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To be honest, in the electrical industry, if you are just looking to get by, this job will suffice for your needs. However, if you aspire to earn a high salary and reach the peak of your career, the skills you currently possess are far from enough. Why choose PLC specifically?
If you want to live decently in the electrical field and earn a good salary, transitioning to an electrical engineer should be your first choice. Generally, the intermediate electrician exam will cover PLC content, and advanced technicians have countless applications for PLCs.
Of course, if you choose to switch careers, that’s a different story. Learning PLC is a necessary path for electricians transitioning to electrical engineers. Once you become an electrical engineer, the environment, the people you interact with, and the salary level will be vastly different from before.
So how should one learn PLC? Next, I will analyze it in two scenarios:
1. For those with no electrical background
It is not impossible to learn PLC directly without an electrical background, but the prerequisite is that your physics, mathematics, and computer skills must be adequate. Otherwise, starting with the basics of electrical work is the most time-efficient shortcut.
To substantiate this, let’s analyze: when learning PLC, aside from understanding the PLC’s CPU, modules, and systems, those with a computer background will grasp the concepts more quickly. Additionally, you need to know how to install and wire PLCs, as well as the programming languages and instructions associated with PLCs. Installation and wiring pertain to physical knowledge, while programming languages and instructions are inseparable from logic, mathematics, and computer science.
Therefore, you need to start with the basics of electrical work, learning about circuits, resistors, capacitors, electromagnetism, etc. Everyone knows that the ultimate and greatest use of PLCs is to control devices, such as elevators and motors, which are high-power devices. When it comes to high power, there is also low power. You should be well aware of the dangers of electricity! This is why the emphasis on electrical fundamentals is crucial. Let’s illustrate this with an example.
Some people might see this animation and ask: Is this fake? Did someone get electrocuted?
First of all, this is definitely not fake. From the three construction workers who fell to the ground, they all appear stiff and fell backward directly. Generally, without safety measures, the likelihood of injury to the back of the head is high when a person falls backward. So even if it were acting, there would be no need to go to such lengths. In academic terms: current refers to the directed movement of charge. In simple terms: current can move and can conduct electricity through conductive materials, creating a circuit. The sign in the image has already come into contact with 10 kV high voltage. If the current passes through a conductor and contacts the human body, if a circuit is formed within the body, and the current passes through the heart, the chances of survival are slim. If you lack this basic electrical knowledge, it poses not only a risk in your work but also a significant life risk. Therefore, the correct approach is to first learn the basics of electrical work, electrical and electronic technology fundamentals, and electrical diagram reading. Understanding electrical symbols and the representation of components and connections will enable you to comprehend the circuit distribution of a room, a building, or a device, accumulating experience for future projects.
Additionally, understanding some safety electrical techniques will provide an extra layer of protection for your life! Seeing this, some may think that learning all this will take forever and is too troublesome! Construction workers know that for a thirty-story building, laying the foundation takes about three months. How much more so for a skill that will sustain you? Everyone can live for several decades, and trading a few months of learning for decades of returns is a calculation everyone can make.
2. For those with an electrical background
First, congratulations on having electrical knowledge; you are already halfway to learning PLC. Many people ask whether to choose Siemens or Mitsubishi for learning PLC. Which is better?
Actually, regarding this question, it can only be said to choose based on your needs.
First, choose according to your work requirements.If your factory requires Siemens or Mitsubishi PLCs, then there’s no need to say much; just learn the corresponding brand. After all, everyone learns to work better and earn money, and meeting work requirements is the priority. After that, you can learn about other brands.
If the above conditions do not apply, here are some suggestions for choosing PLC:
1. Choose based on your needs
When learning PLC, Mitsubishi is easier to get started with because it is a Japanese brand (Asian brand), with intuitive and easy-to-understand programming, and simple logic, making it relatively easy to learn.However, it has many instructions, so it is recommended to start with Mitsubishi’s FX series.
From a learning perspective and future prospects, Siemens is better. Siemens is the leader in industrial automation, and its software is advanced, with a series of closely related products. Learning the TIA Portal’s Step engineering configuration software will enable you to operate Siemens S7-1500, S7-1200, S7-300, and S7-400 controllers, as well as the PC’s SIMATIC WinAC automation system. If you want to learn Siemens, it is recommended to start with S7-200. Although the 200 PLC has been discontinued, it is relatively simple. After all, it is a Siemens product, and there won’t be much difference. Starting easy and progressing gradually is the truth.
2. Choose based on PLC characteristics
Process control and communication control are Siemens’s strengths. Their analog modules are inexpensive, and the programming is simple, making communication convenient.On the other hand, Mitsubishi’s analog modules are slightly more expensive, and the programming is complex, so their functionality in this area is weaker.
Discrete control and motion control are Mitsubishi’s advantages. Mitsubishi has a rich set of instructions, with dedicated positioning instructions, making it easier to control servos and stepper motors, and to achieve complex motion control. Siemens, in this regard, cannot match Mitsubishi, as it lacks dedicated instructions, and the programs for servo or stepper positioning control are complex and have lower precision.
For example, for robotic arm-like motion control, Mitsubishi PLC is a good choice. If there is a need for servo or stepper positioning control, Mitsubishi PLC is also a good option.
However, when dealing with many analog devices, such as central air conditioning, sewage treatment, temperature control, etc., Siemens PLC would be more suitable. Additionally, Siemens PLC is also applicable for collecting large amounts of instrument data that require communication.
Seeing this, many people ask: Why not mention domestic PLCs? Domestic PLCs include Delta, Yonghong, and Holley, etc., but most are just replicas of foreign Siemens and Mitsubishi. This is not about patriotism; it is simply a wise and beneficial choice from a learning perspective to study the most advanced technologies.
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