IEC Paradigms (Level 4)

Explore the IEC standard of programming paradigms, distinguish proprietary from standard languages, and gain a high-level understanding of each paradigm's strengths and limits as a foundation for hands-on learning.

Explore the IEC 61131-3 standard, which defines five PLC programming paradigms—ladder diagrams, instruction lists, function block diagrams, structured text, and sequential function charts—and how manufacturers adapt them as guidelines.

Explore ladder diagram and ladder logic as a foundational PLC programming paradigm, comparing its strengths in layout and relay visualization with other languages, while noting its pros, cons, and ubiquity.

Discover function block diagrams as a graphical programming paradigm that uses blocks with defined inputs and outputs to reveal processing stages and data flow, alongside ladder logic as a reference.

Explore sequential function charts as a rigid top-down flow with step-by-step stages that cannot jump back to earlier steps, while highlighting the current stage.

Explore the instruction list, its unfriendly, textual format, and why it lacks graphical flow; learn its memory and speed trade-offs on modern PCs, and why it's deprecated.

Structured text is fast, text-based, and highly portable across platforms, matching familiar languages like JavaScript and C; however, it lacks graphical visualization and is less approachable for non-programmers.

Examine continuous function charts (non-iec) and sequential function diagrams, showing upfront planning needs, rigid process flow, and clear stage visibility, while noting their cumbersome nature when altering steps.

Start installing and exploring the development environments, download and install software, tour the interface, identify menus and navigation, and prepare for software usage.

Install the ccw connected components workbench by extracting archives and running the setup with default options, following simple, guided steps for a smooth, error-free ccw installation.

Explore the connected components workbench interface, project organizer, and toolbox for creating new projects and programs in a Visual Studio–based environment, with no simulation unless you have HPLC hardware.

Install the automation builder by downloading the basic version with PLCC simulation, run the installer, and complete the setup for an initial software tour in the next lecture.

Activate the automation builder with a basic pc-locked license via online activation, then explore its interface to run simulations and debugging in the central work window.

Explore RSLogix 5000 and Studio 5000 environments, notice similar interfaces with naming differences, use the main window, project explorer, and controls panel to drag and drop and test via emulation.

Compare differences between five hundred and five thousand one environments, examine scope and visibility of variables, and explore tags versus registers for rewriting five hundred logic to five thousand one.

Learn how data tags replace memory registers for memory allocation. Create named indicators like pump run indicator with selectable data types, avoiding hard memory addresses.

Explore how scope and visibility differ between logic's 500 and 5000 environments, showing global, main program, and controller level scope for tags and memory across ladders and routines.

Create custom data types like a tank with boolean switches and alarms, then scale to many tanks using arrays and a tank selector for a single routine.

Compare 500 and 5000 IO addressing by wiring digital input slot 1 and analog input slot 2, addressing with direct memory locations or tag aliases like DI_0.

Compare how 500 uses the sep for scale with parameters to convert analog inputs, and explain how 5000 lacks sep, requiring a compute instruction to emulate scaling.

Compare 500 and 5000 project structures, showing navigation, program files, modules, and unscheduled programs, and introduce creating ladders, routines, sequential function charts, functional block diagrams, and structured text.

Introduce structured text, functional block diagrams, sequential function charts, and a refresher on ladder diagrams, exploring when to use each paradigm and why ladder logic remains powerful.

Set up an iris logic's 5000 project for emulation or real plc, add racks and analog modules, enable channels, and explore ladder, sfc, and fbd programming with tag access.

Explore a tank fill and drain process to learn PLC programming with digital and analog level sensors, alarms at low low and high high, plus pump and valve control.

Master ladder diagram basics by building a tank control system with a state integer managing off, standby, fill, drain, and alarm modes, plus start/stop and a five-second delay.

Design and implement ladder diagram logic for drain and alarm modes, using booleans, timers, and one-shots to control pump and valve with triggers and interrupts.

Develop ladder diagram logic to trigger low and high alarms with one-shot triggers, boolean datapoints, and alarm bits, and implement mode transitions and reset handling for safe restart.

Emulate ladder diagram control for a tank system, driving run modes, level switches, and alarms while illustrating state transitions and the limitations of ladder logic.

Explore sequential function charts and learn to build a machine process flow with steps, transitions, and the initial step, including timing, alarms, data access, and action qualifiers.

Build a sequential function chart project, define a stop state and a standby mode, and map exit paths from standby: fail, drain, low, high, and off, while setting mode tags.

Demonstrates how sequential function charts struggle with multi-mode transitions, highlighting stop, standby, fill, drain, alarms, and the push for a clear linear progression supported by later emulation.

Build and wire a sequential function chart by defining stand by, operation, and alarm steps, and implement start, stop, and alarm reset logic.

Demonstrate sequential function chart emulation by configuring an initial step, verifying the controller, and monitoring transitions from off to standby to operation. Discuss alarm handling and planning ahead.

