The document provides an overview of basic ladder logic diagrams. It defines ladder logic as a programming language used to develop programs for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) based on circuit diagrams. The key parts of ladder diagrams are identified as rungs connecting a hot line and neutral line. Common symbols such as normally open contacts, normally closed contacts, and coils are described. The document also outlines how PLCs scan ladder logic programs from top to bottom and discusses translating logic gates to equivalent ladder diagrams.
The document provides an overview of basic ladder logic diagrams. It defines ladder logic as a programming language used to develop programs for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) based on circuit diagrams. The key parts of ladder diagrams are identified as rungs connecting a hot line and neutral line. Common symbols such as normally open contacts, normally closed contacts, and coils are described. The document also outlines how PLCs scan ladder logic programs from top to bottom and discusses translating logic gates to equivalent ladder diagrams.
The document provides an overview of basic ladder logic diagrams. It defines ladder logic as a programming language used to develop programs for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) based on circuit diagrams. The key parts of ladder diagrams are identified as rungs connecting a hot line and neutral line. Common symbols such as normally open contacts, normally closed contacts, and coils are described. The document also outlines how PLCs scan ladder logic programs from top to bottom and discusses translating logic gates to equivalent ladder diagrams.
The document provides an overview of basic ladder logic diagrams. It defines ladder logic as a programming language used to develop programs for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) based on circuit diagrams. The key parts of ladder diagrams are identified as rungs connecting a hot line and neutral line. Common symbols such as normally open contacts, normally closed contacts, and coils are described. The document also outlines how PLCs scan ladder logic programs from top to bottom and discusses translating logic gates to equivalent ladder diagrams.
Learning objectives • At the end of this lecture trainee should be able to; ✓Define ladder logic diagrams ✓ Identify parts of ladder diagram ✓ Interpret ladder symbols ✓Write ladder logic diagrams ✓Compile ladder logic diagram Introduction to Ladder Diagram • Ladder logic is a programming language that creates and represents a program through ladder diagrams that are based on circuit diagrams. • It is mainly used in developing programs or software for programmable logic controllers (PLCs), which are used in industrial applications. Introduction • Based on the ‘’International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) ’’ standards, PLC programming languages are classified into five main standard languages namely; ✓ Ladder Diagram (LD) ’’ ✓ Instruction List (IL) ✓ Structured Text (ST) ✓ Sequential Function Chart (SFC) and ✓ Functional Block Diagram (FBD) Note: Among all, Ladder Diagram is the mostly used in industry. Ladder Diagram cont… • Advantages of LD over other types of programming languages. ✓ LD is simple logic construction and more reliable than an electronic circuit controller. ✓Easy to learn and read the program. ✓Every programming symbol performs specific actions. ✓It having good representation for discrete logic ✓Easy to troubleshoot ✓Shut down the power without the switch Introduction cont…. • The language evolved from originally being a method for documenting the design and construction of relay racks used in manufacturing and process control. • Each relay rack represented by a symbol on the ladder diagram has connections to devices below them that look like vertical rails. • The relay symbols themselves look like rungs in a ladder. Introduction cont…. • The programming language most commonly used with programmable logic controllers is the ladder diagram • Ladder diagram programming is built into the software of most PLCs Introduction cont…. • Ladder logic language closely resembles hardwired relay circuits • The symbols represent an instruction set that perform various logic and on-off functions • There are five categories of instructions – Relay Logic – Timers – Counters – Data Manipulation – Arithmetic Details of ladder diagram • The ladder diagram consists of two vertical lines namely; ✓Hot line (left most line) ✓Neutral line (right most line) The complete circuit in ladder logic is connected with horizontal lines called rungs of the ladder, between these two vertical lines i.e hot line and neutral line. Details cont…. • To understand the ladder logic diagrams, one has to know how it works and getting clear about some adopted conventions which are; • At both (left and right ends) the vertical lines of the diagram represent the power rail between which the circuit is connected. • The left and right vertical lines are called hot line and neutral lines respectively. The power flow is considered to be from hot line across the rungs to neutral rail. Details cont…. • In the ladder diagram each rung define the operation of control process. • To understand the ladder logic the diagram is read from top to bottom. The top rung also read from left to right i.e. hot rail to neutral rail and the second rail is also read from left to right and so on. Ladder diagram Transformation of ladder diagram
