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American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB)

EEE 4101: Control Systems Laboratory

Exp# 9: An Introduction to Industrial Programmable Controllers Using PC45/ML. (Part II) Objective
Objective of this experiment are To learn the use of timers and counters.

Equipment list
The PC45/ML module contains following items: 1. Allen-Bradley MicroLogix 1500 Programmable Controller. 2. PC45 Programmable Controller Trainer. 3. PC45 Accessory kit. 4. PC49 Hand held compressor pump.

Introduction-Timers and Counters

Timers are used to insert delays. Timers are enabled so that an output can be activated after a certain time. During the time the timer is enabled, it continuously increments its accumulator value by the timing step, until it reaches the preset value. Counters count events. Every time it is activated, it increments or decrements the accumulator value by one, unless it reaches the preset value. When a timer or a counter reaches the preset value a DONE (denoted as DN in the ladder logic diagrams) signal becomes active. To restart timing or counting, the reset signals have to be active (denoted as RES in the ladder logic diagrams). A timer is activated by a latched input. That is why it cannot be simply activated by a switch or an active sensor. However, a counter is generally activated by a switch or an active sensor. The following figure illustrates this. Note that the input and output addresses are not the real addresses of the PLC-they are just used to illustrate the above point.

Prepared by Shahriyar Masud Rizvi

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Timers

Counters

I8

O12 L

I8 CU/CD

O12 RTO END

END I9 CU/CD

END

Procedure
The following programming exercises will require timers and counters. Note that the timers should be named as T4:0, T4:1 etc. and counters should be named as C5:0, C5:1 etc. The timers that should be used here is the Retentive Timer ON (RTO). The counters that should be used are Up Counter (CU) or Down Counter (CD). Programming Exercise 1: Some objects including both tall and short objects-are passing through the conveyor. Develop a program that starts the conveyor when green switch is turned on and stops the conveyor after detecting 5 tall objects. Programming Exercise 2: Develop a program that starts the conveyor when green switch is turned on and stops the conveyor after 5 seconds. . Lab Report: Write a lab report explaining how the each program works.

Prepared by Shahriyar Masud Rizvi