ADDRESSES USED IN PLCS

Each symbol on a rung will have a reference number, which is

the address in memory where the current status (1 or 0) for
the referenced input is stored.
When a field signal is connected to an input or an output
interface, its address will be related to the terminal where the
signal wire is connected. The address for a given input/output
can be used throughout the program as many times as
required by the control logic. This PLC feature is an
advantage when compared to relay-type hardware, where
additional contacts often mean additional hardware.

ADDRESSES USED IN PLCS (cont.)

Figure (a) illustrates a simple electrical ladder circuit and its
equivalent PLC implementation. Each real field device
(e.g., push buttons PB1 and PB2, limit switch LS1, and pilot
light PL1) is connected to the PLCs input and output
modules (Figure b), which have a reference numberthe
address. Most controllers reference these devices using
numeric addresses with octal (base 8) or decimal (base 10)
numbering

Figure (a) Electrical ladder circuit and its

equivalent PLC implementation

Figure( b) Field devices from Figure 3-12 connected to I/O

module

ADDRESSES USED IN PLCS (cont.)

The same logic that applies to an electrical ladder circuit
applies to a PLC circuit. In the PLC control program, power
must flow through either addresses 30 (PB1) and 32 (LS1) or
through addresses 31 (PB2) and 32 (LS1) to turn ON output
40. Output 40, in turn, energizes the light PL1 that is
connected to the interface with address 40.

ADDRESSES USED IN PLCS (cont.)

In order to provide power to addresses 30, 31, or 32, the
devices connected to the input interfaces addressed 30, 31,
and 32 must be turned ON. That is, the push buttons must
be pressed or the limit switch must close.

CONTACT SYMBOLS USED IN

PLCS
Programmable

controller

contacts

and

electromechanical relay contacts operate in a very

similar fashion. For example, lets take relay A which
has two sets of contacts, one normally open contact (A1) and one normally closed contact (A-2). If relay coil A
is not energized (i.e., it is OFF), contact A-1 will remain
open and contact A-2 will remain closed

CONTACT SYMBOLS USED IN

PLCS (cont.)
Conversely, if coil A is energized, or turned ON, contact A-1
will close and contact A-2 will open. The blue lines
highlighting the coil and contacts denote an ON, or closed,
condition.

(a) Standard configuration for relay coil A with

normally open contact A-1 and normally closed
contact A-2.

CONTACT SYMBOLS USED IN

PLCS (cont.)

.Coil A de-energized

.Coil A energized

Relay and PLC contact symbols showing a relay

coil and normally open and normally closed
contacts.

CONTACT SYMBOLS USED IN

PLCS (cont.)
when a set of contacts closes, it provides power flow, or
continuity, in the circuit where it is used. Each set of
available coils and its respective contacts in the PLC
have a unique reference address by which they are
identified. For instance, coil 10 will have normally open
and normally closed contacts with the same address (10)
as the coil.

CONTACT SYMBOLS USED IN

PLCS (cont.)
Note that a PLC can have as many normally open and
normally closed contacts as desired; whereas in an
electromechanical relay, only a fixed number of contacts
are available.

Multiple contacts from a PLC output coil.

CONTACT SYMBOLS USED IN

PLCS (cont.)
A programmable controller also allows the multiple use
of an input device reference. Figure illustrates an
example in which limit switch LS1 is connected to
reference input module connection 20. Note that the
PLC control program can have as many normally open
and normally closed reference 20 contacts in as many
rungs as needed.

CONTACT SYMBOLS USED IN

PLCS (cont.)

Input 20 has multiple contacts in the PLC control program

CONTACT SYMBOLS USED IN

PLCS (cont.)
The symbols used to translate relay control logic to
contact symbolic logic. These symbols are also the basic
instruction set for the ladder diagram, excluding
timer/counter instructions.

The ladder diagram language is a symbolic instruction

set that is used to create PLC programs. The ladder
instruction symbols can be formatted to obtain the
desired control logic, which is then entered into
memory. Since this type of instruction set consists of
contact symbols, it is also referred to as contact
symbology.

The main functions of a ladder diagram program are to

control outputs and perform functional operations
based on input conditions. Ladder diagrams use rungs
to accomplish this control.
In general, a rung consists of a set of input conditions
(represented by contact instructions) and an output
instruction at the end of the rung (represented by a coil
symbol). The contact instructions for a rung may be
referred to as input conditions, rung conditions, or the
control logic

A continuous
continuity

path

is

required

for

logic

A ladder rung is TRUE (i.e., energizing an output or

functional instruction block) when it has logic continuity.
Logic continuity exists when power flows through the
rung from left to right. The execution of logic events that
enable the output provide this continuity. In a ladder
rung, the left-most side (left power line) simulates the L1
line of a relay ladder diagram, while the right-most side
(right power line) simulates the L2 line of the
electromechanical representation.

Continuity occurs when a path between these two lines

contains contact elements in a closed condition,
allowing power to flow from left to right. These contact
elements either close or remain closed according to the
status of their reference inputs

Illustration
of
several different
continuity paths
in a ladder rung

When a ladder diagram contains a functional block,

contact instructions are used to represent the input
conditions that drive (or enable) the blocks logic.
A functional block can have one or more enable inputs
that control its operation. In addition, it can have one or
more output coils, which signify the status of the
function being performed.

an enable block line, which when energized (i.e.,

continuity exists), will activate the block to perform the
instruction. Thus, this instruction says: IF the enable is
ON because the desired logic has continuity, THEN
execute the block instruction.

Depending on the instruction, other enable lines may

drive the block using reset or other control functions.

To make a block active at all times without any driving

logic, the user can omit all contact logic and place a
continuity line in the block during programming

The ladder rung matrix determines the maximum

number of ladder contact elements that can be used to
program a rung .The size of this matrix differs among
both PLC manufacturers and the programming devices
used. For functional block operations, a ladder matrix
may have less available ladder contact elements because
the functional block instruction display takes up room in
the matrix

In PLCs with enhanced ladder format functional

instructions instead of block-type instructions, the
ladder matrix may use one or more contact symbol
spaces to represent the instruction in the programming
device .

A ladder matrix represents all the possible locations

where a contact symbol instruction can be placed. The
programming device usually displays all of these possible
locations on the screen, allowing the user to place contact
symbols in the desired locations..

However, according to the maker of the PLC, certain

rules apply to contact placement.
One rule, which is present in almost all PLCs, prevents
reverse (i.e., right-to-left) power flow in a ladder rung
PLC logic does not allow reverse power to avoid sneak
paths.
Sneak paths occur when power flows in a reverse direction
through an undesired field device, thus completing a
continuity path. If a PLCs logic requires reverse power
flow, the user must reprogram the rung with forward
power flow to all contact elements

EXAMPLE
Solve the logic rung shown in Figure so that no reverse
power flow condition exists. The reverse condition is not
part of the required logic for the output to be energized.

SOLUTION
The forward power flow of the logic determines output
Y. Lets implement it using logic concepts. The output Y
is defined, using forward paths only, as:
Y = (A B C) + (A D E ) + (F E )
which can be minimized, using Boolean algebras
distributed rule, to
Y = A (B C +D E) + (F E)
shows the implementation of this logic gate, while
Figure gives the ladder-equivalent solution.

SOLUTION

Logic solution for the example

Solve the ladder logic shown in Figure 9-13 so that no

reverse power flow exists. Assume that the reverse path
logic through contact D and then forward through
contacts B and C is required in the PLC logic solution to
energize the output.