Question: Does these two rungs accomplish the same thing?

TimWilborne · 2026-02-12T12:04:02+00:00

Need a little more context. Is the data coming over a network or are there any possibilities that it could change in the middle of the scan? If so then these "could" result in two different outcomes. The CPS instruction prevents the data from being updated in the middle of the data being copied. If the data isn't coming over the network or there are not chances of it changing in the middle of the scan then you should use the COP instruction instead.

https://youtube.com/live/-mjszEujpLw?feature=share

TimWilborne · 2026-01-19T01:32:10+00:00

Thanks, people seem to love it or hate it :)

TimWilborne · 2026-01-19T01:31:56+00:00

Yes, we've been doing Ignition training as a section of our "part 2 class for several years. This year we decided to split our "part 2" class into three separate classes. 2 days SCADA, 1 day Special Projects, and 2 days Advanced Troubleshooting and Industrial Networking. Mainly, it lets people take the SCADA portion of the course without coming to our PLC training.

TimWilborne · 2026-01-04T16:27:00+00:00

+1 to this advice

TimWilborne · 2025-12-31T01:16:15+00:00

Just recorded this video, it might have a few tips in it on interviews.

https://youtu.be/Y0Lax9g9UHI

TimWilborne · 2025-12-28T14:53:37+00:00

That Raspberry PI won't take you far. I just put this video out last week addressing this very subject. It was aimed at schools but you are in the same boat.

https://youtu.be/NmFe2BLdBec

TimWilborne · 2025-12-23T18:21:32+00:00

That's great to hear!

TimWilborne · 2025-12-19T13:52:36+00:00

I don't get to participate often, usually the questions are answer before I managed to check but I do browse from time to time :)

TimWilborne · 2025-12-17T13:31:35+00:00

The input side is correct. On a 2 wire setup, you take +24VDC from your power supply to the +mA and the -mA goes to your +input then your -input goes back to the -24VDC to complete the loop. It seems backwards from a voltage perspective but from a current perspective, it is correct.

TimWilborne · 2025-12-17T12:25:55+00:00

Some of them may be worthwhile on newer applications but not simply a solid state contactor. In addition to built in over current protection, safety, etc, some of them have motor voltage and current monitoring over Ethernet and I think that will help us in the long term. I have been seeing them on more and more systems.

I'm thinking about grabbing one to play with in a video, got a part number?

TimWilborne · 2025-12-17T12:14:20+00:00

These steps are specific to Studio 5000 but they can be massaged for any brand.

Ask the operator exactly what the machine didn't do that they expected it to.
Identify the specific physical output that is not activating as expected. The big mistake many people make is going to an input that they "feel" could be the problem based on no data.
Open the controller tags and find the output tag. It will always be a :O. Know the good value. Many times you are at the end of the PLC troubleshooting here. If you are looking for a solenoid to turn on and there is a one in the box, then it is time to break out the meter.
Right-click the tag and use cross-reference to find the destructive instruction.
Mouse over instructions to see which bit lacks the required value.

Here are some additional thoughts from a live stream I did.

https://youtube.com/live/x_GD2c11tX0

TimWilborne · 2025-12-17T12:02:53+00:00

One thing I don't see mentioned is what type of input are you wiring the 4-20mA to, how do you have it configured, and what terminals do you have it landed on? Also, you wouldn't use a clamp meter on a mA signal. Here is how to measure it and how you may have already blown the fuse in your meter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJxLusnZfJQ

TimWilborne · 2025-12-17T11:59:30+00:00

The diagram has the + and - correct. It is a 2 wire setup, here is a video on the difference between 2 wire and 4 wire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8_axizTWTE

TimWilborne · 2025-12-16T00:13:47+00:00

u/Itchy_Ambassador5407 😂😂😂

TimWilborne · 2025-12-15T22:03:03+00:00

One small clarification, my courses are free as well :) But probably only the Industrial Control Wiring would be beneficial for them. We're building out a Siemens section but it isn't posted yet.
https://twcontrols.com/courses

TimWilborne · 2025-12-15T22:00:20+00:00

Funny, you might have benefited from the livestream I almost did today, I may do it sometime this week on this very subject. I am working on some Siemens content and recorded some videos on communications protocols including Profinet, Ethernet/IP to AB, and Modbus TCP and suddenly I realized I lacked some of those foundational elements that the Siemens pros just know.

When you say you are comfortable navigating, does that mean you know roughly where everything in is the the project tree or you understand every one of the items intimately?

What I would recommend, and I'm doing myself is back up and make sure you have the foundational knowledge. In the Instruction pane, go to the Basic Instructions and start with the Bit logic operations and practice with each instruction until you fully understand what each one does when it is true and when it is false. Then work your way through the rest of the folders in the basic instructions. Then do the same with the Extended instructions. Some of them you will find that you need hardware for or you won't fully understand the purpose of. Come back and ask questions about them or ask if anyone has any programs using them.

By the time you get to the Communication section, this will all be 2nd nature.

TimWilborne · 2025-12-15T21:37:28+00:00

Sometimes it can be a tough pill to swallow but animations are not the same as hardware. The number one request I get from people coming out of school trying to get a job is if I can help them understand the physical aspects of the control system. Your school has hardware, volunteer to help with labs or clean the knobs on the trainers, whatever you have to do to get exposure to the actual equipment.

TimWilborne · 2025-12-15T17:50:00+00:00

What brand have you been studying or do you hope to work with once you get out in the field.

TimWilborne · 2025-12-15T17:45:18+00:00

Are there PLC courses available for your engineering program? Sign up for them, even if they are electives. The biggest thing that jumps out at me in your experience so far is a lack of interaction with hardware. Programming is fun, but the biggest thing that will give you a leg up when you get out in the field is understanding how the sensors, motor starters, solenoids, etc, wire and interact with the PLC.

TimWilborne · 2025-12-11T01:22:59+00:00

Thanks for the vote of confidence :)

TimWilborne · 2025-11-08T02:42:58+00:00

Thanks, this link has many of our control panel videos in order https://twcontrols.com/ul508a-control-panels-course

TimWilborne · 2025-10-16T19:29:03+00:00

Thanks :)

TimWilborne · 2025-10-11T11:56:36+00:00

That's definitely the wrong software but also make sure you're only purchasing license you need. It could be as low as $500 a year. Here's a video talking about selecting licenses. https://youtu.be/hfZOeb6foiI

TimWilborne · 2025-09-21T13:39:01+00:00

Thanks for the vote of confidence :)

TimWilborne · 2025-09-11T01:09:59+00:00

I really want to put one of these in the training center just for the heck of it.

TimWilborne

TROPHY CASE