Electricians and Computer Programming 1

[Electromechanical30]

Hello all,

I am an industrial maintenance electrician. I work with real time high speed automated applications. I do have a great understanding of these systems from a maintenance point of view, but I'd like to get involved more in devolopment, or at least understand the programming and "behind the scenes" aspect a little better.

I do have some programming experience and a previous Associate's Degree in Computers and Electronics...

Any way, I am kicking around the idea of taking a CIS Associate Degree program at a local tech school. I don't plan on switching fields, and I really don't forsee that this additional degree will get me any further here... I was curious what others thought of electricians and maintenance personal having a higher level of education.

 

[14159]

While I'm certainly no electrical guy, it seems obvious that more education can't do anything but help you. The question is HOW it will help you. If it doesn't get you ahead at work, then it's just like a hobby that is related to your job. In that case, you just have to decide if it's worth the money.

Because you have an obvious interest that goes above and beyond what others probably have, why not modify your plans a little and make sure that your additional school results in more money for similar school work and expense? What would it take for you to get your BS in EE? Are you within 2 years of that too? If it's two years of school for a degree that doesn't help increase your pay and three years for one that does, then that seems like an interesting choice. Just an idea.

14159

 

[MikeHalloran]

I have the impression that a CIS Associate degree course isn't going to go much deeper than 'here is the power switch', and 'use this canned program to run off this kind of job'. Read the course catalog very carefully; I don't think it's what you want.

Think about the BS. At least take a course in interfacing and programming microcomputers. Or buy a development board and burn up a few PICs.





Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Electromechanical30]

14159, You hit the nail right on the head, regarding the hobby!!

About a year ago, I did look into going for my BS. MSOE does offer a "plus 2" program with local tech schools in the area. Unfortunately, there is a credibility issue with the school that I earned my AS through. The program chair stated that he would accept all of my core tech credits, but I would have to re-take all of the maths and sciences at one of the "credited" tech schools. I did some research. I would have to go back for roughly 3 semesters to catch up on the general ed classes, and then I could enter the BSEE program as a junior. This thought is still on the back burner… but this estimate is looking at going full time, so long story short - my BSEE would be almost 4 years away… That is a tough pill to swallow seeing that there is some heavy OT involved in my position…

I did go online and look at the course description. It is a certificate program. They cover visual basic, C, C++, Java, and SQL Database apps. It is a 15 credit program two nights per week, or what ever pace I decide. Mike, I do like the idea on getting some advanced microcomputer schooling...

I am just curious as to other's opinions. Now that manufacturing processes are getting more and more Hi-Tech, I feel that having a better understanding of Computer Information Systems will help me in the future, as I am still a young lad with plenty of years left in the work force. B-)

Thanks,
jMk

 

[MikeHalloran]

Sorry, you have to take the physics courses that include calculus.

You should note that VB, Cetc, Jetc, and SQLetc, are all nominally "processor- independent". Which means that they are specifically designed to isolate you from the underlying computer. Which means that they aren't good tools for learning about computer hardware.

I don't think they're good tools for learning about software, either, but that's a personal bias.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Electromechanical30]

Where should I look for some advanced microprocessor course work? I didn't see anything offered at the local tech schools, besides the basic classes that I have already taken.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Oh-kay, you've already burned up a few PICs, and the BS is not an option, for whatever reason.

One way to learn programming is by programming. One way to do that is start with someone else's program, and change it, and see what happens.

I'm NOT suggesting that you start hacking the machines you maintain. If you can snag a copy of the source code that's used in them, and study it line by line, from startup to shutdown, you may develop a better understanding of how the machine works ... or it may just bewilder you.

Reading and tracing code is easier for relatively simple, slow moving machines. Maybe that's what you need to do; get hold of some machine for which you can get the complete source code, study it, trace it with breakpoints or flashing lights, step through it with a debugger, something like that.

Maybe we can make some better suggestions if you can give us a more detailed idea of just how far you've gotten with the programming and such.






Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Electromechanical30]

The BS is still an option… It'll be tough to focus on a large course load working an average 60 hours a week, but that is a different story…

Our machinery is pretty complex. The HMI's are PC's running Windows XP. The HMI code is written in C. The HMI interfaces with the main controller via a fiber or Ethernet link, depending on the vintage. The main controller is an X86 system that runs an OS9 operating system. I believe that the code is a Unix hybrid… All that I know is the shell is very similar to a MS DOS command prompt. I am pretty good at using the prompt commands for this system, as I sometimes need to delete corrupt files and copy over new system or database files. The main controller receives it's interrupts directly. These interrupts are the line encoders and certain proxes. The physical IO is controlled through PLC's and remote IO over Profibus or Interbus, depending on the vintage.

I am pretty fluent in ladder logic and understand PLC's very well. I have taken an introduction to Visual Basic class (part of the AS program). I have also read the book Home Automation Basics, by Tom Leonik. I have played around with writing scripts in VB that communicate with an AB SLC 5/03.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Yep, that's a complex system, all right.

You'll probably be better off studying a simpler system, like a wheeled robot, or a lawn sprinkler controller.










Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Electromechanical30]

Thanks for the insight!