RSLogix 5000 Analog Input Programming | Wiring Scaling Tutorial for PLC Analog Input Signal Example

Summary

This tutorial focuses on configuring and wiring a 1769-IF8 analog input card for a 0 to 5 volts signal on a 1769 I/O chassis. The presenter guides viewers through the process of setting up the card in Studio 5000, selecting the appropriate input range, and troubleshooting potential issues. They also demonstrate how to convert raw data into engineering units for better understanding and accuracy, ensuring the analog signal is correctly interpreted within the PLC system.

Takeaways

• 😀 The tutorial focuses on setting up an analog input card (1769-IF8) for a voltage signal ranging from 0 to 5 volts on a 1769-IF/8 card.
• 🔌 It covers the process of wiring the card, configuring it in Studio 5000, and understanding how to interface it with the L/24 ER processor.
• 💻 The video provides a step-by-step guide on how to add and configure the analog input module in Studio 5000 software.
• 🔍 It demonstrates how to use RSLinx Classic Lite to identify the module and check its properties, including the catalog number and revision number.
• 🛠️ The tutorial explains the importance of selecting the correct input range for the analog card to ensure accurate readings.
• 📊 It discusses the data format options available in the analog card configuration, including raw/proportional and engineering units.
• 🔩 The video includes a practical demonstration of how to wire the analog input card, emphasizing the differential voltage type with a common and positive signal.
• 📈 It shows how to troubleshoot and calibrate the analog input to ensure stable and accurate readings, including adjusting the filter settings.
• 📝 The presenter uses an HMI screen to generate test voltages for the analog input card, providing a hands-on example of how to verify the setup.
• 🔧 The tutorial concludes with a discussion on converting raw data into engineering units using the compute instruction in Studio 5000 for better understanding and usability of the data in the field.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the tutorial?

The main focus of the tutorial is to demonstrate how to extract a voltage signal ranging from 0 to 5 volts into a 1769-IF8 card using an Allen-Bradley PLC.

What is the purpose of the extension IO in the context of the tutorial?

The extension IO is used to communicate with modules that are on the extension bus of the L/24 ER processor.

How does one identify the correct module to configure in Studio 5000?

To identify the correct module in Studio 5000, one can refer to the hardware label on the side of the module or use RSLinx Classic Lite to view the module's catalog number.

What is the significance of the Requested Packet Interval (RPI) in the configuration?

The Requested Packet Interval (RPI) determines how frequently the card is polled for data. It can be adjusted based on the application's need for speed or accuracy.

Why is the input range selection important when configuring the analog card?

The input range selection is important because it determines the accuracy of the readings. It should match the signal's voltage range to ensure precise data acquisition.

How does the tutorial suggest testing the analog card?

The tutorial suggests using an HMI screen from AutomationDirect's Click PLC to generate and test different voltage signals to verify the analog card's functionality.

What is the purpose of the 'engineering units' setting in the analog card configuration?

The 'engineering units' setting is used to convert raw proportional data into more meaningful units, such as voltage, making it easier to understand and use in applications.

Why might there be oscillation in the readings from the analog card?

Oscillation in the readings could be due to incorrect wiring, high filter settings, or issues with the signal source. The tutorial suggests checking these aspects to resolve the issue.

How can the raw data from the analog card be converted into a more understandable voltage value?

The tutorial demonstrates using a CPT (Compute) instruction in Studio 5000 to divide the raw data by 1000, converting it into a voltage value that corresponds to the input range of 0 to 5 volts.

What troubleshooting steps are suggested in the tutorial if the expected voltage is not being read?

The tutorial suggests checking the wiring, adjusting the filter settings, and verifying the output from the signal source using a digital multimeter to ensure the correct voltage is being sent to the card.

