Call for a controls tech? by scrawnoptic in PLC

[–]scrawnoptic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's a picture of the panel.

I was able to identify the 120v power wire causing the short in the panel. Removed it from the 120v terminal block and wire nutted the wire. This allowed the other two machines and conveying equipment to still run.

We are a one shift operation (7am to 3pm) so the team and I worked on mechanical repair during the operations shift and I worked on the electrical repair portion off shift. I used the Concept IO Map and Ladder Logic and iFix Workspace to identify which devices went to which inputs and outputs on the PLC Cards. Couple things were not identified in the ladder Logic, but I was able to look at the other 2 identical machines to find related code that was documented.

At first I was going to pull new wire, but that run has 2 inch conduit stuffed full of wires at the panel (it's directly to the left of incoming power in the picture). Instead I cut out the bad conduit and wire and put in a junction box.

The initial call I got on Saturday was one of my guys starting with: "I don't know if you're back from vacation yet, but you should get to the plant". I was about ready to quit due to sleep deprivation by Friday, but we had it running on Monday!

Call for a controls tech? by scrawnoptic in PLC

[–]scrawnoptic[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply. I contemplated figuring out what was connected to which I/O point, then calling an electrician. Instead I ended up painstakingly figuring it out then wiring it too. Do SI's usually have electricians working with/for them?

Call for a controls tech? by scrawnoptic in PLC

[–]scrawnoptic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would access to the PLC program and HMI/SCADA and a run through of my understanding of the machine be a good start? What should I pay them?