Easiest PLC to program?

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What is the easiest PLC to program?

A widespread question by those just starting is, "What is the easiest PLC to program?" Below is my answer to that common question.

Because my job for the last 20+ years has been training maintenance and engineers on PLCs, I can offer a unique perspective to this question. My experience with many brands of PLCs and delivering PLC training to those from many walks of life has shown that Rockwell ™ and DirectSoft ™ are the easiest to learn.

Side Note: The answer to the question "What is the easiest PLC to program?" varies depending on who you ask for a couple of primary reasons.

• The person answering experience on a limited number of PLC brands.
• The person answering must learn the difference between a PLC and a PAC.

The other day, I ran into a great example of both reasons in an online conversation. Most were replying to the 'easiest PLC to program' question with Rockwell over Siemens. Then one person sidestepped the question with a reply, 'But Rockwell can not do what Siemens can.' In further discussion with that individual, I found in his examples that he needed to learn how to perform the same task in a Rockwell/AB PLC. Still, he knew how to work in a Siemens PLC. As the discussion continued, he also compared a Siemens PAC to a Rockwell PLC, not a Rockwell PAC.

Of course, an industrial computer (PAC - dual full processors to multi-task) will be more capable and challenging to learn than programming a microprocessor (PLC - single scan cycle/task), just as a computer (dual processors) will be more challenging to learn how to use than a calculator (microprocessor) would be. That example also demonstrates the importance of knowing the difference between the two.

TIP: Master the PLC before moving on to learning the PAC.

The video below will introduce you to some critical differences between PLC and PAC so you can better understand the programming and architectural differences between a PLC and a PAC. It also demonstrated the more significant amount of knowledge, complexity, and, therefore, learning time needed to work safely and reliably with PACs.

To give readers a more accurate answer, "What is the easiest PLC to program? ". I ask the question only to those well-versed in PLCs, and I ask the question a little differently.

What is the easiest PLC to program, and how many brands are you experienced with?

About the author:
Don Fitchett is president of Business Industrial Network (BIN), an industrial training company specializing in PLC training. Don has held that position for over 20 years and has been in the industrial training industry for over 28 years.