Outlines

00:00

🔌 Introduction to Analog Inputs with Allen-Bradley 1769-IF8

The tutorial begins with an introduction to handling analog inputs, specifically focusing on extracting a voltage signal ranging from 0 to 5 volts using an Allen-Bradley 1769-IF8 card. The presenter mentions having showcased this card in a previous vlog and addresses common questions about wiring and configuring the card within Studio 5000. The video also promotes other content on the Soleus PLC YouTube channel, covering industrial automation, PLC programming, and HMI development. The presenter encourages viewers to subscribe and enable notifications for updates. The process of configuring the card in Studio 5000 is detailed, including saving the program, uploading tags, and modifying the program offline. The tutorial walks through creating a new module in the expansion IO, selecting the correct card model, and configuring it according to the physical module installed in the system.

05:01

🛠 Configuring and Testing the 1769-IF8 Analog Card

This section delves into the configuration of the 1769-IF8 card within Studio 5000, discussing the importance of selecting the correct input range for the analog signals, which in this case is 0 to 5 volts. The presenter explains the implications of choosing the input range and the potential loss of accuracy if an incorrect range is selected. The tutorial then moves on to discuss the data format, with a focus on 'raw/proportional' for the time being, and the necessity of downloading the changes to the PLC. After the configuration, the presenter demonstrates how to generate an analog signal for testing purposes using an HMI screen from Automation Direct's DirectClick PLC. The process includes wiring the analog card and verifying the readings within Studio 5000, highlighting the initial incorrect readings and the steps taken to troubleshoot and calibrate the system.

10:03

🔍 Troubleshooting and Data Conversion for Analog Signals

The third paragraph addresses troubleshooting steps for the analog card, focusing on signal oscillation and the importance of proper wiring and configuration. The presenter adjusts the filter settings on the card and rechecks the wiring to ensure stability in the readings. A detailed explanation is provided on converting raw data from the analog card into engineering units, with a step-by-step guide on modifying the card's settings in Studio 5000. The presenter also references the datasheet for the 1769-IF8 card to understand the expected readings and how to map the raw values to actual voltage levels. The summary includes a discussion on the linearity of the scale and the calculations necessary to convert the raw values to meaningful voltage measurements.

15:05

🔧 Final Calibration and Practical Application of Analog Data

In the final paragraph, the presenter demonstrates the practical application of the analog data by calibrating the system to read accurate voltage levels. This includes using a compute instruction in the PLC program to convert the raw data into real-world voltage values. The process involves creating a new tag in the program to hold the computed voltage values and using a formula to scale the raw data to the appropriate voltage range. The presenter also discusses the need for debugging and verifying the actual voltage levels with a digital multimeter to ensure the system's accuracy. The tutorial concludes with a reminder to refer to the manual for different signal types and a call to action for viewers to engage with the content by leaving comments, liking, and sharing the video.

Keywords

💡Analog Inputs

Analog inputs refer to the process of converting continuous voltage signals into digital signals that a computer or microprocessor can understand. In the video, the focus is on extracting a voltage signal ranging from 0 to 5 volts into a 1769-IF8 card, which is a type of analog input module used in industrial automation. The video aims to educate viewers on how to wire and configure this card for proper analog signal processing.

💡1769-IF8 Card

The 1769-IF8 card is a specific model of analog input module used with Allen-Bradley PLCs. It is designed to handle multiple analog inputs, and in the context of the video, it is used to interface with voltage signals. The video provides a tutorial on how to wire this card and configure it within the Studio 5000 software environment, which is crucial for setting up the card for proper operation in an industrial setting.

💡Studio 5000

Studio 5000 is a software platform used for programming and configuring Allen-Bradley PLCs. In the video, it is used to configure the 1769-IF8 card, setting up the input ranges, and managing the communication between the card and the PLC. The video demonstrates how to use Studio 5000 to create and modify the program that interacts with the analog inputs, emphasizing its importance in the setup and troubleshooting process.

💡Voltage Signal

A voltage signal is an electrical signal that varies continuously in amplitude, which is different from digital signals that are either on or off. In the video, the voltage signal is the input that needs to be extracted and processed by the 1769-IF8 card. The video discusses how to wire the signal properly and configure the card to handle a voltage signal ranging from 0 to 5 volts.

