Introducing PLC programming devices
These are devices or tools used to write, edit, and dump programs to the PLC. They can also help in troubleshooting PLCs. There are two common programming devices:
- Handheld devices
- Personal Computers (PCs)
Handheld devices are usually connected to the PLC via a cable. They consist of keys for entering a program, editing a program, and dumping or delivering a program to the PLC. They also consist of a small display for viewing instructions. They are small in size and have limited capability.
A PC is the most popular programming device. A programming software from the PLC manufacturer can be installed on a PC for writing a program, editing a program, and dumping or delivering a program to the PLC. A (communication) cable is also required between the PC and PLC. We will focus on using a PC as a programming device in this book.
Let’s proceed to learn about PLC programming software.
Looking at the different PLC programming software
In Chapter 7...