Master function block diagrams (fbd) as an alternative to ladder logic, using add, subtract, and multiply blocks to visualize real-time processes. Wire inputs, outputs, and tags, then test with emulation.

Explore configuring digital and analog alarms in a functional block diagram, with high high and low low thresholds, 5000 ms duration, and operator messages with tags.

Explore function blocks in a graphical interface, scaling analog inputs, selecting tank levels, and combining one-shot, timers, counters, and math blocks to create reusable blocks.

Build a function block to control system mode in a tank model. Use ladder diagram and FBD, with start, stop, alarms, and mode output.

Wire and configure start, stop, alarms, and mode logic in a functional block diagram, enabling low-low and high-high alarms with digital alarms and normal mode checks.

Develop and wire alarm blocks with low and high alarms, timers, and normal operating mode to energize tags and drive the mode display in a functional block diagram.

Analyze functional block diagram emulation by debugging mode control, alarms, and parallel logic, while building a custom function block and integrating ladder logic in an emulator.

Explore structured text in industrial automation by building a scale function block, setting input and output ranges, and wiring tags in a live demonstration of parameter handling.

Configure one shot blocks, alarms, and analog alarms with structured text in a hands-on walkthrough. Define tags, enable in, input bit, and output bit, test in run mode.

Explore structured text fundamentals by implementing if-then conditions, mode-based pumping logic, and simple loop constructs. Learn how to combine paradigms for faster, clearer programming.

Set up a new structured text program, define modes 0–5, and implement one-shot blocks for stop, start, and alarm reset with a five-second fill delay timer.

Develop timer-driven structured text logic with one shots, delays, and mode transitions. Configure booleans for pumps and valves to manage normal, fill, drain, and film modes.

Learn to implement structured text programs in an emulator, managing mode transitions, alarms, and alarm reset, with device states (pump, valve) from standby to cruise and film mode.

Explore three CCW paradigms in the connected components work bench development environment, compare with ladder diagrams and 5000, and build a basic project to practice practicals without simulation.

Open CCW, create a new project, add a micro 800 controller, and explore hardware options and three programming paradigms—structured text, ladders, and function block diagrams.

Implement a tank level project in CCW across paradigms—text, block diagram, and ladder—to scale an analog input and trigger latched high and low alarms with notification bits, silence, and reset.

Explore ladder diagram instruction in a CCW environment, mastering ladder objects, coils, contacts, one-shot pulses, and timers, then build, troubleshoot, and simulate alarms for analog signals.

Develop ladder diagram logic by scaling an input signal, evaluating low and high alarms with comparators, timers, and one-shots, and configuring notifications, holds, and resets.

Explore function blocks and ccw to build ladder-like logic with addition blocks, variables, and tags for alarm logic, wiring inputs and outputs and using a retentive timer.

Craft a functional block diagram to scale inputs, compare levels, run five second timers, and drive L-L and H-H alarms with notifications and resets.

Explore structured text programming by using function block diagrams and instruction blocks to configure a scalar, scale a real input, and verify your program.

Develop structured text logic to trigger alarms and notifications from a level input using two five-second timers. Learn timer management, one-shot pulses, and handling alarm silence and reset in CCW.

Explore all five IEC paradigms and the semi-proprietary continuous function chart through hands-on, real-time practice in the automation builder environment, and build a portfolio piece for interviews.

Set up a new project in automation builder to explore IEC paradigms, including ladder diagrams, structured text, FBD, and SFC, and run in simulation mode with an AC 500 processor.

Learn ladder diagram instruction for PLCs, creating networks, defining variables, and using function blocks, one shots, and enable boxes; understand ladder limitations like basic comparisons and testing online.

Create a digital alarm using a memory register input with a five-second time delay to trigger the alarm, plus a reset and a counter that tallies up to 100 alarms.

Develop a ladder diagram to build a digital alarm by wiring a timer, hold and interrupt logic, and a counter with a 100-count preset, plus an alarm reset.

Practice ladder diagram simulation in simulation mode, trigger and reset alarms with control f7, observe alarm counts, and note three blocks, relay-logic, analog input limitations, and structured text.

Learn function block diagrams by building small, networked blocks in a structured fbd environment, using inputs, booleans, timers, and math blocks to prepare for a final project tying six paradigms.

Implement a running-state bit and an hour meter in ABB project 2 that tracks hours, minutes, and seconds, with an independent reset for the total timer, capturing every second.

Develop and wire a functional block diagram to track time using a timer, counting seconds, minutes, and hours with resets.

Build an hour meter in a functional block diagram by configuring two additional counters with resets for seconds, minutes, and hours, using one-shot tags and millisecond timing.

Simulate a functional block diagram by building timers and counters, debugging with reset and not blocks, and validating run-time behavior in online mode.

Build and invoke a timer in structured text and declare variables in a simulation. Use a while loop to count to 100 and reflect on readability and cross-environment migration.

