Configure for first time a PLC S7-1200 Siemens

The PLC S7 1200 is a Great and Robust PLC from Siemens, it has features to use in Complex Proccess and Machines; To start to learn in S7-1200 we recommend you learn before Programming PLC Logo! is better for you learn Software and how it works; TIA Portal is the Software where you configure your PLC S7 1200

Simulating a Start/Stop in TIA Portal V13 Siemens

Para comenzar debemos reconocer los siguientes conceptos:

Digital Inputs (DI): There are the phisycal and Software connections in PLC of all Control Inputs Elements as Sensors, Pushbuttons, Switches, Limit Switch, Emergency Stop, etc, you can recognize it over the PLC in terminals "I"

Digital Outputs (DO): There are the phisycal and Software connections in PLC of all Control Outputs Elements as Contactors, Control Relays, VFD, you can recognize it down the PLC in Terminals "Q"

CPU -PLC: CPU is the Computer and Brain in any PLC, a PLC almost always have just 1 CPU and then you add Modules to make your PLC bigger, you can identify this where you have Communication PORT (in this case S7-1200 uses Ethernet and Port RJ45)

Control Elements: There are all the element of the process as Input or Outputs that act directly with the PLC , you can identify with Digital Inputs or Outputs as Sensors, Pushbuttons, Switches, contactors, Relays and More; The process use a lot of Control elements

Must Knowledge

Industrial Command
Computation
Electricity
Basic English
First Time configuring PLC Logo!

SUMARIO GENERAL
STEP 1: Neccesary Elements
STEP 2: My First Project in TIA Portal
STEP 3: Configuring Project and PLC
STEP 4: Start to Programming
STEP 5: ANSWERS & QUESTIONS

STEP 1 : NECESSARY ELEMENTS

First Remember have all elements to use Hardware and Software

PLC Siemens S7-1200 and all PLCs use a Software to Program and Create the program to execute in automation, the most important elements to start in PLC:

Notebook or Portable Computer with CD-USB o CD
PLC S7 1200 Siemens
Communication Cable Ethernet Cat5e o higher
Software PLC Logo Siemens; Step 7 Basic TIA Portal V13 or higher
Wiring Power Supply (24VDC - 110VAC - 220VAC)
TIA Portal Basic requiere minium 4-6GB RAM and not a stressful computer

If we don't have the Original CD Software, can Download TRIAl Versión in HERE TRIAL VERSION SIEMENS WEBPAGE it may be useful to understand and start to Configure a PLC S7-1200

PASO 2: CREATE NEW PROJECT

Let's create the first project in TIA Portal

Execute and Go to TIA Portal in "Create New Project"

Then Select "Configure a Device"

This point is very important must to choose and select the Real Hardware CPU that will work in the project, choose and "ADD"

Our program is now starting....

If the Software is now in this screen... We are ready to Configure and Program!

PASO 3: Configuring my Project

Let's analyze and understand most important points to configure PLC S7 1200

Identify:

Device Configuration (Configuración Dispositivos) This is the place where we add the HARDWARE and configure it; here we add Modules, Recognize, choose IP, etc; very important step
Program Blocks (Bloques de Programas) This is the LADDER Enviroment and is the place in Software where we write and make the programmation of the PLC
PLC TAGS (Variables PLC) Here we have all the PLC TAGS, All variables you have created we can identify here, variables are Inputs, Outputs, AI, AQ, etc
Properties Always must to configure Hardware and CPU

Begin the most important steps, go to Profinet Interface and add a "IP" to PLC

Remember to have communication TCP/IP between PLC and PC both must to be in same Sub Network (192.168.X.x)

Now go to "IO TAGS" and modify as the image

identify:

Table and TAGS is directly relationed with the PLC Hardware that we have selected
This form of how work is a little hard but is cleaniest to have order
Add some tags for a better comprention, add Inputs I0.0 ; I0.1 ; I0.2 and Digital Output Q0.0
Software has made changes and our PLC shows the TAGS that we have defined! great to understand

PASO 4: Starting to Program

Before we configure Hardware, now we go to see how programming in TIA Portal

Go to side in Program Blocks and Select the Block Main OB1

Very Important to know:

You can click some arrows and it allows have a wider screen to program
All Instrucctions are in right side, you can find Inputs, Outputs, AI, AQ, etc.
In the Networks you can write and add names to identify what means each instruction

Let's create a little program with a START (I0.0), STOP (I0.1), EMERGENCY STOP (I0.2) and a Input Contactor (Q0.0)

And now we can see a very important form of how we insert TAGS, remember in Device Configuration?, These names and Tags we defined in IO TAGS in the moment we configured our Hardware

Simulating our first Program in TIA Portal

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

HERE IS ANSWERED YOUR QUESTIONS:

Where can Download TIA Portal V13 o higher Trial Version??
You can download Trial Download Here in Siemens Webpage ,Also download PLC Sim may helps you to simulate software before start and run, TAKE NOTE, The original CD and Licence allows you assure the correct compatibily between Software and Hardware (PLC)

Which Version of STEP 7 TIA Portal I need to my S7-1200?
For a PLC S7 1200 Siemens you can use BASIC Step 7 TIA Portal V13 o higher, others PLCs as S7-1500; S7-300: S7-400 you must use Professional Step 7 TIA Portal; Professional is around 5-6 times more expensive than Basic

Is Difficult Program a PLC S7 1200?
If we have other Softwares and PLCs more friendly to use is bit more complex, the reason? Software TIA Portal have more configurations and Hardware is more robust and expensive; for a better experiencie we recommend you Programming PLC Logo! Siemens and understand about Communication, Digital Inputs-Outputs, Analogic, etc

How can understand fastly the main steps to configure S7 120 in TIA Portal?
First we know to understand that every PLC needs a Software to execute and create his program, so in this case the main focus is in Software:
1. Download or By Software Step 7 TIA Portal V15 (V13 or higher)
2. Activate a Licence in Automation Licence Manager
3. Go in to TIA Software and Create new project
4. Must to select the right CPU that will use in real project
5. Start in Device Configuration
6. We have 3 most importants zones where all beginner works: Device Configuration ; Program Blocks ; PLC Tags
7. In PLC Tags we add all variables that we think will use in all process, this is the easiest way to after add the Tags Names while we are programming
8. In Device Configuration add other Modules and can know how are the Tags named in Hardware; here you can verify the Inputs, Outputs, Analog Inputs, etc; is very important this configuration
9. And Where I Program? let's go to Program Blocks and select OB1
10. Before upload program to PLC we can compilate to verify if we have any errors
11. When we think all is OK, Go Online and communicate PLC and PC (PC same subnetwork TCP/IP)
12. Finally if we have connection; RUN / START CPU PLC

Why Can't communicate PC and PLC S7 1200?
Communication between PC and S7-1200 is via ETHERNET (TCP/IP); you can verify is your PC is in same Subnetwork than PLC, remember IP S7-1200 has assigned in "Profinet Interface" 192.168.0.x above in page GO STEP 3 HERE

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Configure for first time a PLC S7-1200 Siemens