Copying a CompactLogix program from one PLC to another 3

[bdn2004]

First off I have to tell you I am a novice at PLC's and PLC programming.

We have an existing PLC that is running a custom designed program to control a piece of simple equipment. It has various digital inputs, and when certain conditions on the inputs are met it fires an output.

The system works like we want, so we are installing three new systems just like it.

What steps do we have to take to:
1. Copy out the existing program residing in the existing PLC?
2. Copy this program to the other PLCs?
3. Any: "Make sure you don't do this or you will screw it all up" detail I need to know?

Is this something someone with no experience, like myself, can do?

 

[dV8r]

No, I really doubt that you can do this without the help of the persons who developed the first system for you. You need to hire them at least one more time.

 

[Extrospector]

BDN,
What is the PLC make and model? Under most circumstances you must have a PC or Hand Held Programmer, the programming software, connection means (cable) to upload to your PC and in turn to download to the new one. It is possible for a novice to do this with the help of the User/Programming manual for the PLC. Contacting the OEM may be you least expensive option but if you want to attempt it the model info would be helpful.


Extrospector

 

[FreddyNurk]

The problem that you will have is not so much copying the code across (assuming the original supplier hasn't password protected it), its verifying that it does exactly what you want when you've copied it over.

You might be lucky, and be able to test it as a black box, and it'll all come up well. But if it doesn't, then without appropriate tools and the understanding of the original code, then you're in for quite a challenging time. You will, of course, require software plus an interface to copy them over in the first place...

It also means that should any of them go wrong down the track, you're up for the same diagnostic problem.

 

[bdn2004]

Attached is a picture of the existing PLC. And according to the documentation I've got on it, it's an Allen Bradley CompactLogix Controller 1769-L35E, 1536 kB memory with input modules 1769-IA16, output module 1769-OA16.

I'm a novice to PLC's but I'm not a novice to programming, ladder diagrams or control systems. And this system is about as simple as you can find. I'm going to give it an attempt, what's the worst that can happen? It doesn't work? Thanks all for the advice and pointing me into the right direction!

 

[djs]

You will need a copy of Rockwell Software's RsLogix 5000 software. I believe that the current selling price is on the order of $5K.

 

[dogle]

So long as you are exactly duplicating your machine, rubber stamping L35E's is pretty straight forward with the software mentioned. Copy your program, make sure you upgrade all the processors to the same revision level, assign each one its own net address, upload your program, save each machine under its own project name.

 

[bdn2004]

What we ended up doing was re-writing the program for each of the three new PLCs. The application was the same in every instance, but some of the specifics, like addressing and timing had to change from one place to the next. One of our technicians did it in short order, so I was denied this learning experience. We did save a considerable sum not contracting this to the place that did the programming on the original installation.