Little HMI for Control Logix

[Sunshineforu]

I'm looking for a cheap solution to have a little HMI display connected to a Control Logix PLC through Ethernet.


The HMI is for a remote offloading station and there is little to display or control as the hardwired controls are already in place. The display would be mostly to indicate if the offload pumps were inhibited or not and which alarms that affected the pumps were active.

My problem is that Rockwell discontinued their mini displays or will during this year (this is for an external application) and the HMI's available that are tiny seem to be "locked" into Compactlogix or the Micro800 series.

Any advice on brands that would do such a device?

 

[itsmoked]

Automation Direct Micro panels

The EA1-TCL-M panel now comes with Ethernet if that floats your boat. It's a huge bang for the buck. High resolution, color, RS485, RS232, Ethernet all included. While they kind of assume you're going to use them with ADirect PLCs they are actually universal. They have chapters on how to use them with Allen Bradly's and Siemens etc. They also have good FREE tech support.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[roydm]

I have used Red Lion with good effect, they don't have their own PLC so they are set up to communicate with many other devices.

 

[controlsdude]

I think AB had CE panels that were cheap that had internet explorer on them and had a driver that you could develop your screens in windows explorer if you did not mind that way. Everyone makes a HMI just find one that has the driver for the plc, its really a commodity item.

 

[catserveng]

When you say "cheap", what kind of price point are you looking for?

When you say "small" what size range display and what features? Like do you just want a 5 inch monochrome touch screen? Or do you have some other desired features in mind?

I like using these with a lot of the AB PLC's I get around,

https://www.automationdirect.com/ad...e_Touch_Panels/C-more_Touch_Panels_EA9_Series

They also make a "micro" series of these panels, it seems like whenever I do any kind of an operator panel the "oh by the ways" start cropping up. I like the software and their tech support has been pretty good, especially for the price.

MikeL.

 

[arj3090]

You don't really say what is little and how much is cheap, so I will at least throw out an option. AdvancedHMI is a PC based HMI software for no cost that includes drivers for Allen Bradley controllers. You can get a 10" industrial touch panel PC to run the application for $1250

http://www.advancedhmi.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=15

The same application can run on a $100 Windows tablet.

 

[Vrooooom]

Yes, or have a look at velocio.net
You have HMI for $95 or $135

 

[123MB]

Hi Sunshine,

Please consider the amount of engineering time that you will burn by using non-AB HMIs. While they may be cheaper, you will find that you will have to spend more time and potentially have more issues in setting them up and commissioning.

Would recommend the smallest/cheapest AB HMI every time

Good luck

Regards, Michael.

 

[jraef]

The "entry level" HMI for Rockwell PLCs and PACs is the PanelView800 line. They are very competitive against the other ones like them on the market.

https://ab.rockwellautomation.com/Graphic-Terminals/2711R-PanelView-800-Graphic-Terminals

In my opinion, the added hassle of trying to integrate non-AB products is not worth the price difference.


" We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know." -- W. H. Auden

 

[thebard3]

The PanelView 800 will not communicate with a ControlLogix or CompactLogix PLC (incredibly). They are designed for use with their new MicroLogix controllers. I agree that using AB product with AB products is worth the investment. I have used Automation Direct HMIs and the time necessary to develop a tag database pretty much wipes out any cost savings.

 

[itsmoked]

bard; Can't you just export the tags and import them? That's all I ever do. It takes about 5 minutes.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[thebard3]

itsmoked; I think maybe you're right. The last CMORE application I did was many years ago. I made some changes on a newer system since and found the new driver that allows that but in the past it wasn't available. If you use an AB PanelView Plus you can browse tags individually. I'm old and cantankerous so I like to stay within my realm of experience when I can. That's not really a good quality for an integrator, is it?

 

[itsmoked]

LOL. Good luck with that handicap. OK.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com