💡Wiring Scheme

The wiring scheme refers to the specific way in which electrical components are connected in a circuit. In the context of the video, the wiring scheme is crucial for the proper setup of the analog inputs on the 1769-IF8 card. The video provides guidance on how to wire the card correctly, ensuring that the voltage signals are transmitted accurately to the PLC for processing.

💡Input Range

The input range on an analog input card like the 1769-IF8 specifies the voltage levels that the card can accept and process. In the video, the input range is set to handle a 0 to 5 volts signal, which is a critical configuration step. The correct input range ensures that the analog signals are accurately converted into digital signals that the PLC can interpret.

💡Data Format

Data format in the context of analog inputs refers to how the raw data from the analog signals is represented and processed within the PLC system. The video mentions 'raw/proportional' and 'engineering units' as options for data format. Choosing the correct data format is essential for ensuring that the data can be accurately interpreted and used within the control system.

💡Filter

A filter in the context of analog signal processing is used to remove noise or unwanted signals from the data. In the video, the presenter adjusts the filter setting on the 1769-IF8 card to reduce oscillation in the readings. Proper filtering is important for obtaining stable and accurate analog signal readings.

💡Engineering Units

Engineering units refer to the conversion of raw data from an analog input into a meaningful scale that engineers can understand and work with. In the video, the presenter switches from 'raw/proportional' to 'engineering units' to make the data more understandable and to align it with the expected voltage levels. This conversion is crucial for accurate monitoring and control of processes in industrial automation.

💡HMI (Human-Machine Interface)

HMI stands for Human-Machine Interface, which is a user interface that allows operators to interact with industrial automation systems. In the video, an HMI screen is used to generate and adjust the analog voltage signals that are sent to the 1769-IF8 card for testing. The HMI provides a visual and interactive way to control and monitor the analog inputs, which is an essential part of the testing and validation process.

Highlights

Introduction to a tutorial focusing on analog inputs and extracting a voltage signal from 0 to 5 volts.

Discussion on the 1769-IF8 card, its features, and its previous showcase in a vlog.

Explanation of how to wire and configure the 1769-IF8 card and inputs in Studio 5000.

Invitation to subscribe to the Soleus PLC YouTube channel for more industrial automation content.

Demonstration of how to add the 1769-IF8 module to a Studio 5000 program.

Instructions on how to identify the correct module using RSLinx Classic Lite and device properties.

Details on configuring the expansion IO and selecting the appropriate card for the system.

Guidance on setting the packet interval for data collection from the analog card.

Tutorial on enabling channels and selecting the input range for the analog card.

Explanation of the data format options and the selection of 'raw/proportional' for initial setup.

Process of downloading the configuration to the PLC and verifying the module's status.

Description of generating an analog signal for testing the analog card using an HMI screen.

Wiring instructions for connecting the differential voltage signal to the PLC.

Review of the values obtained from the analog card and the need for calibration.

Troubleshooting steps for dealing with oscillating readings and ensuring stable signal readings.

Conversion of raw data into engineering units for better understanding and usability.

Final demonstration of how to process the voltage signal and convert it into a more understandable format.

Conclusion and call to action for viewers to ask questions, like, share, and suggest content for the channel.

