How to Find your Perfect Industrial PLC

Introduction

Finding the right PLC controller for each specific application may seem complicated, but let's look at some tools to make the process easier. 

Key Points

The most important aspect is to focus your decisions on your real needs, but always take into account possible future extensions. The first characteristics you should consider are the following:

1. Device type (PLC / Panel PC for industrial automation)

2. CPU

3. Number and type of I/Os 

4. Communications

5. Price

Related links 

Basics about digital inputs of an industrial controller
Read >>

Basics about digital outputs of an industrial PLC 
Read >>

First configuration with an industrial Panel PC
Read >>

Tutorial

• First, you have to click on Shop:

• Select the Type of Device: if you are looking for a PLC or a Panel PC / HMI. Choose the type of CPU, based on the different shields that we use as CPU:

• Select the required number of Inputs, Outputs and Relay. 

  
  
  

• Choose if you want Ethernet, LoRa, GPRS, and Wifi & Bluetooth LE connection.
  

As you can see, in this example the search engine selects the Raspberry PLC Ethernet 21 I/Os Analog/Digital PLUS (Raspberry Pi 4B 2GB RAM Included + 8 GB pSLC SIM W/Linux) according to your requirements. The device you can see on the right is the configurable option if you want to adjust some requirements.

You should also note that the fields are 100% accurate, not a maximum or a minimum (for example, if we select 13 Digital Inputs, you will see only the devices with this exact amount of Digital Inputs). Therefore, if you do not know one of the fields exactly, you do noty need to fill it in. For more detailed specifications, you can refer the User Guide or Datasheet of the specific device.