos. I couldn't seem to find it - did you ever upload the Click communicating to the Banner radio?
Good point. That was a while back. If I remember correctly I had an issue with they Banner radio. It was old and did not want to communicate. I need to go back and follow that up.
@WadeCountryLiving thanks for the quick response. It always seems like it should be straight forward but then there is some minute detail that complicates the matter. Good luck.
@TheBrownDoggie I've used them a lot without problem. With 16 to 20 radios on a waste system and they work well as long as the antenna is not blocked
Great Job man
Awesome vid!
I'm a allen-bradley guy. looking to play with these for a home project video is a solid introduction. thanks
I was AB as well but did Siemens and Keyence. Software cost were ridiculous. I retired and decided to make these videos for something less expensive and easy to learn.
@@WadeCountryLiving I have seen all you video’s, your sr great! ( my mentor) I am very new at this,but I have task myself to learn PLC’s . For my indoor aquaculture system . Do you offer classes?
@@mattrayl1612 No. I'm just a retired guy that started making some videos on a subject that I thought could help industrial electricians move toward industrial programmers.
I worked with AB for over 40 years. I've spent over $2,000.00 on this junk, for a home project. Total frustration and teck support without any support. I'm on my THIRD THM module in under two years. This thing gives phantom readings when no thermocouple is attached!!! After two years I would be most interested in your evaluation of these things!
@@WadeCountryLiving Nice videos, for Never land or Cloud City they are exiting, In reality they are a financial and production nightmare. I worked with Allen Bradley for over 40 years and if given the software this click junk would be in the can. pure trash!!!
Great video 👍🏻
Great info 👍🏻
Amazing video...thank you sir!
Are you going to cover the Click Plus plc?
I just connected and it is giving ERR, what can I do?
Thank you for the tutorials
I ordered a click Mr Wade !!! Do you do paid lessons? I am running into snags
Snags? What kind?
Snags!!!! Thanks!!! That's like saying Titanic ran into a little snag! Wonderfully understated~!!!
I downloaded our program onto our replacement PLC and all of a sudden it started clicking. making a clicking noise. any idea why that is?
It has to be an output turning on and off
It could be a junk PLC! A bad power supply, errors in the program, or any number of errors, but junk from ADC is always a good bet!
You can get a 5 amp 24v DC power supply for $30
Having used the Click, here is my assessment:
Pro's:
It's cheap. You really can't touch it price-wise. That includes Pi's and their derivatives. The Pi might be cheaper, but the effort needed to harden the I/O on your Pi to survive the real world will blow your budget.
Software is free.
Support is also free.
Great way to get familiar with PLCs.
Con's
You have to stop the processor to load your program. In most places that's a non-starter.
The I/O while being "industrially hardened" (take that with a grain of salt), is nowhere near as durable as the I/O on a Turck. Or for that matter what GE used on their Genius I/O 30+ years ago. Keep in mind that it's on a par with Rockwell (AB) I/O, so it's not horrible by any stretch.
I used one for sending production counts and faults to a PC that was being used for data logging. For this purpose it worked great. The system that it was connected to was an old Gencor burner without any PLC controls of its own so there was a bit of integration involved. :) Modbus ASCII was used to communicate between the PC and the PLC.
Would I use one for playing around? Yes. Would I use one on a project of mine, probably not.
No problem with your assessment. It is a very cheap but powerful PLC for the price. Yes, it is bottom of the line but covers a lot of needed area. Automation Direct has more powerful lines that do pretty much all needed (as long as you only use ladder logic)
@@WadeCountryLiving I think that it's major contribution is forcing the big companies to "protect their flanks" price-wise. It's forced them to come up with alternatives that while not being inexpensive by any measure, do give a few alternatives to the megabuck PLCs. So for that I am thankful.
My current project is one where we are replacing the Rockwell PLC with a Turck because of the environment that it will be used in. That being Antarctica. It turns out that you can't leave your electronics behind during the off season (even unpowered) since the cold will destroy them.
So at the end of the season you have to box up all of the electronics and put them in a relatively warm place (no colder than -40C). The old design had everything mounted in a huge Pelican box and the whole enchilada would be packed up and sent out. Our design will use a industrially rated server rack that uses 3U tray slides (rated for 500 pounds) and each "tray" will lay in the slide and be connected by Harding connectors. At the end of the season you simply pop off the connectors and put your "cookie sheets" (the trays are aluminum plates with the devices mounted to them, and kinda look like cookie sheets) into a bag and off you go. And of course it offers a simple backup/redundancy system where you could build up extra cookie sheets and drop them in if there is a problem.
We currently have a reefer unit set up in the yard with a shaker that we are testing out. It's -15F (-26C) inside. And we have folks from all over the world coming out tomorrow to freeze their butts off. :)
Great analysis. I would add support is sub par and you do not have the option in the software to test the project, without purchasing the PLC. Also expecting modules for the click to meet their specs is a disaster waiting to happen. I will never use one again, except as an example of why you do not install junk.
@@mikeb4650 Thanks! :)
I wanted a PLC that spoke "ASCII Modbus", which is what the AD Click documentation said that it did.
What really happened was that AD left out the comma in the documentation, and it should have been "ASCII, RTU Modbus" or at least "ASCII, Modbus". Imagine my surprise. Ever write a ASCII Modbus routine for a PLC? I have. :)
The AD engineer was less than helpful, not owning up to the error, or providing any useful support. I've had good support from AD (back when they were Koyo), but this guy, at least on that day, was a jerk.
And it's a toy PLC. For what I was doing with it (data collection), it was fine. It wasn't going to take down civilization when it died.
@@MrWaalkman Thanks. good input is always required for good outputs.