Transcripts

welcome to the tutorial on analog inputs

in which we're going to be focusing on

extracting a voltage signal which is

going to be from 0 to 5 volts into our

1769 - I f/8 card which you can see on

your screen right now and this is a card

which I've showcased in one of my vlogs

previously and I've gotten a lot of

questions about discussing how to wire

this in as well as how to configure the

card as well as the inputs in-studio

5000 so we're going to be looking at

those concepts and more and without any

further delay let's just jump right into

it before we get started with today's

video we just wanted to quickly point

out all the great content we've been

releasing on the soleus plc youtube

channel and this includes industrial

automation plc programming as well as

HMI development and if you enjoy this

type of content we would really

appreciate it if you could click the

subscribe button as well as the

notification bell in order to receive

the latest and greatest content we will

be posting to the channel so we've done

this a couple of times in the past but

if I scroll down in my current plc

program you will notice that I have this

embedded in discrete i/o module and

underneath there is essentially nothing

in the extension IO

and the extension IO is what's going to

allow us to communicate with the modules

which are going to be on the extension

bus of the l/24 ER processor so what I'm

going to have to do is first I'm going

to save the program I'm going to upload

all the tags make sure that I have the

latest and greatest program before I go

offline and start modified so we are

definitely live with the processor I'm

going to click go offline and once I'm

here I can right click the expansion IO

I can click new modules and from here I

will need to select the exact card that

I have in my chassis right now so I'm

going to just type in 1769

- I f8 and in case you're not familiar

with the numbering what you can do is

essentially once you disassemble the

hardware you can pull out this side

module and you can see the label on the

side I've shown this in a couple of

videos but essentially you can find the

same catalog number on the side of the

module you can

also do an alternatively if you go into

rslinx classic lite you can click on

your module scroll down a to the network

of your choice and the PLC that I've

given essentially the IP address to one

92168 that one that 11 is going to be my

L 24 er if I expand this and expand the

compact bus you will notice that this is

going to be the channel analog module

and if I right click and go into device

properties I will first of all be able

to see the revision number but I can

also go into right-click and then see I

believe it's driver Diagnostics there's

there's a way to essentially see what

kind of a card it is let's see here yeah

so I guess you can't see I'm not sure

why it's not labeled 1769 - if' 8 but

from the analog display as well as the

fact that there's 8 of them you can

pretty much determine that that's the

card that's really strange that it's not

displaying the full catalog number in

here but in any case we're going to go

back into our studio 5000 and what we're

going to do is we're going to select the

module I'm going to hit create here I'm

just going to give it a name which is

going to be I'm going to call it local

analog in and usually I like to go by

the slot numbers so remember that the

plc is essentially in slot 1 this is

going to be slot 2 the revision number

is going to be the same as we just saw

in rslinx so one that is zero zero one

is perfectly fine we can definitely give

it a description bar we're just going to

hit OK so that we can see the module in

the expansion i/o since we don't have

anything else in that rack which is

going to close out of this menu and

you'll notice that the slot number two

which is that card has appeared right

here so once again that's a 1769 - if8

and if we go into the properties we can

configure a lot of this online but what

I do want to mention is first of all the

requests that packet interval or RPI is

going to how frequently you want to pull

this card for data usually the default

value is fine if you have some kind of a

high-speed application then maybe you

need to change this to a lower value

if you care a little bit less if you

have for example a very slowly changing

status or an analog sensor which doesn't

require that much reading you can change

this to a higher number in any case what

we're going to be dealing with is with

eight different channels thus card if

you flip over the slot you will notice

that there's going to be a wiring scheme

for all eight of them you can also refer

to the wiring manual in order to

understand how it's going to be compiled

in so if I pull this on the screen right

now here's the compact IO 1769 I have

eight and if you go into the field

wiring connections which we're going to

be doing in just a moment you can see

the different schemes depending on

whether you have a voltage or a current

transmitter how they need to be wired in

the field so do take note that your

wiring might be different than what I'm

going to show you that being said we do

need to enable the channel that we're

going to use and since we're only going

to do one of them we're just going to

enable channel zero and the input range

is one of the most important selections

here so depending on the flavor of

analog cards you may not have all these

options some of them are going to be

focused on voltage alone on current

alone or a vice-versa or both of them

just like it is in the case of if8

so because we're going to be working

