What is a PLC?...and a PAC?!?

Summary

In this video, Henry explains the evolution of industrial automation, starting with relays and progressing to Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Programmable Automation Controllers (PACs). PLCs are robust, reliable computers designed for industrial automation, capable of controlling equipment like motors and pumps. Unlike home computers, they are built to withstand harsh conditions without crashing. PACs, an advancement over PLCs, offer greater flexibility, scalability, and networkability, making them suitable for complex and large-scale industrial applications. The video highlights how these technologies have transformed the industrial landscape, increasing efficiency and reliability.

Takeaways

• 🤖 A PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is an industrial computer designed to control automation equipment like motors, pumps, and fans.
• 🛡️ PLCs are built to be more robust and reliable than standard computers, capable of withstanding harsh conditions without crashing.
• 🏭 The reliability of PLCs is crucial for manufacturers as machine downtime can lead to significant financial losses, especially in industries dealing with perishable goods.
• 💻 Unlike home computers, PLCs are not easily replaced or rebooted without impacting production lines, emphasizing the need for their high reliability.
• 🚀 The evolution from relays to PLCs has significantly reduced the need for physical wiring and increased the efficiency of automation systems.
• 🌐 PACs (Programmable Automation Controllers) are an advancement over PLCs, offering enhanced flexibility, networkability, and scalability.
• 💡 PACs utilize modern processors and electronics, allowing for more features and capabilities compared to traditional PLCs.
• 🔌 The spread of communication technology and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) enables PACs to connect and control various network devices within a factory.
• 🔄 PACs are designed for scalability, with modular hardware that can be expanded as needed to meet the growing demands of applications.
• 🔗 The flexibility of PACs allows for a variety of input/output options and easy integration with other devices like sensors, actuators, and HMIs.
• 🌟 In complex industrial processes, multiple PACs can work together in a distributed system to solve large-scale automation challenges.

Q & A

What is a PLC and what does it stand for?

A PLC is a Programmable Logic Controller, which is a specialized industrial computer designed to control various types of automation equipment such as motors, pumps, and fans.

Why can't a standard home computer be used as a PLC?

Standard home computers are not designed to be as robust and reliable as PLCs. They can crash or freeze, which is unacceptable in industrial settings where continuous operation is critical for production.

How do PLCs handle environmental factors like high temperatures?

PLCs are designed to withstand harsh conditions such as high temperatures and long run spans without crashing or failing, ensuring continuous operation in industrial environments.

What is the impact of a PLC failure on a manufacturing line?

A PLC failure can halt the manufacturing process, leading to financial losses as production stops. This can be particularly costly in industries where products have a limited lifespan or are perishable, like in food and beverage manufacturing.

What is a PAC and how does it differ from a PLC?

A PAC stands for Programmable Automation Controller. It differs from a PLC by offering enhanced flexibility, networkability, and scalability, often utilizing high-performance processors and modern electronics.

How has technology evolved from PLCs to PACs?

Technology has evolved to include more advanced features in PACs, such as better communication capabilities, modular hardware design for scalability, and the ability to handle both small and large applications with ease.

What is the significance of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in relation to PACs?

The IIoT allows PACs to reliably communicate and control many different network devices within a factory setting, enhancing the connectivity and efficiency of industrial operations.

How does the modular hardware design of PACs contribute to their flexibility?

The modular hardware design of PACs allows for the addition of modules as needed, providing the ability to adapt to evolving requirements of an application and offering a variety of input and output options.

Can PACs handle very large and complex processes that are too much for one unit?

Yes, PACs can work together in a large distributed system, combining their capabilities to solve complex problems that are beyond the scope of a single unit.

How has the transition from relays to PLCs and then to PACs impacted the efficiency of industrial processes?

