May 04, 2023
The development of industrial production and technology is inseparable from automation of PLC control. As an electrician, if he wants not to be abandoned by time, he must constantly enrich himself, invest in himself and study PLC.
The level of his salary directly depends on whether electrician knows PLC. Technology is your brightest calling card. Many companies now hire electricians and also require a PLC.
How do electricians learn PLCs? The following is a small experience of an old electrician who has worked in industry for 20 years, and I hope that it will be useful to everyone.
1. Get started with basics
If you want to learn PLC, you must start with basics. PLC basics include Chinese (can communicate normally), electrical basics (DC, AC, switch buttons, relays and other components), computer basics (basic computer principles, binary, hexadecimal, byte, word, etc.) and mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, etc.
Only when you've mastered basics can you continue learning, like building a building, lay foundation first.
2. Understanding Electrical Diagrams
The circuit diagram is basis for design. Since PLC can replace control of relay and contactor, it is necessary to know corresponding circuit basic principle!
3. Understanding basic structure of a PLC
Because you want to learn PLC technology, you must have an understanding of PLC. At very least, you need to know what a PLC is, what parts it mainly consists of, what functions each part performs, and also just understand process of scanning a PLC. , principle of operation, and work. condition, etc., basics must be understood.
4. Learn basic ladder diagram
Ladder diagram is a way to program a PLC. To understand basic ladder diagram, you can start with simplest basic diagram and gradually practice to convert simple circuit diagram into a PLC ladder diagram. Ladder diagram must be mastered!
5. Learn basic programming language and instructions
Programming language and logical instructions are logical languages that a PLC can recognize, just like what people say, so we need to figure out underlying logic language of a PLC, because logical instructions or logical languages are words that a PLC can recognize . understand, basic programming instructions: LD, LDI, AND, etc. have been introduced one by one in previous videos, friends who want to know can watch it.
The programming language and logic instructions are also way PLCs are programmed, which are most basic things in a PLC.
6. Searching for information manually
If you decide to learn PLC, don't be lazy. There are also many tutorials on internet that you can download and study from internet.
7. Learn without branding
I dare not say that all PLCs are same, but principle is same. If you learn to master one of them, others will naturally quickly start working. All of them are conclusions! So instead of thinking about which one to teach, it's better to make one you have and do it immediately!
8. Learn to learn from one example
Work experience is good, but sometimes it can tie our hands. And what we have to do is to generalize experience in work, but not rely entirely on experience, but also learn to draw conclusions and draw conclusions from one example.
After learning PLC, you should use PLC way of thinking, don't always think about converting logic diagrams to ladder diagrams
9. More practice
Just talk, but don't make fake moves like it was said in "Oil Salesman": There is no one else but you that you know. Even best empirical theory needs to be put into practice, and then to study and generalize experience in practice. So everyone still needs a lot of practice, only way we can know if they know it, how much they have mastered, and where they still can't.
An old electrician said this: If you don't learn PLC nowadays, you are like an elementary school student and you can only add, subtract, multiply and divide a little, and there is no way to solve complicated ladder diagrams or programming formulas.
Times want to destroy you, but they won't welcome you. Instead of complaining about how little you earn, you should be determined to embrace new technology. After all, we are on our own.
