LABORATORY OF

PROGRAMMABLE CONTROLLERS

ET 712 (AC motor control)

L1
L2
L3

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
+24V
K1 K2 K3 K4
SK1 SK2 SK3 SK4

0V I5 I6 I7 I8

0V

+24V
M
3~
1. PROBLEM STATEMENT

The work of an alternating current (AC) motor is simulated by means of a didactic panel ET 712.
The front board of the panel shows a connection diagram of the drive. Its essential part is a three -
phase asynchronous squirrel - cage motor, widely applied to high - power drives. The task of this
laboratory exercise is to write a PLC program that should perform the functions presented below.

Start the motor with the Y-connection

Pressing the SR button (Start Right) or SL button (Start Left) activates the coil K3 (Y-connection).
After about 0.2s the coils K1 or K2 are activated according to the chosen direction of rotation (right
or left).

Switching to the -connection

After about 3s of working with the Y-connection, the motor reaches the proper rotation speed to be
switched over to the -connection. The K3 is off, and 0.2s later the K4 is switched on. This delay
protects the motor against the short-circuit and welding of conductors.

Stop the motor

The motor is stopped after pressing the ST (STop) button. The PLC program switches off all the
coils at the very moment.

Change of the direction

To change the direction of the AC motor’s rotation, any two mains cables have to be changed. On
the panel, it is performed by switching-over the coils K1 and K2. The direction of the motor’s
rotation may be changed only by switching from Y to delta connection. Hence, a change of the
direction must be preceded by pressing the ST button.

Overload
Pressing the UB (overload) button implies a simulation of an additional braking torque, what causes
the overload of the motor:
• In the case when the motor is working with the Y-connection, pressing the overload button
implies an instantaneous motor disconnection from the mains.
• In the case when the motor is working with the -connection, short overloads (up to 3s) are
ignored, but long overloads (over 3s) cause that the motor must be stopped (all the coils off).
• Restart of the motor is available only after pressing the ST button.

Preservations and interlocks

Considering the security requirements, the PLC program should contain the following preservations
and interlocks:
• Outputs of the PLC that control the K1 - K4 relays block each other, i.e. Q1 blocks Q2, Q3
blocks Q4 and vice versa.
• Signals I5 - I8 that confirm the state of the coils are used for supervising the work of the drive.
“L” and “R” buttons and signal lamps
The “L” and “R” buttons can be applied to generate additional input signals to the PLC. They can
simulate the activation of the limit switches. The “LL” and “LR” lamps show states of the limit
switches and they can be optionally applied to indicate the signals from the PLC. The program
should meet the following requirements:
• Pressing the R button while the motor is rotating right means that the right limit position has
been achieved. This should be indicated by the LR lamp and, at the same time, the drive should
be stopped.
• Now it is possible to start the drive to the opposite (left) direction by pressing the SL button.
While starting to the left, the right limit switch is off as well as the LR lamp.
• The motor rotates left until the left limit position is achieved (the L button is pressed). This stops
the motor and switches the LL lamp on.
• Now it is possible to start the drive to the opposite (right) direction by pressing the SR button.
While starting to the right, the left limit switch is off as well as the LL lamp.

Automatic change of the direction

The PLC program takes over the service of the limit switches:
• Starting the motor activates a timer. After a specified time interval, the timer activates all the
functions that were manually performed by pressing the R or L buttons in the previous example.
• The timer should be activated after every change of the direction of rotation.

2. LIST OF VARIABLES

PLC inputs
The inputs of the PLC are the outputs of the panel. They inform the PLC about the state of an
electric motor (contacts) and operator’s orders (push - buttons). A list of inputs used in this exercise
is presented in a table below.

I1 push - button SR Start Right contact normally open +24

I2 push - button SL Start Left contact normally open +24
I3 push - button ST STop contact normally closed +24
I4 push - button UB overload contact normally closed +24
I5 confirmation contact SK1 State of K1 contact normally open +24
I6 confirmation contact SK2 State of K2 contact normally open +24
I7 confirmation contact SK3 State of K3 contact normally open +24
I8 confirmation contact SK4 State of K4 contact normally open +24
I9 push - button L Left limit switch contact normally open +24
I10 push - button R Right limit switch contact normally open +24

PLC outputs
Outputs of the PLC (i.e. inputs of the panel) control the motor. They are listed below.

Q1 K1 control of the coil K1 (right) 0V = off / +Us = on

Q2 K2 control of the coil K2 (left) 0V = off / +Us = on
Q3 K3 control of the coil K3 (Y) 0V = off / +Us = on
Q4 K4 control of the coil K4 ( ) 0V = off / +Us = on
Q5 LL signal Lamp Left 0V = off / +Us = on
Q6 LR signal Lamp Right 0V = off / +Us = on