The transition has led to a decrease in the amount of wiring, increased scalability, and improved ease of operation for engineers and technicians, allowing for more efficient and capable industrial processes.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Introduction to PLCs and PACs

In this segment, Phil interviews Henry about programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and programmable automation controllers (PACs). Henry explains that PLCs are specialized industrial computers designed for reliability in controlling automation equipment like motors and pumps. Unlike regular computers, PLCs are robust and can withstand harsh conditions without crashing, which is crucial for manufacturing where downtime can lead to significant financial losses. The conversation then shifts to PACs, which offer enhanced flexibility, networkability, and scalability. PACs utilize modern processors and electronics, allowing for more features and better communication capabilities, essential for the industrial internet of things. They are designed for both small and large applications and can work together in distributed systems to handle complex processes.

05:02

📈 Evolution from Relays to PACs

The second paragraph summarizes the historical progression from relay-based logic systems to modern PACs. It highlights the transition from large, energy-intensive, and complex relay systems to the compact and efficient computational systems of PLCs. The discussion emphasizes the reduction in wiring and the increase in scalability and ease of use for engineers and technicians. The segment ends with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content by liking, subscribing, and turning on notifications for updates on PLCs and related technologies.

Keywords

💡PLC

PLC stands for Programmable Logic Controller, which is a specialized industrial computer designed to control various types of automation equipment such as motors, pumps, and fans. In the video, it is discussed that PLCs are more robust and reliable than standard computers, capable of withstanding harsh conditions without crashing, which is crucial for industrial applications where downtime can lead to significant financial losses.

💡Robustness

Robustness in the context of the video refers to the ability of PLCs to operate reliably in challenging environments, such as high temperatures or extended run times, without failure. This is a critical feature for industrial applications where the PLC must maintain the operation of machinery and equipment without interruption.

💡Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is mentioned in relation to the connectivity of devices within an industrial setting. It is a network of interconnected devices, machines, sensors, and software that enables data exchange and communication. In the video, it is highlighted that PACs (Programmable Automation Controllers) can reliably communicate and control many different network devices, which is a significant advancement from traditional PLCs.

💡PAC

PAC stands for Programmable Automation Controller, which is an advancement over traditional PLCs. PACs offer enhanced flexibility, networkability, and scalability, allowing for more complex and larger-scale industrial automation. The video explains that PACs utilize high-performance processors and electronics, enabling them to integrate more features and handle a broader range of applications.

💡Scalability

Scalability in the video refers to the ability of PACs to grow and adapt to the changing demands of industrial applications. It means that PACs can be expanded with additional modules as needed, allowing them to handle both small and large applications effectively. This is an important feature for manufacturers who may need to upgrade or modify their automation systems over time.

💡Flexibility

Flexibility in the context of the video is associated with the modular hardware design of PACs, which allows for a variety of input and output options. This feature enables engineers to customize the system to meet specific requirements and easily integrate it with other devices such as sensors, actuators, and HMIs (Human-Machine Interfaces).

💡Modular Hardware

Modular hardware is a design approach where the hardware components of a system, like PACs, are designed to be easily added, removed, or upgraded. This is highlighted in the video as a key feature of PACs, allowing them to be tailored to meet evolving application requirements without the need for a complete system overhaul.

💡Distributed System

A distributed system in the video refers to the ability of multiple PACs to work together to handle very large and complex industrial processes. This is significant because it allows for the division of tasks and responsibilities among different PACs, enabling the management of complex systems that would be too much for a single controller to handle.

💡Relays

Relays are electrical switches that were used historically to create logic systems before the advent of PLCs. The video mentions that these systems were large, cumbersome, and required many wires. The development of PLCs was a significant step forward, as they combined the logic of relays into a more compact and efficient computational system.

💡Networkability

Networkability refers to the ability of a device, like a PAC, to connect to a network, enabling communication and data exchange with other devices. The video emphasizes that modern PACs have enhanced networkability compared to PLCs, which allows them to integrate with the Industrial Internet of Things and communicate effectively within an industrial environment.

