Curiousity re PLC and Zero-point Data Transfer

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Curiousity re PLC and Zero-point Data Transfer

  • familiar with PLC and install/service frequently

    Votes: 6 60.0%

  • not familiar with PLC or do not install/service

    Votes: 4 40.0%

  • ZPDT will win out over Fiber Optics in long run

    Votes: 1 10.0%

  • ZPDT will lose out over Fiber Optics in long run

    Votes: 1 10.0%
  • Total voters
    10
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wbalsam1

wbalsam1

Senior Member
Location
Upper Jay, NY
Just curious as to how many on this forum are:
  • familiar with Zero-Point Data Transfer and will it eventually dwarf fiber optics?
  • familiar with PLC to the extent you are able to install, troubleshoot and modify it?
 
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I have never heard of ZPDT nor do I see any hits on Google. I also have no clue how it could supplant fiber optics as an information transmission medium. Show me something that transmits faster than the speed of light and I'll show you a time machine. I'm guessing vaporware.

PLCs aren't really the wave of the future, they've been here as long as I have.
 
Rampage_Rick said:
I have never heard of ZPDT nor do I see any hits on Google. I also have no clue how it could supplant fiber optics as an information transmission medium. Show me something that transmits faster than the speed of light and I'll show you a time machine. I'm guessing vaporware.

PLCs aren't really the wave of the future, they've been here as long as I have.
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Zero Point is ( I think) the same as point-to-point, you know, computer to computer data transmission
So then, do you install, troubleshoot or modify PLC systems? :-?:smile:
 
wbalsam1 said:
Zero Point is ( I think) the same as point-to-point, you know, computer to computer data transmission So then, do you install, troubleshoot or modify PLC systems? :-?:smile:
Click to expand...


I have been using PLCs since 1990 or so, I have even done some basic programing for small PLCs (8 inputs / 8 outputs, 100 lines of programing max) On a more day to day thing I service super market building control systems which are nothing more then a PLC pre-configured for a certain application. You will have analog inputs such as temp, pressure light sensors, digital inputs that monitor the position of a switch, analog outputs for variable items like VFDs, mixing valves etc, and digital outputs that are either open or closed.
 
iwire said:
I have been using PLCs since 1990 or so, I have even done some basic programing for small PLCs (8 inputs / 8 outputs, 100 lines of programing max) On a more day to day thing I service super market building control systems which are nothing more then a PLC pre-configured for a certain application. You will have analog inputs such as temp, pressure light sensors, digital inputs that monitor the position of a switch, analog outputs for variable items like VFDs, mixing valves etc, and digital outputs that are either open or closed.
Click to expand...

Now, to me, that's cool:cool:. If I were younger and a whole lot smarter, I would be very interested in a career of programming logic.:smile: (You could vote in this poll if you were so inclined. Just check box #1.:smile:)
 
The programing I did was pretty basic but I learned a lot, it was some really small "Omron" equipment.

At this point I don't think you could work in any kind of industrial environment without having some ability to work with PLCs, they control all new equipment.

One of the coolest things is being able to hook a PLC to a PC and look at a real time ladder diagram showing what is going on and what the hold up is.
 
iwire said:
The programing I did was pretty basic but I learned a lot, it was some really small "Omron" equipment.

At this point I don't think you could work in any kind of industrial environment without having some ability to work with PLCs, they control all new equipment.

One of the coolest things is being able to hook a PLC to a PC and look at a real time ladder diagram showing what is going on and what the hold up is.
Click to expand...

Go ahead, rub it in! :D Jeez, I'd love that kind of work. One of my favorite all time jobs was years ago when I wired a sawmill and a planing mill. Back then it was all stop/start/inch/jog and motor controllers. Mostly Allen Bradley stuff. All rigid conduit. Motors controlled all over the place. Then I did a few ski-lift motor jobs and they were SCR's. I have very little idea what the latest technology is anymore. :)
 
wbalsam1 said:
Mostly Allen Bradley stuff. All rigid conduit.
Click to expand...

One of the guys I used to work with spent a few weeks taking AB PLC classes, he really enjoyed it. :smile:

I actually used a small PLC to control an overhead garage door. There was a 'Open, Close, Stop button station', there where momentary buttons, there where radio controls, electric photo eyes and finally they wanted it to close automatically after a certain time. It was easier to run the controls to the PLC, write a program and have the PLC control the motor. Other people had tried to do it before and it was dangerous, once the timer started the close cycle there was no stopping it.
 
wbalsam1 said:
ZPDT is an information transfer and data acquisition method
Click to expand...

wb -
Not much information. I'm familiar with ethernet, AB control net, AB device net, generic modbus - but not the one you mention. Do you have a reference for the protocol?

wbalsam1 said:
PLC is programmable logic control (wave of the near future for electricians as they begin to take over the high-speed world).
Click to expand...

As others have said, I think the wave has already been around the world a few times.:wink:

cf
 
wbalsam1 said:
Zero-Point Data Transfer and will it eventually dwarf fiber optics?
Click to expand...
This confuses me a bit. FO is just a data transmission means. The PLC wants data - how you get it there is immaterial. Other than bandwidth/security, no different than twisted pair, 4wire, radio link, semiphore, smoke signal. The method is usually completely transparent to the PLC.

Are you saying this ZPDT is a new data transmission method - superior in bandwith to FO? If so, I'm definitely interested in a reference.

cf
 
wbalsam1 said:
ZPDT is an information transfer and data acquisition method
Click to expand...

Could this be the same as the Power Line Carrier data transmission method that utilizes the area on each side of the zero cross point of the power waveform for data exchange?
 
ELA said:
Could this be the same as the Power Line Carrier data transmission method that utilizes the area on each side of the zero cross point of the power waveform for data exchange?
Click to expand...

YES. You are correct. There's usually enough room on either side of the waveform for a couple of bursts of binary data (120 bursts per second, etc.):)
 
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