Welcome to The Automation Blog’s S7-1200 Content Guide which is an ordered list of all of our S7-1200 articles and videos.
Below you’ll find over 40 of our free articles and videos listed with thumbnails and excerpts. If you’d prefer a listing of titles only, click here.
Note: Our S7-1200/1500 Online course is now available here!
- Siemens – How To Find Your Local Automation Distributor
Since we expanded our coverage to include all industrial automation products last year, Siemens has been one of the most helpful vendors to work with. But if you’re new to Siemens like I am, you may not know who you’re local Siemens distributor is? To learn who it is, start by clicking on the below link to ...Read more... - Siemens – Quickly Find Documents and Downloads (D008)
Learn how to quickly find Siemens Documents and Downloads in Episode 8 of The Automation Demo (originally episode 4 of Automation Tech Tips.) For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. The Automation Demo Episode 8 Show Notes (originally Tech Tips Episode 4:) Special thanks to Luis from Siemens for coming on the show and ...Read more... - S7-1200 – Introduction
The Simatic S7-1200 is Siemens’s programmable controller aimed at stand-alone and basic automation applications, and is often referred to as their Basic or Compact controller. From my perspective as a long time Rockwell user, the S7-1200 seems to be most similar to the Allen-Bradley CompactLogix 5372 (L2) controllers as they both share an all-in-one design, include an SD/MicroSD Card ...Read more... - S7-1200 – Overview (P50)
In this episode of The Automation Podcast, Luis Narvaez from Siemens provides us with an overview of the S7-1200 line of PLCs: For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch the Podcast: The Automation Podcast is also available on most Video and Podcasting platforms, and direct links to each can be found here. Listen ...Read more... - S7 – Top Siemens PLC Manuals & Documentation
Early in my new online course on Siemens PLCs, I walk students through which of the tens of thousands of Manuals and Documents on the Siemens Industry Support Website that I as a new user found the most helpful. In today’s article I want to share some of those with you, specifically those manuals which a ...Read more... - S7 – Top Siemens PLC Manuals & Documentation (M5E26)
I cover the “must have” manuals that new users of Siemens S7 PLCs will want to have easy access to in this episode of The Automation Minute. The Automation Minute, Season 5 Episode 26 Show Notes: Episode Links: – Siemens Support Site – Siemens SIOS Tech Tip – Shawn’s article on this topic – Shawn’s S7 Course My Top Five S7 Manuals ...Read more... - S7-1200 – Essential Must-Have Manuals
To setup the S7-1200 PLCs used in my new online course, there was a lot of information I needed in order to install, wire, and test the CPUs and Modules. After spending hours sifting through the thousands of manuals available on the Siemens support website, I narrowed down the list of manuals that were vital to ...Read more... - S7-1200 – Essential Must-Have Manuals (M5E27)
I cover the “essential” S7-1200 manuals that new users will want to have quick access to in this episode of The Automation Minute. The Automation Minute, Season 5 Episode 27 Show Notes: Episode Links: – Siemens Support Site – Siemens SIOS Tech Tip – Shawn’s article on this topic – Shawn’s S7 Course My Top S7-1200 Manuals (as of 03/15/22): – S7-1200 Easy ...Read more... - S7-1200 – Most Helpful Siemens Links and Videos
Over the last few weeks I’ve received many helpful messages recommending webpages and videos to help me get started using the S7-1200, and in today’s article I’ll share those I found to be the most helpful. Note: If you’d like to suggest additional links be added to the list, please use the links at end of ...Read more... - S7-1200, Basic HMI – Starter Kit (S11)
In this week’s episode of The Automation Show we open a brand new Siemens S7-1200 PLC and Basic HMI Starter Kit: For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. The Automation Show, Episode 11 Show Notes: Siemens PLC and HMI Starter Kit Details: Description from the Siemens Industry Mall: S7-1200+KTP700 Basic starter kit Consisting of: ...Read more... - S7-1200FC – Failsafe Starter-Kit
Since the beginning of my career back in 2000, I have worked with quite a few different automation vendors and products. The first PLC I ever touched was an old Allen Bradley SLC 100, and the next was a SLC 500. Then I was on the startup team for a facility with ControlLogix in 2002, and ...Read more... - TIA Portal – How To Download A Free Trial
Have you ever wanted to check out TIA Portal from Siemens to see how their PLCs and HMIs program? Well the good news is anyone can get a free, twenty-one day trial of TIA Portal by creating a free account on the Siemens website without the need to call a salesperson or provide any personal information ...Read more... - TIA Portal – How To Download A Free Trial (2023, T007)
In this edition of Automation Tech Tips I walk through how to download the free trial of TIA Portal v18. NOTE: If you need to learn how to use TIA Portal, check out my S7 Level 1 PLC course. It comes with instructor support and never expires. Automation Tech Tip Video: Read more... - TIA Portal – Licensing and Opening for the First Time
In my first article on the Siemens Starter Kit, which includes the S7-1200 FailSafe CPU, I covered unboxing and contents, powering up the unit and loading the Simatic software. The next step seems to be to get the software licensed, so we will move right in and get the software ready to be of use. In the ...Read more... - TIA Portal – How To Activate Using A USB License
If your copy of TIA Portal Step 7 came with USB Memory Stick Floating License, you’ll need to move that license to your hard drive before you’ll be able to use Step 7. If you don’t, even with the USB stick installed you’ll get the following error when trying to open an existing project, or add ...Read more... - TIA Portal – How to install required .Net 3.5
If you’re trying to install TIA Portal Step 7 and you’re seeing a “.Net 3.5 SP1” required error, today I’ll walk you through how to install .Net 3.5, as well as what to do if the .Net installation hangs. Step 01) The easiest way to install .Net is through the “Programs and Features” applet in Windows ...Read more... - S7-1200 – How To Set The IP Address Of A New PLC (S16)
In this week’s episode of The Automation Show, we take a look at how you set the IP Address of a new Siemens S7-1200: For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. The Automation Show, Episode 16 Show Notes: Related Articles: How To Activate TIA Portal Step 7 Using A USB License (article) Siemens PLC and ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7 – Add a CPU, Configure, and Download
In my last few articles I’ve covered unboxing my new Siemens Starter Kit, assembling the hardware, connecting power, installing and licensing the TIA Portal software, and creating my first project. In this article, I will continue with the journey by connecting to the CPU so I can add it to my new TIA Portal project. Under the ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7 – Going Online, Run Mode, LED & CPU Status
In the last article I ended after compiling and downloading to the S7 1200. In this article, I am going online with the CPU, changing the Mode to “RUN” and exploring the status information and general properties of the CPU. There are so many options, parameters and tabs in the CPU properties, I will only be able ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7-1200 – Creating your first PLC Program (S19)
In this week’s episode of The Automation Show, I walk new users through how to create their first Siemens S7-1200 Ladder Logic Program: For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. The Automation Show, Episode 19 Show Notes: Special thanks to Siemens for sending us the S7-1200 starter pack! Related Articles: How To Activate TIA Portal ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7 – Flashing Lights Program
I was nineteen years old the first time I ever used a computer and learned the possibilities of what would be my career ahead, but young people today have an advantage. They have used phones, tablets and laptops since a very early age. All it takes is a little interest and they have the background to ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7 – Home Sprinkler System Program
In my previous articles I’ve covered installing and licensing the TIA Portal software, setting up and configuring the CPU and I/O modules, as well as compiling and downloading a program, and then going online with the S7-1200 CPU. With those necessary first steps out of the way, I’m able to get down to doing some programming, ...Read more... - IFM, S7-1200 – Encoder to HSC (S50A)
Learn how to connect and use an Encoder with an S7-1200 High Speed Counter Input in TIA Portal in this episode of The Automation Show. For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. The Automation Show, Episode 50A Show Notes: A huge thank you to IFM for sending in the RVP510 Encoder, and to ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7-1200 – Signal Modules: First Time Using (S48)
Learn how to add and use Siemens S7-1200 Signal Modules in this episode of The Automation Show. For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. The Automation Show, Episode 48 Show Notes: A huge thank you to Siemens for sending in the S7-1200 modules for us to use on the Show! Support our site ...Read more... - Siemens Distributed IO Overview (P84)
My guest this week is Raj Rajendra of Siemens who introduces us to Siemens Distributed IO in Episode 84 of The Automation Podcast. For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch the Podcast: The Automation Podcast is also available on most Video and Podcasting platforms, and direct links to each can be found ...Read more... - Siemens Motion Control Overview (P95)
Kevin Wu introduces us to the Motion Control Capabilities of Siemens PLCs in Episode 95 of The Automation Podcast. For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch the Podcast: The Automation Podcast is also available on most Video and Podcasting platforms, and direct links to each can be found here. Listen to the Podcast: The ...Read more... - S7 – How To Add Profinet I/O & Drives (S24)In this week’s episode of The Automation Show, John DeTellem walks us through how to add PROFINET (Ethernet) I/O and Drives to an S7-1500 using TIA Portal: For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. The Automation Show, Episode 24 Show Notes: Special thanks to John DeTellem at Siemens for sharing this video with ...Read more...
