PLCs for Non-Programmers

A 2-Day Training Course designed to take the mystery out of working with programmable logic Controllers (PLCs)

Purpose of Seminar
This seminar converts the seemingly complex world of automation and Programmable Logic Controllers ( PLCs ) into practical lessons the average maintenance person can understand. We've taken information from thousands of pages of manufacturers' technical manuals (Allen Bradley, GE, Siemens, Omron, Modicon, Mitsubishi, Honeywell …), combined it with twenty years of experience and a practical real world philosophy to give you simple, clear, and concise solutions to your everyday PLC problems.

This course is perfect for multi-craft maintenance technicians, electricians, or other non-programmers who need a general understanding of PLCs. And because we know time is money, this seminar is designed to have immediate impact so that you can start saving maintenance dollars on costly repairs and service calls today!

Who Should Take This Course?
This course is created specifically for maintenance personnel and electricians working in industrial plants, public facilities, and commercial buildings. Attendees come from a wide variety of industries, skill-levels, company sizes, and job titles, so if you're not sure you'll fit in or benefit from this class, don't worry - you will - as long as you have an interest in learning to troubleshoot and repair your PLCs, including....

All maintenance personnel in:

  • Manufacturing Plants
  • Commercial Buildings
  • Hospitals
  • Waste Water Facilities
  • Schools
  • Government Buildings
  • Research Facilities
  • Shopping Centers
  • Airports

Including:

  • Apprentice and Experienced Electricians
  • Instrumentation Technicians
  • All Building Maintenance Personnel
  • All Plant & Facility Maintenance Technicians
  • Building Engineers
  • Building Managers & Superintendents
  • Plant & Facility Managers
  • Multi-craft & Cross Training Personnel
  • Mechanical Engineers
  • Any person needing a basic course in PLC basics & maintenance!

Training Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will receive a training certificate with 1.6 American Trainco Continuing Education Units indicating that the student has learned to:

  1. Identify PLC components
  2. Read and interpret Ladder Logic
  3. Understand function and purpose of basic programming instructions
  4. Configure a PLC-based control system
  5. Relate actual PLC and PID instructions to "real world" applications
  6. Troubleshoot and correct PLC problems by identifying and isolating most common system faults

Course Outline/Agenda
Studies have indicated that 80% of the faults associated with a PLC-based control systems involve either I/O (Input/Output) devices or field wiring. During this seminar you will learn how to use both hardware and software to find these faults quickly. Students will learn how to use a systematic approach to troubleshooting; how to set up and configure Input/Output modules using various slot addressing techniques; what to understand about program and data table file organization, number systems and processor information flow; and how basic, relay type instructions, timers, and counters, and data manipulation instructions can be used to achieve the automation and PLC solution you want.

The other 20% of faults can also be quickly found using software tools that usually remain hidden to all but the most experienced troubleshooting professional. But, in this American Trainco seminar, we will unlock these tools, dispel the myths, and provide you aids that you can take back to your workplace for easy future reference. At American Trainco, we provide real world training for your real world needs!

I. SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF PLCs

A. Hardware Focus

B. How PLCs Work

  1. Past
  2. Present
  3. Future

C. PLC Terminology, PID

D. Parts of a PLC

  1. Input Interfaces
  2. Processor
  3. Output Interfaces
  4. Power Supplies
  5. Programming Terminals

E. System Configurations

  1. Local
  2. Remote
  3. Hierarchical
  4. Distributive

F. Hardware Considerations

  1. Field Wiring
  2. Master Control Relay
  3. Isolation Transformers
  4. Four Basic Types of Grounding

II. READING PLC LADDER LOGIC

A. Organization and Function of Ladder Logic

B. Ladder Logic Data Table Organization

  1. Numbering Systems
  2. Data Table Files
  3. Bit, Word and File Addressing

C. Introduction to Programming

D. Common PLC & PID Instructions

  1. Basic Relay
  2. Counters and Timers
  3. Data Transfer

E. Organization

  1. Subroutine Files
  2. Selectable Timed Interrupt (STI) Files
  3. Jumps and MCR Instructions
  4. Fault Routines

F. Relating the PLC to "Real World" Applications

III. TROUBLESHOOTING PLC SYSTEMS & COMPONENTS

A. Safety

B. Forcing of Input Data Table & Output Devices

C. Identifying I/O Field Device Faults

D. Identifying I/O Module Faults

E. Identifying System Faults

F. Using the Data Monitor Screen

G. Using the Processor Status and I/O Status Screen

IV. FIND & FIX THE 10 MOST COMMON PLC PROBLEMS

A. The "Ultimate PLC Troubleshooting Flowchart"

B. Using Troubleshooting Tools

C. Using Software Tools

D. "Real World" Case Studies

Open Training Seminar Schedule

St. Louis, MO: October 13-14, 2011    Peoria, IL: October 19-20, 2011   
Lake Charles, LA: October 26-27, 2011    Boston, MA: October 26-27, 2011   
Charleston, SC: November 1-2, 2011    Cincinnati, OH: November 2-3, 2011   
Indianapolis, IN: November 9-10, 2011    Kalamazoo, MI: November 9-10, 2011   
Louisville, KY: November 16-17, 2011    Milwaukee, WI: November 16-17, 2011   
Des Moines, IA: December 7-8, 2011    Nashville, TN: December 13-14, 2011   
Philadelphia, PA: December 14-15, 2011    Phoenix, AZ: December 19-20, 2011   
Lubbock, TX: December 21-22, 2011    Romulus, MI: December 21-22, 2011   
Modesto, CA: January 9-10, 2012    Poughkeepsie, NY: January 9-10, 2012   
Norfolk, VA: January 17-18, 2012    Columbus, OH: January 17-18, 2012   
Buffalo, NY: January 17-18, 2012    Austin, TX: January 23-24, 2012   
Washington, DC: January 23-24, 2012    Charlotte, NC: January 30-31, 2012   
Oklahoma City, OK: February 6-7, 2012    Bakersfield, CA: February 6-7, 2012   
Burbank, CA: February 13-14, 2012    Naperville, IL: February 21-22, 2012   
Albany, NY: February 27-28, 2012    Spokane, WA: February 27-28, 2012   
New Britain, CT: March 5-6, 2012    Pittsburgh, PA: March 5-6, 2012   
Arlington, TX: March 5-6, 2012    San Antonio, TX: March 12-13, 2012   
Las Vegas, NV: March 12-13, 2012    Sacramento, CA: March 12-13, 2012   
Albuquerque, NM: March 19-20, 2012    Little Rock, AR: March 19-20, 2012   
Portland, OR: March 26-27, 2012    Seattle, WA: April 2-3, 2012   
Lansing, MI: April 2-3, 2012    Kansas City, MO: April 10-11, 2012   
Atlanta, GA: April 16-17, 2012    Allentown, PA: April 16-17, 2012   
Birmingham, AL: April 23-24, 2012    Portland, ME: April 23-24, 2012   
Anchorage, AK: April 23-24, 2012    Davenport, IA: Apr 30-May 1, 2012   
Madison, WI: May 7-8, 2012    Denver, CO: May 7-8, 2012   
Richmond, VA: May 7-8, 2012    Oakland, CA: May 14-15, 2012   
Houston, TX: May 14-15, 2012    Baton Rouge, LA: May 21-22, 2012   
Boca Raton, FL: May 21-22, 2012    Jacksonville, FL: May 21-22, 2012   
Harrisburg, PA: June 4-5, 2012    San Diego, CA: June 4-5, 2012   
Salt Lake City, UT: June 4-5, 2012    Helena, MT: June 11-12, 2012   
Minneapolis, MN: June 11-12, 2012    Phoenix, AZ: June 18-19, 2012   
Honolulu, HI: June 18-19, 2012    Baltimore, MD: June 18-19, 2012   
Orange County, CA: June 25-26, 2012    Tulsa, OK: July 09-10, 2012   
Grand Rapids, MI: July 09-10, 2012    Indianapolis, IN: July 16-17, 2012   
Long Island, NY: July 23-24, 2012    Wichita, KS: July 23-24, 2012   
Columbia, SC: July 23-24, 2012    Elk Grove, IL: July 30-31, 2012   
Fresno, CA: July 30-31, 2012    Cleveland, OH: August 6-7, 2012   
Syracuse, NY: August 13-14, 2012    St. Louis, MO: August 13-14, 2012   
San Jose, CA: August 20-21, 2012    Memphis, TN: August 20-21, 2012   
Raleigh, NC: August 27-28, 2012    Reno, NV: August 27-28, 2012   
Boston, MA: September 10-11, 2012    Louisville, KY: September 10-11, 2012   
Milwaukee, WI: September 17-18, 2012    Orlando, FL: September 17-18, 2012   
Tampa, FL: September 24-25, 2012    Philadelphia, PA: September 24-25, 2012   
Columbus, OH: September 24-25, 2012    Providence, RI: October 9-10, 2012   
Nashville, TN: October 9-10, 2012    Buffalo, NY: October 15-16, 2012   
El Paso, TX: October 22-23, 2012    Charleston, WV: Oct 29-30, 2012   
Rochester, NY: November 5-6, 2012    Washington, DC: November 5-6, 2012   
Norfolk, VA: November 13-14, 2012    Pittsburgh, PA: November 13-14, 2012   
Sacramento, CA: November 15-16, 2012    Portland, OR: December 3-4, 2012   
Hartford, CT: December 3-4, 2012    Oklahoma City, OK: December 3-4, 2012   
Irving, TX: December 10-11, 2012    Seattle, WA: December 10-11, 2012   
Phoenix, AZ: December 17-18, 2012    San Antonio, TX: December 17-18, 2012   
Ontario, CA: December 19-20, 2012     

Contact William J. Dumas & Associates

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