with the 0 to 5 volts signals we're

going to select that range do note that

you can still use the 0 to 10 volt range

but you're essentially going to lose in

a little bit of accuracy so you want to

select what's essentially useful for you

and based on your specifications the

data format we're going to look at this

a little bit later - for now we're just

going to leave it in raw slash

proportional I'm going to hit on apply

and alarms we're not going to mess with

that in this tutorial I'm going to hit

OK and here I need to download to the

PLC since we've made a major change so

I'm going to select the download and of

course it's going to give me a warning

that we are going to download to a live

PLC hit download and then once we are

online the card should display as

correct

and it already has the okay status as

you can see at the top here so we're

assuming that everything is okay now I

wanted to talk a little bit on how I'm

going to generate the analog signal that

we're going to use in order to test our

card so in the screen you can also see

this little HMI screen which is actually

coming from the it's coming from a

direct click PLC so automationDirect

click and here I've programmed a very

simple routine and essentially all you

need to understand is that from this

little menu on the bottom left hand side

I can select this zero value and I can

type in how many what percentage of the

zero to five volt range I will select as

an output so for example here if it's

showing 50 that means we're outputting

2.5 volts and if I hit this clear and

type in 220 for example then it's going

to be 20% of the 5 volts which

essentially translates to 2 volts and so

on and so forth but that's not the focus

of our tutorial for today what I want

you to focus on is going to be on the

if8 card so that's going to be the the

concern of the discussion but I just

want you to understand how we're getting

the voltages which are going to be

coming out in the studio 5,000 so let's

do the wiring first and then we're going

to jump into the software right away so

the signal which is sent to us by the

direct click PLC is going to be of

differential voltage type which means

that we essentially have a two wires one

which is going to be at the negative and

watch one which is going to be the

positive so it's going to be a fairly

straightforward scheme so let's just

plug it into the PLC and see what we

need to do next so first of all I'm

going to land the common

you

you

and next we have the positive signal

which is coming back from the same

signal

you

so in this case the wiring is not

extremely complicated let's go back into

studio 5000 a double check what kind of

a value we're getting and in order to do

that you'll notice that once we select

different modules so once I select this

local analog input slot 2 there's going

to be tags like I've explained a couple

of times before but essentially they're

going to come in to local two i/o and

see if we scroll up to the controller

double-click the controller tags go into

monitor and then scroll down to local 2

they should be all the way at the bottom

local 2 input and we're going to have

different channels display here so

channel 0 channel 1 2 3 4 all the way to

channel 7 and those are going to be the

8 channels coming in from our card

you'll notice that shadows 0 has

currently this minus 15,700 value which

is a fairly meaningless to us as you

remember we are reading a 0 to 5 volt

signal and at this point if you look at

the HMI from automationDirect it is

currently set to 20% so let's just

calibrate that to set it to 0 and see

what happens so at 0 or reading a minus

27,000 and if we go to 100% then let's

see the value is going to be around

29,000 but it seems to be oscillating so

we're going to look into that as well

let's just put it back to clear let's do

50 press enter so at 50 as you can see

the value is at around 1,000 now there's

going to be multiple ways to address

this but ultimately what I prefer doing

is if we go into the analog card and we

double-click and go back into the

configuration instead of using this raw

proportional data format we're going to

go into engineering units I'm going to

head apply hit yes because essentially

it is changing the scheme online so do

be careful if you change this on a live

system we're going to hit OK and you'll

notice that we have this value which is

going to be essentially 2500 or so and

it seems like we're just getting a

little bit of noise it shouldn't be

awesome

leading this much so I'm just going to

double-check the wiring

it should be fairly steady out that

reading I think everything is okay so

that's not a big problem I think we need

to also tie the comment probably to zero

so the comment of the analog card should

probably go to ground so I'm going to

put that wire in and make sure that at

this value it doesn't oscillate as you

can see it goes from 22 to 2,400 so

let's just do that really quickly

alright so I ended up doing just a

little bit of debugging and essentially

moving the wiring to channel 1 thinking

at first that it might be oscillating

because the channel on this specific

card was not good anymore that wasn't

the case it was actually the filter so

what I did is I went into the settings

for the card for the I f8 and then I

changed this filter to be 10 Hertz

instead of the 60 Hertz I'm actually

going to disable the channel 0 which is

which is no longer being used and at

this point everything looks a very very

stable as you can see the value here is

minus 27,000 and once I change on this

little HMI that you can see on your

