How do I get started in PLCs? I have heard this question so much. PLCs are just one part of automation. Let's talk about some important vocabulary terms here.
PLC- Programmable Logic Controller. Industrially hardened I/O with a little bit of computing power.
DCS- Distributed Control System. Multiple devices for the "thinking" part of the plant control
HMI- Human Machine Interface. The display your operators run the plant from
SCADA- Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. Similar to DCS, often a point of nuance / nit-picking for the technical guys. When the technical guys bring this up with DCS, SCADA usually refers to a system on a wide-area network.
VFD- Variable Frequency Drive. Used to control motors in your system
IT- Information Technology. Emails, accounting software, etc.
OT- Operational Technology. PLCs, DCS, etc.
Is that all? No, but at least it's enough terms to get started.
But why do you want to? Plant automation is relatively cheap to set up, relatively well paid (although there are people who would argue that), relatively clean and often reaps wonderful rewards. We take lots of walks of life- engineers, electricians, operators, etc... You get to be on-site and make changes you can quantify, look amazing when you save the day, and get to be both indoors and out.
If you are interested in the life of a controls engineer, Reddit has a great post here.
Where can I start? Hold still- you need to find the job you are looking for. Look over job postings and try to find the skills you are looking for. Then, you can make a detailed plan and move forward. Just jumping in will only kind of help.
If you are in the USA, I strongly recommend community colleges. They have gear, licenses and can get you rolling quickly.
But I really, really want to start! Cool, but please check the point above when you are done checking out the great resources in Reddit, here. Some forums include Mr PLC and PLCTalk. A good reference for technical topics on PLCs is PLC Tutorial Point.
And I want to spend money! I am all for investing in your knowledge, but before you do, make sure you try the basics. Siemens will let you try their software for 30 days free and YouTube has loads of classes that will walk you through how to program. Please start there and save yourself money. You can take the paid classes after you understand the basics.
If you need to know a processor line for work, check out RealPars or Solis. Let me clear: these guys are really good technical assets. If you take their classes, you will learn a lot. However, if you are just getting started, you can pick up a lot up for free.
If you have a specific technical question and the forums are not doing the trick, then I might take a look at Udemy and search your keywords. My favorite instructors are Mohamad Ezat and Emile Ackbarali. Both have significantly contributed to my career.
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