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How can you use analog 0-20 mA signal modules and signal boards with 4-20 mA signals?
Entry ID:42087579 Date:2010-03-29
S7-1200 Digital/analog signal modules -- Setting up and parameterizing hardware -- Initializing and
parameterizing modules
How can you use analog 0-20 mA signal modules and signal boards with 4-20 mA
signals?
How can you use analog 0-20 mA signal modules and signal boards with 4-20 mA signals?
Description
You can use analog 4-20 mA input and output signals with the analog 0-20 mA signal modules and
signal boards. You can scale the signal range of the analog inputs and outputs using the
"Scale_current_input" and "Scale_current_output" predefined functions (FCs), which you can find
attached to this FAQ.
Adding the "Scale_current" Global library
1. Download the attached library, and unzip it. Open the "Libraries" task card.
2. Click the "Open global library" button. The "Open global library" dialog window opens.
3. Browse for the "Scale_current" library folder, and open the "Scale_current.al10" file. Now, the
library is displayed in the "Global libraries" pane in the "Libraries" task card.

Fig. 01
Scaling of the analog input
The range of 0-20 mA without the "Scale_current_input" instruction corresponds to the PLCs internal
signal range of 0-27648. The "Scale_current_input" instruction adapts this internal range to 4-20 mA
linearly, starting with "0" for 4 mA and ending up with "27648" for 20 mA. A limit for wire break

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monitoring can be chosen by hand.

Fig. 02
No. Scaling of the analog input
1. Insert the "Scale_Current_input" instruction into a network
Browse the Global libraries tree for the "Scale_current_input" FC. Drag and drop this FC into a
network of your S7-1200 PLC program.

Fig. 03
2. Scaling the analog input signal
Connect the contact "w_input_0-20mA" (2) to your analog hardware input (for example, IW96).
You receive the scaled value at the contact "r_input_4-20mA" (4).
Note
For any input value lower than 4 mA the signal at "r_input_4-20mA" (4) will be set to "0".
Accordingly, any input values higher than 20 mA will not exceed the maximum of "27648".

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Fig. 04
3. Wire break monitoring
At the contact "r_wire_break_limit" (1), enter the limit for the wire break monitoring. The value
"2764.8" for example will set the wire break limit to 2 mA. This means, if your input current is
lower than 2 mA, the contact "b_wire_break" (3) will be set to "1".
Table 01
Scaling of the analog output
The range of 0-20 mA without the "Scale_current_input" instruction corresponds to the PLC1 internal
signal range of 0-27648.
The Scale_current_output" instruction adapts this internal range to 4-20 mA linearly, starting with 4
mA for "0" and ending up with 20 mA for "27648".

Fig. 05
No. Scaling of the analog output
1. Insert the "Scale_current_output" instruction into a network
Browse the Global libraries tree for the "Scale_current_output" FC. Drag and drop this FC into a

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network of your S7-1200 PLC program.

Fig. 06
2. Scaling the analog input signal
Connect the contact "r_output_4-20mA" (1) to your software value. You receive the scaled
value at the contact "w_output_0-20mA" (2) to send it to your analog hardware output (for
example, QW96).
Note
For any input value lower than "0", the signal at "w_output_0-20mA" will be set to 4mA.
Accordingly, any input values higher than "27648"will not exceed the maximum of 20mA.

Fig. 07
Table 02
Requirements

S7-1200 PLC
Ethernet cable
signal board / signal module for analog output / input
STEP 7 Basic V10.5

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S7-1200_Scale_current.zip ( 348 KB )
Entry ID:42087579 Date:2010-03-29
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