Some devices, like switches, are non-polar; you can connect them in either direction. What makes diodes so special, and how can you tell the right way from the wrong way?
Some devices, like switches, are non-polar; you can connect them in either direction. What makes diodes so special, and how can you tell the right way from the wrong way?
Many online sources explain how to reverse a 3-phase motor; this article will discuss the electrical principles that…
Many online sources explain how to reverse a 3-phase motor; this article will discuss the electrical principles that define why it works and how the phase relationships determine the rotation direction.
With a C++ extension, monitoring of status and warning messages can easily be displayed with OpenPLC. Arduino PLC…
With a C++ extension, monitoring of status and warning messages can easily be displayed with OpenPLC. Arduino PLC variables can then be observed using a serial terminal or monitor.
Learn how to use Festo's FluidSIM software to design and simulate a pneumatic cylinder extension system using GRAFCET as…
Learn how to use Festo's FluidSIM software to design and simulate a pneumatic cylinder extension system using GRAFCET as the control method.
Protection against faults is crucial for any electrical system. This article examines various protective devices,…
Protection against faults is crucial for any electrical system. This article examines various protective devices, highlighting their roles and best use cases to ensure system integrity and longevity.
Learn how to use Festo’s FluidSIM software to design and simulate electro-pneumatic systems, featuring a reciprocating…
Learn how to use Festo’s FluidSIM software to design and simulate electro-pneumatic systems, featuring a reciprocating actuator example using solenoid valves and limit sensors.
Every automated cell requires a ‘brain’ in order to achieve the required tasks. How do you determine the necessary…
Every automated cell requires a ‘brain’ in order to achieve the required tasks. How do you determine the necessary I/O, communication protocols, and processor necessary for controlling your system?
Sensors with timer functions advance modern automation systems, enhancing the precision and flexibility of in-process…
Sensors with timer functions advance modern automation systems, enhancing the precision and flexibility of in-process controls to ease the strict requirement for an external, clock-based logic CPU.
This article investigates the basic principles of inverters, different types of DC-to-AC conversion, and common…
This article investigates the basic principles of inverters, different types of DC-to-AC conversion, and common applications for generating AC voltage in manufacturing.
We know what a circuit breaker is meant to do: stop the flow of electricity in case of a fault or failure. But just like…
We know what a circuit breaker is meant to do: stop the flow of electricity in case of a fault or failure. But just like fuses, breakers and overloads respond differently depending on the load.
This article investigates the basic components and wiring conventions for common three-phase motor starter…
This article investigates the basic components and wiring conventions for common three-phase motor starter configurations, including direct online, reversing, and star-delta.
Complete wiring guide for 3-phase motor starters with and without overload (OL) relays.
Complete wiring guide for 3-phase motor starters with and without overload (OL) relays.
This article investigates the basic qualities that make up a safety PLC, what distinguishes a safety PLC from a standard…
This article investigates the basic qualities that make up a safety PLC, what distinguishes a safety PLC from a standard model, and the reasons for which a safety PLC may be critical.
Have you ever heard of a relay? Of course you have. There are many different kinds, plus hundreds of different trade…
Have you ever heard of a relay? Of course you have. There are many different kinds, plus hundreds of different trade lingo names. What are some of the most common, and how do we use them?
Safety devices have two main purposes, both of them meant for (you guessed it) safety. They protect both machine and…
Safety devices have two main purposes, both of them meant for (you guessed it) safety. They protect both machine and operator from harm. But what’s inside, and how do these switches work?
In order to trace control system problems to the core, the ability to read and interpret various resources, from…
In order to trace control system problems to the core, the ability to read and interpret various resources, from facility-level diagrams to machine-level wiring layouts, is critical.
A complete diagram for wiring nearly any kind of discrete I/O module, including digital, AC, or relay, including both…
A complete diagram for wiring nearly any kind of discrete I/O module, including digital, AC, or relay, including both sourcing and sinking varieties.
Protecting equipment and personnel from overcurrent dangers, like sparks and fires, is the primary job of the humble…
Protecting equipment and personnel from overcurrent dangers, like sparks and fires, is the primary job of the humble fuse, one of the most basic, yet critical of all safety devices.
We depend on circuit breakers all the time, even when you have a day off or work from home. These overcurrent protection…
We depend on circuit breakers all the time, even when you have a day off or work from home. These overcurrent protection devices keep machines running safely, reducing the risk of fires and arcing.
A flasher can easily be implemented using interlocking timers in a PLC environment on an Arduino Uno using OpenPLC,…
A flasher can easily be implemented using interlocking timers in a PLC environment on an Arduino Uno using OpenPLC, UiFlow Blockly Code, and a programmable HMI-based LCD unit.