Highlights

Definition of PLC: Programmable Logic Controller

PLC's role in controlling industrial automation equipment

Durability of PLCs compared to standard home computers

Importance of PLC reliability in manufacturing

Evolution of technology from PLC to PAC

Definition of PAC: Programmable Automation Controller

Enhanced flexibility and scalability of PACs over PLCs

High-performance processors in PACs for added features

Communication technology spread in industrial settings

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and its role in factories

Scalability of PACs to handle varying application sizes

Modular hardware design of PACs for evolving requirements

Flexibility in input/output options with PACs

Integration of PACs with other devices like sensors and HMIs

Ability of PACs to work in distributed systems for complex processes

Historical transition from relays to PLCs and now to PACs

Decreased wiring and increased scalability with PACs

Ease of use and capacity for engineers with PAC technology

Transcripts

hi I'm

Phil and today I'll be asking questions

about

this with this guy

[Music]

hi so Henry what exactly is this uh this

is a PLC programmable logic controller

that's what PLC stands for what does it

do so a PLC is a specialized industrial

computer basically can control various

types of automation equipment like you

know Motors and pumps and fans and

things like that okay so this begs the

question then if this is just a

computer why can't I just use my

computer from home how many times have

you ever had your PC crash on you blue

screen of death yeah yeah or opened a

program and everything freezes up for

however long yep plc's are designed to

be more robust more reliable and they're

actually Limited in their capability for

that Express purpose they can withstand

things like high temperatures and long

run spans and things like that without

crashing or or failing on you if my

computer crashes I just turn it back on

why can't we just do that with this well

you got to think about the manufacturing

line manufacturers have Machinery that

has stuff that they're making if the

machine goes down because the PLC is

unreliable then they start losing money

they can't develop the product they're

there to make some products have you

know a limited

lifespan um or are perishable like in

the food and beverage industry so if the

machine goes down manufacturer might

have to throw out a whole bunch of

product and that's a lot of money down

the drain has the technology really

changed in the last couple decades oh

actually it

has that brings me to the PAC what is a

Pac ah Pac stands for programmable

automation controller and what is the

difference between a PLC and a Pac uh

yes well pac's have enhanced

flexibility networkability and

scalability compared to a PLC oh well

those are my three favorite things pac's

utilize high performance modern

processors and electronics this allows

design Engineers to add in a lot more

features probably the main difference

would be the spread of communications

technology almost everything these days

has some sort of network connectivity um

to allow it to connect to the internet

the internet in an industrial

environment like my PC

huh as I was saying the internet in an

industrial environment is different from

your home internet for instance all of

these different pieces and parts that

are connected to the network that's

called the industrial internet of things

or iot within a factory setting pac's

can reliably communicate and control

many different network devices okay

you've talked about the network

abilities of the PAC what about the

scalability and flexibility it offers

pac's are designed to offer scalability

to provide processing power and

performance to handle the demands of

both small and large applications pac's

also have a modular Hardware designed

that means the modules can be added as

needed to meet evolving requirements of

an application oh that's significant

flexibility within a Pac allows a

variety of input and output options

while their communication and networking

capabilities provides easy integration

with other devices like sensors

actuators and

hmis sometimes there are very large and

complex processes that are too much for

one Pac to handle the great thing is

that pac's have the ability to work

together in a large distributed system

this means you can solve these huge

Problems by combining the capabilities

of multiple pac's let's see if I can sum

this up we started with the relays to

create a logic system it was big it was

cumbersome took a lot of energy and had

lots of wires so we

invented the PLC the PLC combined a

bunch of those ones and zeros that the

relays were mimicking and turned them

into a computational system now we're at

the

PAC which is even more powerful and this

kind of line of uh logic that we have

here of decreasing the amount of wires

uh increasing the amount of scalability

and

allowing engineers and technicians to do

their job at a greater capacity and with

greater ease wow my head is swimming

from all this new information thank you

Henry no problem and if you'd like your

head to swim with more PLC info you can

like And subscribe to our ESN tv YouTube

channel and don't forget to like this

video and hit that notification Bell for

the latest updates that's right Phil

that's

[Music]

right