

If the input condition is TRUE then the output is reset to OFF. Ladder Logic Set Coil Symbol – State Diagram Reset Coil Symbol Once the output is set ON, it stays ON, even if the input condition goes FALSE. If the input condition transitions from FALSE to TRUE then the output is set ON. Latch output during a specific set of conditions.Ladder Logic One Shot Symbol (Positive Edge Detection) – State Diagram If the input condition transitions from FALSE to TRUE then the output is ON, for the time taken to do one PLC scan. Ladder Logic Output Coil Symbol – State Diagram If the input condition is FALSE then the output is OFF. If the input condition is TRUE then the output is ON. Ladder Logic Normally Closed Contact (NC) Symbol -State Diagram The NC contact symbol operation is opposite to the NO contact symbol. If the condition is FALSE then the contact is CLOSED and output logic flow is enabled. If the condition is TRUE then the contact is OPEN and output logic flow is blocked. Ladder Logic Normally Open Contact (NO) Symbol – State Diagram If the condition is FALSE then the contact is OPEN and output logic flow is blocked. If the condition is TRUE then the contact is CLOSED and output logic flow is enabled. Let’s take a more detailed look at them and other symbols used in PLC programming by investigating their operation and how they are commonly used in a ladder diagram…. The NO and NC contacts are some of the fundamental symbols used in PLC programming. The coil symbol has been translated into ladder logic from relay coils used in electric circuits. However, a coil can also be used with internal memory in order to trigger internal logic instructions. They have been translated into ladder logic from switches and relay contacts used in electric circuits.Īn coil in ladder logic is the symbol which mainly defines PLC digital outputs. In ladder logic the normally open contact (NO) and normally closed contact (NC) symbols are mainly used to define PLC digital inputs and internal logic instructions. While digital outputs are expressed as a coil symbol. Digital inputs are expressed as normally open contact (NO) symbols or normally closed contact (NC) symbols. The main symbols for PLC ladder logic are the input symbols and output symbols. As your desire to program complex automation and process control Functions increases, then higher level ladder logic symbols can be used like math operations, PID loops, data manipulation and data conversion. Generally speaking a large majority of real world applications can be accomplished with the basic ladder logic symbols.

Learning the basic ladder logic symbols will give you a solid foundation. Traditionally, ladder logic symbols were created for bit logic operations, but now include higher level functions such as timers, counters, math, comparison, PID loops, data manipulation and data conversion. In PLC programming, ladder logic symbols can be used individually or in combination to create logic instructions. Ladder logic symbols are the fundamental programming components used in ladder diagrams. If not, don’t worry, ladder logic is a graphical programming language and getting to know the basic ladder logic symbols and concepts is quite easy. If you have a basic knowledge of electric circuits then getting started in ladder logic programming should be a breeze. The ladder logic symbols that are used in PLC programming have been derived from traditional relay logic control circuits.
