PLC-5

PLC-5 – Why is 1771 I/O Addressed in Octal? (qa230130)

Automation Q & A for 01/30/23: Recently I was asked why a PLC-5's I/O is addressed in Octal, and I answer that question in today's Automation Q&A below: NOTE: If you need to learn how to use and program the PLC-5, check out my Ultimate PLC-5 online course. It comes with support...

MQTT – Connect A-B PLCs & PACs to the Cloud (S2E01)

Learn how to connect A-B PLCs to the Cloud using an MQTT Gateway today on The Automation Show (S2E01) For more information, check out the "Show Notes" located below the video. [vimeo 650808618 w=750 h=420] The Automation Show, Season 2 Episode 1 Show Notes: Special thanks to RTA for sending in a sample...

Migrate / Convert – PLC-5, SLC-500, and MicroLogix Programs to RSLogix/Studio 5000 and Logix Controllers

Recently one of our readers submitted a question asking for help migrating from a legacy Rockwell PLC (aka PLC-5 or SLC-500) to their new PAC lines (ControlLogix and CompactLogix.) In his email he went on to say he needed help because he didn't have a copy of the Project Migrator,...

FTLinx, RSLinx Enterprise – DH+ / Data Highway Plus Timeouts (Q&A)

In this edition of "Community Q & A" (formerly "Insight's Inbox",) I discuss with one of our community members at automation.locals.com what might be causing one of his Data Highway Plus devices to keep timing out. Note: To see a list of all our Data Highway Plus videos and articles,...

Ask Me Anything about the PLC-5

After getting my electronics degree over thirty years ago, I landed my first job in the industrial automation industry as an Inside Technical Specialist. That job was basically a technical support position with some sales functions mixed-in. At the time I had no idea that what a PLC was,  but...

Converting PLC-5 Ladder Programs to ControlLogix

As I was entering kindergarten in 1986, Allen Bradley was releasing one of the first platforms that could be programmed by a personal computer, the PLC-5. Fast forward thirty-one years later to 2017, Allen Bradley discontinued support of these processors after a long tenure of robust, solid performance. Even though they...

RSView32 – Ethernet to Data Highway Plus (DHP, DH+) Communications to SLC-5/04 and PLC-5 using 1756 Gateway (S36)

In this week's episode of The Automation Show, I cover how to use RSView32 Works to read and display data from a SLC-5/04 and PLC-5 on Data Highway Plus over Ethernet through a Logix Gateway: For more information, check out the "Show Notes" located below the video.  The Automation Show, Episode...

PLC-5 – Updating Redundant Programs

With so many generations of control equipment on the plant floor, a control engineer can be called to look at many different models of control equipment in the same day. Each piece of control equipment, even by the same manufacturer, will have great or slight differences of operation and methods...

FTLinx, RSLinx Enterprise, ViewME – DH+ / Data Highway Plus to ControlLogix, SLC-5/04, & PLC-5 (S35)

In this week's episode of The Automation Show, I cover how to use View Studio to create and download a PanelView Plus program to read data from a ControlLogix, SLC-5/04 and PLC-5 over a Data Highway Plus network: For more information, check out the "Show Notes" located below the video.  The...

PanelView Standard – Data Highway Plus (DHP, DH+) Communications to SLC-5/04 and PLC-5 (S32)

In this week's episode of The Automation Show, I cover how to use PanelBuilder 32 to create and download a PanelView Standard program to read data from a SLC-5/04 and PLC-5 over a Data Highway Plus network: For more information, check out the "Show Notes" located below the video.  The Automation...

Message (MSG) – ControlLogix Reading Data Over Data Highway Plus (DH+, DHP) from PLC-5, SLC-500 (S27)

In this week's episode of The Automation Show, I cover how you can use the MSG (Message) Instruction in the ControlLogix to read data from the PLC-5 and SLC-500 over a Data Highway Plus network: For more information, check out the "Show Notes" located below the video.  The Automation Show, Episode...

Migrate / Convert – Leaving Your Legacy Control Equipment

Some will argue that there's no reason to remove part of a control system that today is running as good as it has for the last twenty years (or longer.) Especially when that legacy hardware has been as durable as any tank used during Desert Storm, and runs as well...

DF1 to Ethernet Bridge, Message (MSG): Send Data Between DF1 and Ethernet Devices using 515RTAENI (S04)

In today's episode of The Automation Show, we walk through how to message between DF1 and Ethernet devices using the 515RTAENI from Real Time Automation. For more information, check out the "Show Notes" located below the video. [vimeo 368583535 w=750 h=420] The Automation Show, Episode 4 Show Notes: NOTE: Would you like your product featured...

DF1 to Ethernet Bridge: 515RTAENI First Look (S03)

In today's episode of The Automation Show, I setup a 515RTAENI DF1 to Ethernet bridge from Real Time Automation. For more information, check out the "Show Notes" located below the video. [vimeo 368586174 w=750 h=420] The Automation Show, Episode 3 Show Notes: NOTE: Would you like your product featured on the Show and Blog? If...

How To Enable Legacy PLCs In Integrated Architecture Builder

So you've updated Rockwell's Integrated Architecture Builder to gain access to new devices like the 5580 and 5380 Controllers. Then later you realize you can no longer create projects with older controllers like the ControlLogix 5560, CompactLogix L23 and L3x, and the PLC-5. Fortunately, the good folks over at Rockwell provide...

RSLinx, MSExcel – Get A-B Programmable Controller Data into Microsoft Excel using RSLinx Classic

In Today's article I'll walk you through how you can bring Allen-Bradley Programmable Controller Data into Microsoft Excel 2016 using RSLinx Classic. NOTE: The below procedure works with any licensed copy of RSLinx Classic, including Single Node, OEM, and Gateway shown below. However, it will not work with the free "Lite"...

RSLinx, MSExcel – Get A-B Programmable Controller Data into Microsoft Excel using RSLinx Classic (M4E41)

In this episode I demonstrate how to use RSLinx Classic to get data from Allen-Bradley Programmable Controllers into Microsoft Excel (Episode 41 of The Automation Minute Season 4:) [vimeo 468369524 w=640 h=360] If you've found this video helpful, checkout my training courses here. Check out our Video Collection #1 here, which includes...

Ethernet – How to “Ping” a PLC

PLCs of all shapes and sizes now come with Ethernet communications built-in. And one of the easiest ways to insure you have network connectivity between your PC and PLC (or other device) is to "Ping" it. In today's article I'll walk you through the simple steps needed to quickly "Ping" your...

USB to Data Highway Plus (DHP, DH+) – Setup RSLinx with ANC-120e and Download to PLC-5 and SLC-500 using RSLogix

So you need to know how to setup RSLinx Classic to communicate via USB over Data Highway Plus to an Allen-Bradley PLC-5 or SLC-5/04? Well you're in luck as in today's article I'll walk you step to setup through how to setup RSLinx as well as the ANC-120e USB to DH+ cable...

PLC-5, RSLinx Classic – Setup DF1 Serial Communications And Download

So you need to know how to setup RSLinx Classic to communicate over serial with an Allen-Bradley PLC-5 so you can download or go online with RSLogix? Well you're in luck as in today's article I'll walk you step to setup through how to setup RSLinx as well as how to download...