- Tag Names – Eliminating The Need For Program Comments
There are a couple of different ways of thinking when it comes to in-program documentation, particularly the use of comments. One main methodology I see is to use documentation liberally (since it’s free), placing comments on as many rungs as desired. The other methodology is that less is more, with more emphasis placed on variable tags and ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7 – String Selection from Binary Input
Do you have a machine that you need to get data from? And do you need to send that data to another device but the machine lacks networking capabilities? In this article I’ll show how to get data a your machine into a Siemens S7-1214C PLC by using the machine’s existing outputs to select which data ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7 – PID_Compact Technology Object
So far in this series I’ve created a functioning PLC program in my S7-1200, and an HMI project in my Basic Panel to manipulate and operate the program. Now I’m looking to enhance my application and dig a little deeper into accomplishing things that I would want to use in an industrial setting. One such objective would ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7 – Using Function Blocks
When we develop programs in any application, it’s important for the project to be as efficient, as consistent, and as accurate as possible. Something that Siemens has incorporated into their PLC’s to help with efficiently is the ability to create Function Blocks. I have shown this one time prior in my first programming article for the S7 ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7 – Writing your first SCL Code in TIA Portal
Sometimes it’s hard writing PLC code in LAD (ladder logic) or FBD (function block diagram). Especially, if you have to do some math work or mass operations. In these cases you can easily use SCL/ST (Structured Control Language/Structured Text.) Writing your first TIA code in SCL: Step 1 – Create or open TIA project Just like programming LAD or ...Read more... - S7 PLCsim
While you are programming an automation application, it is sometimes useful to do some coding without the real hardware in the field, for example with a cup of fresh coffee at the warm office. Sure, you can disassemble the machine and put the hardware on your desk. But to help you avoid doing so, TIA Portal ...Read more... - S7 PLCsim Advanced
While you are programming an automation application, it is sometimes useful to do some coding without the real hardware in the field, for example with a cup of fresh coffee at the warm office. Sure, you can disassemble the machine and put the hardware on your desk. But to help you avoid doing so, TIA Portal ...Read more... - S7 PLCSim, TIA Portal v18 – Create and Test PLC Programs (T010)
In this edition of Automation Tech Tips, I walk through how to create your first PLC Program in TIA Portal v18, and then run it inside of the free PLCSim software. NOTE: If you need to learn how to use the S7 PLC, check out my S7 PLC Course. It comes with instructor support and never ...Read more... - PROFINET Technical Overview (P53)
In this episode of The Automation Podcast, Thomas Haneder from Siemens provides us with a technical overview of PROFINET: For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch the Podcast: The Automation Podcast is also available on most Video and Podcasting platforms, and direct links to each can be found here. Listen to the Podcast: The ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7 – Exchange Data Between Simatic PLCs on Different Subnets
Easy data exchange between two Siemens Simatic S7 PLCs on different Ethernet subnets using a PN/PN Coupler Suppose you have two Simatic S7 PLCs, like a S7-1200 and S7-300, on different Ethernet subnets and you need to exchange some data between them. An extremely easy way to do this is to use a PN/PN coupler device. The PN/PN ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7 – Read and Write to ControlLogix Tags from a Siemens PLC
