MICRO RANGE PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC

CONTROLLER
MODULE 4: HARDWARE LINKING

 Allen-Bradly SLC 500 series: SLC 5/01, SLC 5/02, SLC 5/03, SLC 5/04, and SLC
5/05. This blog post summarizes the different ways that you can connect to these
PLCs and some of the pitfalls to look out for.

Checking Your Settings

If you have access to the original PLC program (typically a .RSS file) and a copy of
the RSLogix 500 programming software (contact your A-B distributor if you need
one), you can open the project and check the communication settings by double-
clicking on Channel Configuration under the controller section of the project tree:

Channel Configuration in RSLogix 500

However, as is often the case with legacy systems, if you don't have the program
handy, you can usually figure out how to connect by method of elimination and a bit
of luck.
Finding the Right Cables

SLC 500 Connectivity Comparison

As you can see, each model features a slightly different set of physical ports and
protocols. The two most common ways to connect are DH-485 and DF1. The SLC
5/01, 5/02, and 5/03 use DH-485 via their RS485 8-pin RJ45 jack (which is the same
physical connector as Ethernet, but it won't work if you plug it directly into your
computer!).

Additionally, the 5/03, 5/04, and 5/05 have an RS232 DB9 port that MAY be
configured for DH-485, but it will be set to DF1 by default and can also be configured
for ASCII and Modbus RTU. You'll notice the 5/05 also has an RJ45 port, but this is
for Ethernet, NOT DH-485.

DF1
All you need is a regular female-to-female null modem crossover DB9 serial cable,
and a USB to RS232 adapter if your computer does not have a serial port. The official
A-B cable is 1747-CP3.
DH-485
This protocol requires a special USB converter, the 1747-UIC, which you can order
from A-B or find a number of 3rd party versions online. In addition, you will need the
female-to-female null modem crossover DB9 serial cable or a straight-through RJ45
ethernet cable, depending on which port you want to connect to. Make sure you also
set the selector switch to RS232 or RS 485.

There is one potential pitfall: the default baud rate for DH485 is 19200, and this is
what you will find most of the time. However, it is possible to configure it in the PLC
settings to be 1200, 2400, or 9600 baud at as well.

The 1747-UIC adapter only supports 19200 baud out of the box. If you have an
original A-B unit, it is possible to change to the baud rate to 9600 by following the
steps in this Rockwell knowledgebase document (requires creating a free account and
logging in).

Setting Up Drivers in RSLinx

You will need to set up the connection in the RSLinx software. It comes installed as
part of RSLogix 500, or you can download RSLinx Classic Lite for free from
Rockwell. 

Once you plug in your cable and Windows installs any necessary drivers, it should
show up in Device Manager as a COM port. Open RSLinx and go
to Communications -> Configure Drivers.

DF1
From the drop-down, select RS-232 DF1 devices and click Add New. Select the right
COM port and click Auto-Configure. The driver should be able to figure out the
correct settings.
DH-485
From the drop-down, select DH485 UIC devices and click Add New. Select the right
COM port and click OK.

If everything worked, your PLC should show up, and you should be able to
open RSLogix, go online, and upload and download programs.

Summary of Allen-Bradley PLC Cables and Protocols

DETAILS ABOUT PROTOCOL :-
AB_DF-1
This driver provides connectivity to PLC 5, SLC & MicroLogix devices via Allen-
Bradley DF1 protocol. 
Protocols Supported:

 Allen-Bradley DF1 Full-Duplex Protocol

 Allen-Bradley DF1 Half-Duplex Protocol
 Allen-Bradley DF1 Radio Modem Protocol (Point-to-Point or Multi-Drop)

Physical Networks Supported:

 RS-232 Serial Point-to-Point (Full-Duplex)

 RS-422/485 Multi-Drop (Half-Duplex)
 Serial Radio Modem (Half-Duplex or Radio Modem Protocol)
 DH+ (via KF2 Module - DF1-to-DH+ Converter)
 DH+ (via USB DF1-to-DH+ Converter 1784-U2DHP)
 DH-485 (via KF3 Module - DF1-to-DH-485 Converter)
 Ethernet Encapsulated Serial

Maximum Number of Channels & Devices Supported:

 Channels - 100
  Devices - 256 per Channel
 COM Port Range - 1 to 256

Standard Features:

 Open Address Range Support for Compatibility with all PLC 5, SLC 5/05 and
MicroLogix controllers
 Array Addressing Support
 Supports all File Types (Output/Input/Integer/Etc. - For Full Addressing List,
 Supports data types such as Float, Long Word, and BCD (File Type
Dependant)
o MicroLogix/SLC Models:  Supports Float Access to Integer (N) Files
 Configurable Error Checking (CRC or BCC)
 See CSV Import to build your tag configuration quickly
 Tag configuration supports dynamic tags from your client application

TCP-1 :-

The Allen Bradley PCCC (TCP/IP) driver allows the FieldServer to transfer data to
and from devices over Allen Bradley PCCC (TCP/IP) Ethernet protocol. The
FieldServer can emulate either a Server or Client. The information that follows
describes how to expand upon the factory defaults provided in the configuration files
included with the FieldServer.
HARDWARE/SOFTWARE

Supplied by FieldServer Technologies for this Driver

Hardware connections:-

Make sure the device IP_address is configured to be on the same IP network as the
FieldServer. Use a crossover cable if the FieldServer is connected directly to the PLC
device. Use a straight cable if the FieldServer is connected to a hub. Configure the
PLC according to manufacturer’s instructions