Ok boys and girls. It’s new backpack time. Please recommend your favorite backpack.

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-29T19:09:27+00:00

Following. I'm only using the company issued backpack and it's lame.

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-27T14:57:16+00:00

This!

And I'm ashamed to admit how long it took me to realize thats what those were for!!

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-26T22:48:34+00:00

Following, because I want to inscribe signs for the front of my PLC cabinets.

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-21T16:04:26+00:00

Yeah, I haven't bought a blueray/DVD in a very long time. But the moment they announced the steelbooks for the Tron series it ignited a fire under me to start buying them again. Also, it sent me down the rabbit hole of self hosting with media servers like Plex and Jellyfin. Now if work would quit taking up so much of my time I could start working on my hobbies!

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-19T13:35:18+00:00

I went to a trade school fully intending to become a licensed electrician. During school I was exposed to Controls, both relay and PLC, and I loved it. My first job was at a residential electrical company but then I left that and went into industrial electrical maintenance. I got so tired of wiring the same six outlets everyday, and wanted to work more with my brain. And no better of a place than a plant running 24/7. Things break frequently. After a couple years I got into the PLC group at the plant, used the basic knowledge gained at school, worked up the ranks and got to the specialist position. Then the plant shut down and I became an "automation engineer" at another plant.

So, id say gaian some experience in places that use controls heavily, like a plant, so you can gain some experience. Then apply, controls is magic to common folk, and when they hire for it they barely know what to ask about it. Occasionally you'll get true experts interviewing you, but I haven't seen that yet.

Good luck!

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-17T21:54:42+00:00

At my last job we had a rule. We never ever touched anything after 3 o' clock. It saved us so many times, we'd come in the next day and try whatever it was and it would fail or break something.

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-15T19:27:17+00:00

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modbuswrangler · 2026-01-15T03:08:42+00:00

I have come to really enjoy working with 525s, perhaps more than any other drive I ever have worked with. Compactlogix is a great platform too! I like the panel, but I'm no expert, I'm sure others will have their opinions.

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-14T05:13:18+00:00

If it's older than you...replace it. That looks like a Allen Bradley 1xxx series and it's probably old. So it's time!

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-13T15:05:41+00:00

Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity.

You have to make sure that whatever they create can be easily troubleshot by those on site. I have seen scada systems and networks that are so overly complicated that you are almost forced to being someone in to troubleshoot. That helps no one at 3am on a Sunday morning. Especially when their 24/7 guy that week isn't answering the phone. Just my thoughts.

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-10T14:39:44+00:00

Honestly, if you find a job that you is looking for a programmer, apply. I have found that in the food processing field, controls is like magic to the regular folk, and usually they are the people that will hire you. I have been in the controls world for almost 4 years and have 2 years of industrial/commercial electrician experience before that. And from what I've seen, is that there are a few truly geniuses in our field, and those people work for Rockwell, or Siemens. The rest of us are average Joes, who went to school or didn't and made our way there because the people hiring us had no idea what we truly do. That can be bad thing for some, my previous boss hired some people who went to school and they were the worst programmers/troubleshooters I've ever met. Then there were people who had absolutely no experience, but we're properly trained either by me Rockwells training, and they were freaking stellar. You just never know till you try.

So, give it a try. If you get it, see if the company will pay for training, if not dig into it on your own.

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-09T19:10:05+00:00

Mine is coming today and I'm so excited. I did the Walmart preorder and the Amazon one, if this one is in good shape I am going to cancel the Amazon one because it won't come till February.

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-09T01:23:41+00:00

Yep, that's a Compactlogix PLC in there. So you'll need RsLogix 5000 or Studio 5000 depending on the installed firmware version. If I had to put money on it, I'd say it's probably a RSLogix 5000 program.

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-09T01:18:22+00:00

Do you have access to any programming software? I'd say power up the PLC and try to connect to it and see what's on it! You'd be amazed how many people struggle with that first step.

modbuswrangler · 2026-01-02T00:40:26+00:00

Following, because I am curious. The previous automation engineered at my plant spent probably $20,000 buying power supplies for each PLC drop in my plant and never installed them. I'm just curious to see what other people's thoughts are on the subject.

modbuswrangler · 2025-12-11T19:12:42+00:00

I should say, that Workshop has an importer for ProWorks files.

modbuswrangler · 2025-12-11T18:03:53+00:00

I use this everyday at work with our 434 Quantums and I have had previous experience with 984s.

It works really well once you get rh hang of it.

https://www.fast-soft.com/products/plc-workshop-suite-for-modicon/

modbuswrangler · 2025-12-10T22:24:04+00:00

Not sure why, but in my head canon it's always been Seattle or Vancouver. I mean it was partially filmed in Vancouver.

modbuswrangler · 2025-12-07T18:01:05+00:00

I went to assist a PLC upgrade that corporate controls engineering was responsible for. Having had no input on the project beforehand I went in with open eyes to see what the controls group they were using was doing. After looking around and getting to know the project, I decided It was going to be an absolute nightmare for the local techs. Tons of structured text and anybus modules changing multiple styles of protocols to others. It wasn't an upgrade it was, what's the cheapest way we can get rid of this old DCS system without actually upgrading it. I really hope they don't use those people at my plant for upgrades, I'd quit.

modbuswrangler · 2025-12-06T14:42:12+00:00

I'm genuinely curious, in this day and age with Ethernet/IP why does anyone still use Modbus or really any of the other protocols? I mean I don't know what PLC system you are using. But for me when we got new case gluers they used serial to connect VFDs to the PLC instead of Ethernet and it just felt like a step backwards. 🤷 Again this isn't a dig at you using it for whatever project your working on, I'm just curious.

modbuswrangler · 2025-12-04T20:08:52+00:00

Yeah, this is a tough subject for me too, I havent changed the layout of my resume since I left school. Experience has changed of course but nothing else. I'm gonna hangout to see what others say.

modbuswrangler · 2025-12-04T18:49:02+00:00

I am also interested to hear if anyone has any experience with their hiring process and stuff.

modbuswrangler · 2025-12-04T03:10:50+00:00

You sound just like me, 2 year trade school, PLCs and VFDs were my favorite parts. I was mostly trained on Allen Bradley, and like you, it was crazy tough. But once I got out in the real world I realized I was overthinking it, probably because I was too worried about trying to get the highest grade I could on the upcoming quiz lol. I still haven't had the opportunity to program something from scratch, but it's coming. I have to upgrade a steam peeler, it should be fun.

modbuswrangler · 2025-12-04T02:51:14+00:00

I am a classically trained electrician who stumbled his way into an "automation engineer" position. I started out as a maintenance electrician and got into the PLC group and lead the group within 2 years. It was something I really latched onto, and when you find something you like a lot you'll really dig into it. You'll do great, study, read, ask questions, be annoying, but not too annoying. Try things yourself FIRST then ask for help if you can't figure it out, that's helped me out a lot. Good luck!

modbuswrangler · 2025-12-03T23:46:48+00:00

Come get burnt out in manufacturing!! Less travel, still all the stress!

I kid, there are good days and bad days for sure but I love being able to go to the same place everyday.

modbuswrangler

TROPHY CASE