screen the numeric entry to be 100% then

we're going to read minus 27 thousand

which is actually once I mouse over from

it it's going to be 25 thousand now

where is this value coming from let's

open the datasheet once again and here's

the a different sheet which I also found

online and since we're in the setting so

here's the input range in the setting of

a 0 to 5 volts DC you're going to have

these different readings depending on

which setpoint or which data you've

selected on your card so here's the raw

proportional data which as you remember

we're currently set to and if we look in

the 0 to 5 volt DC range you'll notice

that at 0 volts we should get this as 0

and then at 5 volts which we should get

this 30 1206 now of course there's going

to be a little bit of a difference that

being said it still doesn't make sense

that we're getting 25,000 so let's go

back into the configuration and double

check what we're reading so I'm going to

actually let's see 50 Hertz works

a little bit better I'm going to say yes

and okay and actually that makes it

oscillate quite a bit let's go back and

change that to 10 Hertz and we're going

to double check also what's the output

on a D on the other plc which is sending

us the voltage so I don't want you to

read too much into the details of this

program but essentially here's the Kliq

programming software and from here I can

go into my setup and the built-in IO and

what you'll notice is that the output

that I'm using the 0 to 5 output is

currently sending out 5v DC which is

exactly what we would expect but we're

still reading a value which is going to

be less than the specified data sheet so

let's go back into the datasheet and see

what is happening so we're reading

27,000 which I believe doesn't compute

let's see here let's go back into studio

25,000 so that's actually a bit less

than what I would expect let's see if we

can get a normal value in the

engineering unit so let's go back into

configuration and switch those two

engineering units I'm going to hit apply

yes alright so looking at the data sheet

we can use a simple computing structure

in order to convert the values that we

have are right here into voltages that

we would be expecting so the very simple

math formula to convert this 5000 into 5

volts would be to simply divide by 1000

and at that point we should be able to

receive the exact voltage at any range

so of course this scale is going to be

linear so at 3000 for example you should

expect 3 3 volts DC at 2000 two volts DC

so on and so forth so let's switch to

studio 5000 and demonstrate that

principle I'm going to go into my main

program and then inputs so since this is

an input this would make sense to leave

it in this location I'm going to drag

out just any instruction here's an x IC

and I'm going to change this to a CPT

compute so this is a mathematical

normal instruction and instead of in the

expression I'm going to sell the

instruction what to calculate in the

destination is going to be where to send

this value so this is going to be

channel 1 this is going to be the

voltage volts so let's call it like that

and the raw value of course is going to

be let's control tab back into this

value this is going to be the raw data

so channel or one data local to channel

one data so this just needs to be

divided by 1000 so I'm going to put in

this formula so channel local to channel

1 data divided by 1000 is going to be

the expression I'm going to right click

channel 1 volts new and this is going to

be of type a real so let's put that as

real create and once we compile the

program we will essentially get the

voltage that we are reading on that

input card now there's going to be some

debugging to do as to why we're not

getting the 5 volts that we're expecting

and essentially I'm just going to go in

with my digital multimeter and figure

out if we're actually getting the 5

volts to this card or we're getting

something less and figuring out what the

voltage is but essentially if I go back

to this little HMI I can change the

value here so let's clear and let's try

20% at which point we should be reading

1 volt and that's pretty close so 0.995

if I clear that value once again and I

put in 40% so for 80% of 5 volts is

going to be 2 and we're reading

something very close to 1 point nine

four seven so on and so forth so I hope

that explains how to use this analog

card how to process the voltage and how

to get the raw data into a form which is

a little bit more understandable and do

keep note that of course I'm dealing

with volts you can also be dealing with

currents and that being said if you

refer back to this manual as long as you

match it with the signal that you're

getting because depending on the sensors

that you're using depending on the data

that's coming in you might have

different values and it might make more

sense for you to use for example this

report

data engineering units scale for PID or

percent a full range that being said it

doesn't impact the final calculation and

you can always use the essentially the

computer instruction to convert to a

real value that you might understand in

the field thank you guys so much for

watching my content if you have any

questions on this topic make sure to

leave them in the comment section below

and if you can spend five seconds of

your time liking as well as sharing that

video if you've enjoyed it

that would mean absolutely the world to

me and if you have any suggestions for

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software I should be covering then make

sure to leave that down there as well

see you next time take care bye