The video discusses the importance of automation in commercial and industrial buildings, focusing on the use of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) to automate mechanical and electrical systems. PLCs are small computers that execute pre-programmed outputs based on inputs and specific rules, allowing for minimal manual intervention. The video explains how PLCs replaced complex relay banks, making system control more efficient and easier to reprogram. It also highlights the role of Tele Controls, a leading manufacturer in the automation industry, in providing compatible technology that simplifies PLC programming and saves storage space. The video further delves into the basic operation of PLCs, their components, and advantages such as local control software storage, ease of reprogramming, and efficient fault finding.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. Almost every commercial building and industrial facility relies on automation of their mechanical and electrical systems.
2. The trend of using automation is set to increase, especially with larger, smarter, and more complex systems and buildings being constructed.
3. Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are used to control these systems.
4. Telecontrols is one of the leading manufacturers in the automation industry since 1963.
5. PLCs are compatible with every PLC, HMI, and controller on the market.
6. PLCs can carry out pre-programmed outputs based on inputs and a set of specific rules.
7. Before PLCs, control was carried out via banks of relays.
8. Relays were vast in size and complex, making it difficult to change and find faults.
9. The invention of solid-state electronics and microchips replaced the command logic part of the banks of relays with software logic.
10. PLCs vary widely in their application but all monitor their inputs, make a decision based on a stored set of rules, and output commands to automate a process.
11. PLCs are widely used in industries such as airports, where they are used to scan barcodes and divert bags to the correct route.
12. PLCs can be used in combination with relays to directly deal with automation tasks and communicate with the PLC.
13. PLCs are used in various applications, including temperature control, motor control, and process control.
14. The basic operation of a PLC is to perform a pre-programmed output depending on the input signal by following a set of rules.
15. PLCs complete the following stages in their basic operation: input scan, program scan, program logic, output update, and housekeeping.
16. The scan time, which is the time it takes to complete all the stages, depends on the sensitivity, resilience, and system processing time.
17. Analog inputs tend to take longer to process compared to digital on/off inputs.
18. PLCs can be used to control complex systems, such as heating and cooling systems, using control strategies like optimizers.
19. Optimizers learn over a period of time how quickly a building heats up and cools down and start the heating or cooling system at the optimal time.
20. PLCs can be used to control actuators, such as valves, to regulate the flow of fluids.
21. PLCs can be used to monitor and control multiple devices, such as pumps, and make decisions based on the data received.
22. There are many advantages of using PLCs, including the ability to store control software locally, reduce the need for physical wiring, and make it easier to reprogram and fault-find.
23. PLCs can be expanded by adding more cards to increase inputs and outputs.
24. PLCs can be used in various industries, including manufacturing, oil and gas, and building automation.