DL06 question, I am new to PLC's

[sai064]

Hello, my background is designing and programming microcontrollers in C and Basic. I have never used a PLC before and never heard of the term "Ladder Logic" until a couple days ago. I was given a project with a DL06 PLC, the PLC needs to read button inputs, turn on LEDs, and read/write RS-232 data to two remote devices. It would be simple and trivial to do on a microcontroller but I can't figure out if it is feasible to do on a PLC. I have been trying to learn ladder logic for a couple of days and don't get how I can read/write serial ports and do if-then or for-next type functions. Can somebody give me any tips on what I should look at? Does this project sound like it is do-able on a DL06? At this point I don't even have a DL06 to test on...
Thanks for any help.

[Controls Guy]

Yes, very doable with an 06.

There's no substitute for having the hardware when you're learning something new, because you get constant feedback if you're on the right track or not.  Get a PLC powered up and talking as soon as you can.

If you download the free Do-More programming software, it comes with a PLC simulator, a virtual software PLC that you can load a program into, and control the inputs and observe the outputs.  There is also a site, I think it's PLCS.net, that has tutorials on how you write ladder as well as a working PLC simulator online.  The advantage of the Do-More one, though, is that it's based on a very similar programming environment and PLC instruction set to the 06.

A PLC expert and also a poster on this forum, Bernie Carlton, runs a good educational site on PLC's in general at www.theplcguy.com

Now all that is mostly in reference to ladder programming for relay-replacement stuff (buttons, LED's, etc.) rather than serial.  Serial varies far more between PLC makes than relay/timer/counter stuff does.  For that the best thing, as I said, is to just get your PLC wired up to your devices and start playing around.

[sai064]

Thanks for the tips and I will definitely download the PLC simulator today.
I hope to have a DL06 next week.

[Controls Guy]

I just fired up the simulator and realized it will work with a serial port on your PC and treat it as the PLC serial port for simulation purposes, meaning you can connect to your remote stuff and actually talk to it with your program in the simulator!  Totally awesome!

That may only help you in a general way as it's simulating a Do-More, which programs differently for serial than a DL-Classic processor, but it will still give you a general feel for serial in ladder, how your remote devices respond to queries, and it might even convince you to use a Do-More instead of an 06!   

[Vernon Leeper]

I have not seen anything on windows 8 and DSoft, my wife just got a new laptop, she hates 8 and wants to trade me. I know this not the place but I haven’t seen any other topics on and I’m lazy and didn’t want to start one. Anyway, some chatter about the new 8, Solid Works won’t work on it, AutoCad won’t work on it, will DSoft work and the rest of the stuff from ADC? There is a lot of people that actually use their computers as tools for their job and not just to play a dramatized game of tag. This whole social media thing is really getting out of control……your say.

[Vernon Leeper]

Disregard, I found a topic......oops