Using a PLC as a Controller

[buck50bmg]

Hello Im new to the forum, (a transplant from RC) and wanted to start and finish a project to use a Allen Bradley SLC 500 as a reef tank controller.

If anyone has any information to add or is will to contribute, please do.

 

[Natclanwy]

I'm curious to see how this goes for you, I have looked into doing this myself and still may someday but comparing costs and time to program the controller I ultimately decided on a RKE controller for now. I really like the flexibility you will have with PLC there is virtually nothing that you can't do with a PLC with the limitations lying mostly with your ability to write the logic and the amount of cash in your pocket. I do some work for a guy locally that has his entire house controlled by PLC's it does some pretty amazing things.

 

[Len]

What sensors are you going to use? And how do you plan to program it? Is it going to have a PC connected?
I can't imagine that would be cheaper than reefkeeper or aquacontroller but I do my own crazy projects and love learning too.

 

[buck50bmg]

Not cheaper, at all...... but fun! I have a AC3pro now.

 

[buck50bmg]

Ok

I got a set of SLC500 L40 and a L30 off Ebay. Im going to use this to do some testing untill I get my SLC500 10 slot rack with the 05 processor and I/0 cards.

The L30 and L40 are nice cheap units, and will take care of most of what I want to do by adding a analog input card, but the 1k of memory kind of limits the amount of automation I want to do.

 

[danieltrumps]

Hello Im new to the forum, (a transplant from RC) and wanted to start and finish a project to use a Allen Bradley SLC 500 as a reef tank controller.

If anyone has any information to add or is will to contribute, please do.

i program plcs for a living, it would be great use for one especially for pump control and lighting however getting the probes and software for more complex things such as PH or salinety let alone calc or mag would be difficult if not impossible at this point. just a word of advise too, while allen bradley is quality equipment they generally do not play well with others, meaning trying to get sensors and probes to even comunicate will be a nightmare. automation direct makes a plc that is more consumer friendly and less proprietary, just mt two cents