Introducción

There are different languages to program Omron PLCs: SCT, Grafcet, or Ladder derived from
relay language. These were developed to replace logical control systems that used
relays, due to this the initial language for their programming should have a close resemblance to the
diagrams used in logic for relays, which allows engineers to understand this language of
programming with minimal training. All functions available in Ladder are extensible to
other programming languages of PLCs.

There are various programming languages for PLCs, but the so-called Ladder Language is the
more common and practically all PLC manufacturers include it as a basic language of
programming. The ladder language is the same for all existing PLC models. what
switching from manufacturer to manufacturer or from model to model is the microcontroller that is used, and for this
The reason that differs between PLCs is the way the software interprets the symbols of the contacts.
in Ladder Language.

The main key to the acceptance of PLCs in the industry was that the initial programming language
it was based on ladder diagrams and electronic symbols, commonly used by the
Electricians. The industries were already trained in ladder logic and easily adopted it for
the PLCs. In fact, ladder logic still plays a very important role in programming and in
the localization and correction of problems, despite the fact that programming languages have been developed
more advanced. This type of diagram typically describes the electrical operation of different
type of machines, and can be used to synthesize a control system and, with the tools of
appropriate software, program the PLC.

Ladder Language

Also known as contact language or ladder language, it is a language

very popular graphical programming within automata
programmable because it is based on electrical schematics of
classic controls.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LADDER LANGUAGE

Input instructions are entered on the left.

 Exit instructions will be situated on the right.
The power supply rails are the lines of energy supply.
L1 y L2 para los circuitos de corriente alterna y 24 V y tierra para los
DC circuits.
Most PLCs allow more than one output per line
(Rung).
The processor (or 'controller') explores steps of the ladder of
top to bottom and left to right

Basic elements in LADDER

To program a PLC with LADDER, in addition to being familiar with the

switching circuit rules, it is necessary to know each one of
the elements that make up this language. In the following table we can
observe the symbols of the basic elements along with their respective
descriptions.

Symbol Description

It activates when there is a logical one in the element that

Contact
it represents, that is, an entry (to capture information from
NA
process to control), an internal variable or a system bit.

Its function is similar to the previous NA contact, but in this

Contact
the case is activated when there is a logical zero, which must
NC
to be considered very carefully at the time of its use.

It is activated when the combination at its entrance

(left) gives a logical one. Its activation is equivalent to saying
Coil
that has a logical one. It usually represents elements of
NA
output, although sometimes it can act as a variable
internal

It activates when the combination at its input is present.

Bobbin (left) gives a logical zero. Its activation is equivalent to saying
NC which has a logical zero. Its behavior is
complementary to that of coil NA.

Once activated (set to 1), it cannot be deactivated (set to

Bobbin 0) if it is not for its corresponding coil in RESET. It works
SET to memorize bits and used together with the RESET pin provide a
enormous power in programming.

Bobbin
Allows deactivating a previously activated SET coil.
SET

Once the elements provided by LADDER for its programming are known,
It is important to highlight how a program is structured and what the order of
execution.
The following diagram represents the general structure of the distribution of everything.
LADDER program, contacts on the left and coils and other elements on the right.

Regarding its electrical equivalence, we can imagine that the vertical lines
they represent the power lines of an electrical control circuit.

The order of execution is generally from top to bottom and from left to right,
first the contacts and then the coils, so that when you arrive at these already
know the value of contacts and activate if appropriate. The order of execution can
vary from one controller to another, but the order of introduction will always be respected
program so that it runs first what is first introduced.

Internal variables and system bits

The internal variables are auxiliary bits that can be used as needed, without
need for them to represent any element of the automaton. It is usually indicated
through the characters B or M and they have both coils and contacts associated with the
same. Their identification number usually ranges, generally, between 0 and 255. Their
The fundamental utility is to store intermediate information to simplify.
schemes and programming.

The system bits are contacts that the automaton activates when it is appropriate or
when certain circumstances arise. There is a great variety, being the
the most important are the start and clock ones, which allow the execution to begin
from a specific site and form a time base respectively. Its
nomenclature is very diverse, always depending on the type of automaton and manufacturer

THE CONTACTS

The elements to be evaluated to decide whether to activate the exits or not.

determined 'step', are logical or binary variables, which can take
only two states: 1 or 0, These states come from inputs to the PLC or
internal relays of it.

In Ladder programming, these variables are represented by

contacts, which can only be in two states: open or
closed. The contacts are represented by the letter "E" and two numbers that
They will indicate the module to which they belong and the terminal block to which they are connected.

associates

Example: E0.1 Ł Entry of Module "0" terminal "1"

The outputs of a Ladder program are equivalent to the loads (coils
of relays, lamps, etc.) in an electrical circuit. They are identified by the letter
S, A or another letter, depending on the manufacturers, and two numbers that
they will indicate the module to which they belong and the terminal block to which they are

associated.

Internal Relays or Brands

As outputs in the PLC program, it is taken not only from the outputs that the
the team physically has towards the outside, but also those that are known
as "Internal Relays or Marks". The internal relays are simply
logical variables that can be used, for example, to memorize states
or as result accumulators that they will use later in the
program. They are identified with the letter 'M' and a number which will serve to
associate it with some event.

The state of the output M50 directly depends on the input E0.0, but
this output is not connected to a terminal of the output module, it is a
internal program brand. While the status of output S1.2 is
result of the activation of contact M50

The remaining brands are those that in the event of a failure of

tension, when it is restored, they remember their previous state, that is, if
they were at 1 will be at 1 alone (the outputs are NOT remnants).
The more complex logical functions such as:

Timers

Counters

Displacement records, etc.

They are represented in block format. These are not normalized.

although they have a great similarity to each other for different manufacturers.
They are much more expressive than if the same purpose is served by the
language in list of instructions.

About these blocks, the base of times and the final time is defined.
in the case of timers The counting module and stop conditions and
reset in the case of counters. There are also functional blocks.
complexes that allow data manipulation and operations with
digital variables of several bits. The presence of these execution blocks
dependent on one or more binary conditions, multiplies the power of
programming without losing the advantages of representation
program graph. Thus, situations can be programmed in
complex automation that involves digital variables, records,
transfers, comparisons, analog signals, etc. Of course, not
all Automata, even from the same manufacturer, can handle all the
programming possibilities with contacts: only the highest ranges
they have access to all language extensions.

The timers

As its name indicates, every time they reach a certain time value.
they activate an internal contact. This time value, called PRESET or
meta, must be declared by the user. After it has been indicated the
goal time, it must be indicated with which conditions it should start to
timing, that is to count the time. For this, timers have
an entry called START or beginning, which the contacts must reach
or inputs that serve as starting conditions. Such conditions,
like any other line of LADDER, they can contain several
series contacts, parallel, normally open or normally
closed.

One of the many forms of representation would be:

Time operations allow you to program the internal timers.
of the automaton. There are various types of timers and to use them you
they must adjust a series of parameters:

Timer start: set of contacts that activate the

timer, connected as desired. Loading time: the way
Habitual is through a constant of time, but there may be others.
settings, e.g. reading entries, a value from a database, etc. This
loading the value must be done with the instruction L that stores it in a
memory zone called accumulator (AKKU1) to then transfer it to
timer.

T0…MAX: timer number.

The MAX number depends on the manufacturer. Timer stop: it is optional and
reset the value on the timer to zero.

Timer SE: delay on connection while keeping the set input to 1.

The reset input disconnects the timer.
SS timer - delay on connection activated by impulse in set. Only
The output will be disconnected through the reset input.

Timer YES: while we keep the set signal connected, the output
will be active during KT.

Timer SV: maintains the exit activate during KT

regardless of the time the set signal is active.

The accountants

Defined as memory positions that store a numerical value,

the same that increases or decreases according to the given configuration
said counter. Like timers, a counter must have a value
set as a target or PRESET, which is a number that the user
program to make the counter active or inactive depending on the value
reached. For example, if the counter has a preset of 15 and the value of
the count is at 14, it is said that the counter is inactive, without that for
Hello, it wants to say that I am not counting. But on the next pulse, when the
value reached 15, it is said that the counter is active because it has reached the
preset value.
Depending on the software, it may happen that the counter starts at its
value of preset and count down to zero, at which point
would become active.

They will allow us to count and/or discount impulses that we send to the contact that
it activates (e.g. number of cans, bags, pieces, etc.) between 0 and 999. The
parameters are:

The output of the counter will be '1' whenever the counter value is
diferente de “0”.

Time constant; Mip time, Mib time base

The monostable is a component capable of keeping an output activated
during the time it has been scheduled, deactivating it
automatically once the said time is concluded. One of its main
Advantages include its simplicity since it has only one input and one output like
we can observe in the figure. • STAR Input (S): When it is activated or given to
provide a boost starts the scheduled countdown. • Exit
RUNNING (R): Remains activated while the count lasts and is deactivated
upon completion. Just like with the timer, to set the countdown there is
to enter the values of Mip and Mib.

ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS

There can be mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, comparisons,

multiplications, divisions, bit shifts, etc. All of them
they use values contained in memory registers referenced to
counters, inputs, outputs, timers, and others. The functions
Mathematics is especially used for the manipulation of variables.
analogous. Arithmetic operations with integer numbers are
represented by boxes in which the operation to be performed is indicated
and the operands. The operation follows the general rules of the diagram
of contacts, when the contact XXX is closed, the operation is carried out.

In this example, the contents of the data memories REG! and are added together.
REG2 and the result is stored in REG7, when the condition XXX is
becomes true.
COMPARISON OPERATIONS A comparator is an instruction that
will allow us to relate two data of the same format (BYTE or WORD) between
yes.
SET AND RESET INSTRUCTIONS The SET instruction activates the coil
corresponding each time we send an IMPULSE, and it will only be deactivated
by sending another to the RESET instruction. We can activate both outputs and
internal brands.

Ladder Language - Processing and Limitations The coils can

they are preceded by contacts, but they cannot be followed by any.

The same applies to Function blocks, for example the function block.
transfer, since it behaves like a coil.

However, there is a connection that is possible in our Ladder but

impossible on a board. The coils can be connected in series.
behaving in a manner similar to if they were in parallel. If in the
activation circuit of the coils there are several contacts in series,
it is advisable to use the parallel connection of the coils, since the program is
execute in less time.

The difference occurs when auxiliary contacts are used, as it must

pay attention to the order in which the coils are placed.
 The number of connections "called NODES" is limited, cannot
surpass a certain number.

Timer blocks, Counters, etc. can only appear once in the

program. However, contacts and coils referred to can be used
these anywhere. Two Timer blocks cannot be edited, etc. with the
same number. If the coils are connected directly to the bar of the
left, they are then considered permanently activated. Therefore
assumed, as long as that part of the program is being executed.
In some PLCs this is prohibited, a contact must be placed in between the
input and the coil
ADVANTAGES OF LADDER

Its main advantage is that the basic symbols are standardized.

according to the IEC standard (International Electrotechnical Commission) and they are

employees by all manufacturers.

LADDER allows for the development of better logic when using contacts
normally open or normally closed for its programming,
coils, etc.
LADDER also lays the groundwork for a better understanding in the
world of automation and industrial processes.

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