Learn to model a pump control using structured text with hand, off, auto modes, a flow switch protection, and a 10-second time delay, including an alarm reset for safe operation.

Develop and test a structured text project by configuring push buttons, one-shot triggers, and modes. Implement pump control with hand and auto modes, flow delay timers, and alarm reset logic.

Simulate and debug a structured text program by verifying hand mode, flow alarm, and timer resets. Update references, remove faulty if statements, and ensure pump and alarm logic respond correctly.

Explore instruction list programming, including ladder diagram concepts, L.D. commands, loads, stores, timers, conditional and unconditional jumps, and simulation mode, with practical hands-on practice.

Program an instruction list using function blocks to read an analog input, increment by 1000 each second, reset at 16000, scale to 0–16383; toggle between one second and five seconds.

Develop instruction list programs in structured text with a timer-driven updater that adds 1000 every second, resets at 16000, using Boole to switch between 1 second and 5 second intervals.

test and debug an instruction list simulation by running a one-second timer, updating a test value, and resetting at 16,000 using conditional jumps, clock handling, and scaling.

Explore sequential function charts (SFC) basics by adding steps and transitions, configuring branches, energizing transitions, and using entry and exit actions with simulation.

Orchestrate a three-step sequence with 10-second transitions from step one to two, a manual close of a ball to enter step three, and 10-second step three guided by a toggle.

Develop a simple sequential function chart (SFC) program by building steps, transitions, timers, ladders, booleans, and counters (PV/CTU) to control and monitor TRs.

Explore sequential function chart simulation by building and testing step transitions, energizing and de-energizing inputs across steps one to three, and counting with a 10-second timer to validate automatic cycling.

Explore continuous function programming with flexible function block diagramming, building a CFC using inputs, timer, labels, and jumps, and run the simulation to count ten seconds.

Program a simple 10-second game in the CFC paradigm using the automation builder, toggling a ball to maximize a score, with a reset to restart the timer.

Set up a continuous function chart (CFC) with reset and play buttons, a 10-second game timer, and a counter driven by run and not logic.

Build and debug a continuous function chart simulation by implementing a game timer, scoring controls, and reset logic, with enable scoring tied to a time inequality.

Explore multi-paradigm programming by learning how to share data across paradigms using global variables, defining and initializing globals, and accessing them from any program file.

Build an ABB tank system with level, temperature, pump, valve, and mixer, cycling offline to stability using ladder diagrams, function block diagrams, structured text, CFC, and instruction lists.

Design a space shuttle mode control using a sequential function chart, define five modes and transitions, implement mode 2 counting, and plan an hour meter with instruction list programming.

Explore multi-paradigm development by building and wiring a timer meter: accumulate time, seconds, minutes, and hours with resets, roll-ups, and integration into the main program.

Implement offline ladder diagrams and structured text to control four devices—pump, mixer, heater, and valve—while configuring startup sequencing with level and temperature monitoring, scaling, and timer-based soft-start logic.

Design device control logic with start and stop signals for pumps, heaters, valves, and mixers, using one-shot signals and timer delays in a PLC-style program.

Configure plc-based multi-paradigm control to start and stop pump, heater, and mixer, manage level and temperature, implement a 30-second mixer timer, valve control, and alarms.

Learn to configure PLC alarms in a multi-paradigm development flow by using temperature and level limits, 10-second delays, one shots, and release timers.

Learn alarm handling, including alarm exists checks and transitions to stability or operation modes. Implement temperature and level control using heater, pump, and valve with delays.

Implement stability mode in a PLC program by setting initial transitions, handling alarm fixed and offline signals, and driving fill, drain, and cool routines with pump, valve, and heater controls.

Develop a plc simulation by wiring a start button, defining mode transitions, and using fbd and structured text to manage alarms, offline states, and simulation variables for temperature and level.

Explore timer-driven simulation logic for a temperature and level control system, updating signals via heater, pump, and valve checks with refresh triggers and multi-paradigm design.

Load and assess tank level from PLCC, use booleans to raise or lower, and coordinate pump and valve with fill and drain rates. Initialize, manage alarms, and handle return values.

Declare and migrate local variables into a global variable list, update references, and clean up the project for a clear multi-paradigm simulation workflow.

Tackle real-world debugging in a multi-paradigm simulation, fixing semicolon and type-mismatch errors, refining globals and timers, and guiding the project to a clean build.

Explore debugging a multi-paradigm simulation by stepping through initialization, mode transitions from zero to startup, and tuning temperature, level, and pump controls for robust startup.

Debug and refine a multi-paradigm simulation by tracing refresh triggers, correcting input signal handling, and aligning temperature and level updates with pump and heater dynamics.

Shows a mode-controlled startup that starts and stops the pump, mixer, and valve based on level and temperature targets. Highlights debugging ladder logic, timer delays, and reset strategies for reliability.

Debug and stabilize a PLC-style control loop by fixing global versus local variables, refining mode transitions, and ensuring pump, mixer, heater, temperature, and level respond correctly.

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