Which Language is Best for PLC Programming?

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⌚Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:32 - Ladder Diagram (LD)
03:06 - Function Block Diagram (FBD)
04:39 - Structured Text (ST)
05:23 - Sequential Function Chart (SFC)
06:48 - Instruction List (IL)
07:08 - Wrap-Up

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At RealPars, we are often asked which PLC programming language is the best to learn.

Although the students who ask that question want a definitive answer, the only correct answer is “It depends on the context”.

Every PLC programming language exists for a reason and is suitable for specific applications.

Different programming languages are more popular in some countries and industries than others.

So the best PLC programming language for you to learn may vary depending on where you live and what industry you are interested in.

In this video, we will explain the main features of the five IEC 61131-3 programming languages along with their strengths and weaknesses and where they are used to help you decide which PLC programming languages to focus on first.

Ladder Diagram (LD) is the most commonly used PLC programming language. It is a high-level, graphical programming language that is designed to be easy to read and understand for easy maintenance and troubleshooting.

Ladder Diagram is the first PLC programming language that many PLC programmers will learn because most companies want to hire engineers who can program with Ladder Diagram.

The biggest advantage of Ladder Diagram is its graphical nature. It is very easy to look at a rung and debug the logic even if you are not a programmer.

Ladder Diagram is a great programming language for complex Boolean logic.

Function Block Diagram (FBD) is another graphical programming language for PLCs. In Function Block Diagram, Function Blocks are placed on a sheet and wired together. The end result looks very similar to a P&ID Diagram.

The big advantage of FBD over LD is that the outputs of one Function Block can flow into the next or be used as feedback without using intermediate variables.

This feature makes FBD great for controlling continuous processes where analog values are constantly being monitored and outputs adjusted to keep the value within a range.

Because of its resemblance to P&IDs and its ability to easily control continuous processes, FBD is commonly used in process industries.

Structured Text (ST) is a text-based programming language for PLCs. In general, ST is very powerful for performing complex arithmetic operations and for looping over data structures like arrays.

Sequential Function Chart (SFC) is a flowchart-like programming language that is used to build state machines and sequencers for processes.

SFC is an incredibly easy language to design in. You create a block for each state that is supported by your process, program the actions that are executed while the machine is in each state, and the conditions that are required to transition from one state to another.

SFC is also easy to monitor and debug at runtime since you can see exactly what state is active and what conditions must be true to transition to the next state.

Instruction list (IL) is an obsolete programming language that was very similar to an assembly language. You may encounter an instruction list if you are working in a maintenance role, but the recommendation from most manufacturers is not to use Instruction List for new projects.

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If you want to learn more about PLC programming using IEC 61131-3 programming languages, then check out our course CODESYS 1 where you can learn to write your first PLC program using the Ladder Diagram programming language.

CODESYS 1: Introduction to PLC Programming: https://learn.realpars.com/courses/co...

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