Suggestions on Updating Wash Controler/PLC

[devonte56]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the forum, but have been reading the threads for a while now. We have an older MacNeil Tunnel wash in eastern Iowa on site with a gas station/convenience store. We have a Unitec Portal TI as our payment kiosk. I'm looking at updating our wash controler/PLC Unit. Right now we are using an Omron PLC mounted in a MacNeil Kwik-Kleen control station.

The PLC itself has worked flawlessly for the last 15+ years, other than when it took a lightning strike. The only problem that I have with it is, I am told I can only connect to the PLC (for programming) with a computer with a Serial Port, and it must be running Windows 98 32-bit or older software. The trick is finding a reliable computer, that is that old.

Because of this, I'd like to go to a newer PLC, because I feel like we could get a lot more out of our equipment that we already have, if we could only access the programming easily for fine tuning, and the addition of any new equipment.

Has anyone else been in this same situation? If so, did you replace your PLC? What PLC did you upgrade to?

Any info or suggestions is very much appreciated!

 

[sparkey]

I work as a controls engineer for a large company and have worked for a few others in the past. Almost everything I see in industry in american made stuff has allen bradley PLC's in them. Now days its mostly control logix, or compact logix PLC's, but you still see a lot of SLC 5/03 - SLC 5/05 PLC's out there. These parts are plentiful on ebay when you need parts and are readily available and almost any programmer you find is familiar with allen bradley programming. The only drawback is it can be pricey and the programming software can cost several hundred dollars, but it is rock solid and will run for years. You will also find support for programming all over youtube and the internet if you run into problems.

 

[MEP001]

You can get a USB serial port emulator for around $20, and you can dual-boot a PC or with software run 98 in shell.

 

[devonte56]

Our current PLC is an Omron CQM1H-CPU51. The programming software that we are using came from MacNeil. Is the restriction of only being able to use windows 98 or older because of the programming software, or because of the PLC itself? How do I dual-boot a PC, or run 98 in shell?

 

[MEP001]

How you dual-boot depends on the versions of Windows, or you can set BIOS to select a boot drive on startup.

There are shareware/freeware programs to run 98 in shell within various other Windows versions.

 

[JimmyJaffa]

We had a older MacNeil controller but when we built a couple of new ones they came with Kesseltronics rTC. We switched out the older controller (not an easy task if you do not have Dan). We could sell you some parts if you need any. I would find a good computer tech in you area to install the latest version of windows 98 on a decent computer and keep your old controller. I love our kesseltronics, but if I had just 1 wash, I would stay with what you have till it dies,

 

[wash4me]

Our current PLC is an Omron CQM1H-CPU51. The programming software that we are using came from MacNeil. Is the restriction of only being able to use windows 98 or older because of the programming software, or because of the PLC itself? How do I dual-boot a PC, or run 98 in shell?

Most likely if you're willing to buy the updated programming software it would automatically update your file and you could use a new computer. That being said using a new computer is the only benefit the PLC program work the same.