Category Archives: Industrial Automation

Build Your Own Non-Linear Response

It is common to control the speed of a pump based on a sensor reading.  But what if you want the pump speed to change at a different rate at different parts of the sensor range?  If the response isn’t … Continue reading

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Calculating the Volume of Irregular-Shaped Tanks

This is a quick demo and code listing I used to calculate the volume of a tank that is a combination of box, cylinder, and sphere shapes.  The controller is a Red Lion G3 Graphite.

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First Impressions of a RedLion Graphite HMI

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Stop Crimping RJ-45s

I am on a quest to convince people, especially controls and automation people, to stop crimping RJ-45 ends on Ethernet cables. Everyone else in the world terminates Ethernet to a punchdown block jack and then uses a pre-tested, pre-molded patch … Continue reading

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Review of the YHS-302A Process Calibrator Meter With Multimeter

For about 1/4 the cost of a Fluke, I decided to take a risk and buy a Chinese process meter.  This company makes a clone of the 787, but I opted for the YHS-302A model (which now seems to be … Continue reading

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Data Type Comparison Chart

When I switch between different systems, I get confused about what size a certain data type represents , so I made this chart:

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Wire Theft Detection System

Here is a pretty neat little project I just finished up that will detect if wire is stolen, and then send out email and text messages alerting a team of people of the event.  It is in a remote area, … Continue reading

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Time Average in Ladder Logic (ControlLogix AOI)

I’ve needed a time-average function several times, so I figure other people have also.  Here is a handy AOI which makes it easy to use in a ControlLogix ladder program.  (AB has the Moving Average MAVE instruction in function block and … Continue reading

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Using WonderWare Script to Check for Correct Number Format

Here is how I used a WonderWare window script to check to make sure the batch number entered by the operator meets the following requirements: must be 9 digits first digit is a 8 2nd and 3rd digit are the … Continue reading

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Use Logix GSV WallClockTime for Pulse Bit

If you are using the AB ControlLogix platform and want a bit to cycle on and off at a consistent rate, you can address one of the bits of the register that represents the clock microseconds.  (GSV WallClockTime)  The register … Continue reading

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