I will have to say, the software loads were very easy and went well. You think to yourself, things like “What important step or option will I miss that I don’t know about?” There is always a nervousness about loading software that you haven’t used before. Then I connected a 24vdc power supply to the controller and powered up the chassis:Įdit: I later learned that I also needed to power both Failsafe I/O modules with 24vdc as well – more about that in a future article! The first step was to get the system components opened and assembled, so I unboxed everything, snapped the modules together, and mounted them on a piece of din rail. Book: Step 7 Programming by Stenerson\Deeg (highly recommend – ed.).Siemens also included two additional items with the kit: Accessory Cabling Kit – Industrial EtherNet.
Simatic Step 7 Safety Basic V16 License.To get started, below I'll breakdown what's included in the above S7-1200 Failsafe Starter Kit: That said, I'm excited about starting my own journey and learning something new, and I'll do my best to document everything I learn along the way, starting with the brand new S7-1200 Failsafe Starter Kit which just arrived: Now I should note that while I'm new to Siemens, The Automation Blog has covered Siemens quite a bit over the last couple of years, and you'll find all of that previous coverage right here. It sounded like a great opportunity to learn something new, so I agreed to document my journey trying to use and program Siemens PLCs from scratch, with no previous experience or exposure to their product line. Then recently, as part of my role as a freelancer writer for The Automation Blog, I was approached to see if I'd be interested in writing about using Siemens PLCs from the perspective of a first time user. Then I was on the startup team for a facility with ControlLogix in 2002, and I have used a lot of it since.Īlong the way I've also worked with Honeywell's TDC 2000, TDC 3000, and Experion, and I even had a chance to work on an ABB Masterpiece DCS at one time.īut in all my years I've never had the opportunity to use or program a Siemens PLC. The first PLC I ever touched was an old Allen Bradley SLC 100, and the next was a SLC 500. Since the beginning of my career back in 2000, I have worked with quite a few different automation vendors and products.