• Ladder circuit Scanning of ladder diagram • When the PLC is in its run mode, it goes trough the entire ladder program to the end, the end rung of the program being clearly denoted and then promptly resume at the start. • This procedure of going through all rungs of te program is termed a cycle. The end rung might be indicated by a block with the word END or RESET for return since the program promptly return to its beginning. Scanning cont….. • In ladder diagram every rung must have an input or a set of input signals and it must end with at least one output. • The term input is used for a control action such as closing the contacts of a switch and output of a sensor is used as an input to the PLC • The term output is used for the device connected to the output of the PLC eg. A motor, solenoid switch etc. Scanning cont…. • The inputs and outputs are all identified by their addresses, the notation used depending on the manufacture. This is the address of the input or output in the memory of the PLC • A particular device can appear in more than one rung of a ladder. For example we might have a relay which switches on one or more devices. The same letter and or numbers are used to label the device in each situation. Scanning cont… • Electrical devices are shown in their normal condition. Thus a switch which is normally open until some object closes it is shown open on the ladder diagram. A switch that is normally closed is shown closed. Basic symbols used in ladder diagram symbols Ladder Diagram Contact Symbols
Normally Open Contact (NO) Normally Closed Contact (NC)
standardized in the IEC standard, the symbols can vary depending on the PLC programming software you are using. • But generally the symbols are very similar and the variations are mostly superficial. Commonly differences in ladder logic symbols • SET/RESET or LATCH/UNLATCH While in a Siemens PLCs this is called the SET/RESET function and the symbols are similar to the above, other PLC brands can use another variation of this function. • Allen Bradley and some others call the function LATCH/UNLATCH and use slightly different symbols. Differences in symbol cot…. • The biggest difference is the letters in the coils. While the SET/RESET has an S and R inside the function coils respectively, the LATCH/UNLATCH can also have an L and U inside the coil symbols respectively. Positive/Negative transition-sensing symbols • Both the contacts and the coil symbols for the positive and negative transition-sensing are often referred to as positive or negative edge contacts or coils. • The name probably comes from the electrical engineering aspect of the function of these contacts and coils. As the name of the ladder logic symbols also tells, these functions are made to register either positive or negative changes. Positive and Negative symbols cont….. • The function of these contacts is to check for a positive or negative change in the input signal. In electronic signals that change is called a positive or negative edge. Ladder logic representation • Ladder circuits have some common characteristics such as; ➢The power bar on the left hand side ➢Current flows from switches combined to allow flow ➢One or more relay coils at the right ➢Neutral or negative power bar at the right Ladder diagram Ladder circuit diagram Ladder diagram cont…
Push button Push button Control Relay 1
When a push button is pressed it allow current flow to energize
a control relay (CR1) Placing control devices on rung • The control devices must be arranged along the rung either in series, parallel or both to control the flow of current. Consider the following ladder diagram Ladder diagram with multiple rungs Worked examples • 1) Draw a ladder diagram that will cause the output pilot light (PL2) to be on when selector switch (SS2) is closed, push button (PB4) is closed and limit switch (LS3) is open. Note: (no I/O address yet) ✓First ask oneself ‘’what is the output’’? Ans: The output is PL2 So the coil labeled PL2 is put on the right side of the rung Examples cont………. • Secondly, consider the type of the connections of the contacts to use. Since all switches must be on a certain position to turn on the PL2, a series connection is the best option. • Thirdly, the type of the contact is determined by the switch position to turn the PL2. Example cont…… • SS2 closed
• PB4 closed
• LS3 open
Equivalent circuit SS2 PB4 LS3 PL2 Logic diagrams Vs ladder diagram • The AND Gate
A B X The figure shows the PLC ladder logic of AND gate, which shows the output coil turns “ON” when both the input will be ON AND Gate: Y = A * B The OR gate
OR Gate: Y = A + B The figure shows the PLC ladder logic of the OR gate, which shows the output coil turns “ON” when any one of the inputs will be ON. The NAND gate
The figure shows the plc ladder logic
conversion of the NAND gate, which shows that when all the inputs are ON, then the output will be OFF The NOR gate
X Y Z The figure shows the PLC ladder logic of the NOR logic gate, which shows that Output will only turn ON when all the inputs will be OFF The XNOR gate L
The X-NOR will give a false
output if either, but not both of its two inputs are true The XOR gate ABX
A B X
The exclusive OR gate will give a true
A B output if either, but not both of its two inputs are true
