Input/output capability for programmable logic controllers comes in three basic varieties: discrete, analog, and network.
In the early days of programmable logic controllers, processor speed and memory were too limited to support anything but discrete (on/off ) control functions. Consequently, the only I/O capability found on early PLCs were discrete in nature. Modern PLC technology, though, is powerful enough to support the measurement, processing, and output of analog (continuously variable) signals.
All PLCs are digital devices at heart. Thus, in order to interface with an analog sensor or control device, some “translation” is necessary between the analog and digital worlds. Inside every analog input module is an ADC, or Analog-to-Digital Converter, circuit designed to convert an analog electrical signal into a multi-bit binary word. Conversely, every analog output module contains a DAC, or Digital-to-Analog Converter, circuit to convert the PLC’s digital command words into analog electrical quantities.
Analog I/O is commonly available for modular PLCs for many different analog signal types, including:
- Voltage (0 to 10 volt, 0 to 5 volt)
- Current (0 to 20 mA, 4 to 20 mA)
- Thermocouple (millivoltage)
- RTD (millivoltage)
- Strain gauge (millivoltage)
The following photographs show two analog I/O cards for an Allen-Bradley SLC 500 modular PLC system, an analog input card and an analog output card. Labels on the terminal cover doors indicate screw terminal assignments:
