Predictive maintenance & condition monitoring


PLC-based control systems can still experience breakdowns. Furthermore, these failures often lead to costly downtime in industrial operations and identifying the root cause can be challenging.


A


THE CHECKLIST To maintain your PLC effectively, start by regularly backing up its code base to ensure quick recovery if you need to reset or replace the PLC entirely. Routinely inspect connections like plugs, sockets and terminals, ensuring that they are secure, particularly in high-vibration areas where fasteners like screws and bolts may loosen. If your system has LED indicators as well, monitor these regularly for insight into the PLC's status. For example, check the status of the battery indicator to confirm it provides sufficient backup power for the PLC’s erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) in the event of a power failure.


If your PLC system connects to sensors, ensure they are maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations. When doing so, examine local wiring to identify any potential sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and ensure lower-level components are positioned away from high- current lines to minimise interference. Plus, do not forget to include calibration of input and output devices, as well as circuit cards, in your preventive maintenance program for accurate performance. Be prepared to replace worn input or output modules, following proper instructions and safety precautions.


60


programmable logic controller (PLC) is considered the foundational, standard controller that is primarily designed for straightforward, robust control tasks.


Despite their resilience and rugged design,


LOOKING AFTER YOUR PLC


October 2024 Instrumentation Monthly


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96