I would think that it would be extremely nice to have an entire manufacturing environment using the exact same control system with the same hardware and software throughout, but I can imagine that there are very few, if any, systems that are this seamless. When multiple control systems are working together to automate equipment, it is ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7 – Using the SCATTER and GATHER Blocks to format ControlLogix Tag Values in a Siemens PLC
In my last article, I went through the necessary steps to read and write data to and from tags in a ControlLogix via a program in a Siemens S7 PLC. In today’s article I’ll go a step further and implement the communication into an application as it could be used in a real life scenario. Logic in ...Read more... - TIA Portal, S7 – Read CompactLogix or ControlLogix Tags Over Ethernet (S2E05)
Today I create a Siemens S7 PLC Program using TIA Portal Step 7 to read tag values from a ControlLogix over Ethernet (TAS2 E5.) For more information including product links, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. The Automation Show, Season 2 Episode 5 Show Notes: Link to LCCF mentioned in video: App Example 109782317 Link to ...Read more... - S7-1200, Profinet – Communicating to a Third Party Device (Q&A)
In this edition of “Community Q & A,” one of our readers sent in a question about how to go about using a third party product on Profinet with an S7-1200. Note: To see a list of all our ControlLogix videos and articles, click HERE. Community Question: What is the easiest way to configure 128 bytes out of ...Read more... - TIA Portal – v18: What’s New (P132)
This week our guest is John DeTellem from Siemens, and he covers What’s New in TIA Portal V18 in Episode 132 of The Automation Podcast. For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch the Podcast: The Automation Podcast is also available on most Video and Podcasting platforms, and direct links to each can ...Read more... - TIA Portal – v17: Cause and Effect Matrix (P125)
Ron Knight from Prism Systems and John DeTellem from Siemens introduce us to the Cause and Effect Matrix in TIA Portal v17 in Episode 125 of The Automation Podcast. For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch the Podcast: The Automation Podcast is also available on most Video and Podcasting platforms, and direct ...Read more... - Siemens Products – What’s New from this week’s Virtual Tour (May 2022) (S2E03)
In today’s video I share my top picks from this week’s Factory Automation Virtual Tour presented by Siemens (TAS2 E3) For more information check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. The Automation Show, Season 2 Episode 3 Show Notes: View all of this week’s sessions through the end of June using the below link: – Siemens Factory ...Read more... - TIA Portal – v17: What’s New (M5E14)
We take a quick look at what’s new with Siemens PLCs in this episode of The Automation Minute. The Automation Minute, Season 5 Episode 14 Show Notes: Check out the full session video at the Siemens Innovation’s website here. Join our new community at Automation.Locals.com! Become part of our community to take part in the Q&A as well as get ...Read more... - Siemens PLCs, HMIs – What’s New (July 2020) (S43)
In this episode of The Automation Show I share my top picks from the Siemens Manufacturing In America 2020 virtual event’s PLC and HMI presentations: For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. The Automation Show, Episode 43 Show Notes: Quick Link to the Siemens Manufacturing In America 2020 website: TheAutomationBlog.com/MIA2020 Note: The above link redirects ...Read more... - Siemens PLCs – What’s New at MIA (June 2020)
I recently had a chance to sit down and check out some of the Siemens presentations from their Manufacturing In America 2020 virtual event. In today’s article I’ll highlight the slides that caught my attention from the presentation titled, “FA1: The Latest Advancements in SIMATIC PLC, IO, and Motion” (Note: To see a complete list of products ...Read more... - TIA Portal – v17: What’s New (P71)
In this episode of The Automation Podcast, I sit down with John DeTellem and Luis Narvaez with Siemens to learn what’s new in TIA Portal v17. For more information, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch the Podcast: The Automation Podcast is also available on most Video and Podcasting platforms, and direct links to each ...Read more...
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