How to choose PLC networking module

With the development of industry, there is more and more demand for remote monitoring and remote operation and maintenance through PLC networking. It is usually realized by connecting a networking module through the PLC communication port. How to choose the right PLC networking module?

The answer is: choose according to your needs.

Requirement 1: Remote operation and maintenance (download PLC program on remote)

A customer's phone call is to travel thousands of miles to go on a business trip, and often the situation at the scene is not known. To solve a problem, you need to go back and forth several times. Waste a lot of manpower, material and financial resources! Therefore, downloading the PLC program remotely is just a need for industrial control personnel.

To address this need, PLCs can be divided into two categories: serial port PLCs and network port PLCs.

The so-called serial PLC refers to the PLC that downloads the program through the serial port (RS232 \ RS485 \ RS422). For this type of PLC, it is recommended to use Frost Chan Technology's remote serial terminal series products.

There are three models SC-GL424-BP (4G version), SC-WE824-BP (WiFi version), SC-NE224-BP (Ethernet version) according to the different networking methods.

The PLC is connected to the remote serial port terminal, and the frost cicada cloud client SC-IOTClient software is installed on the computer to connect with the PLC programming software to realize the remote download application of the serial port PLC.

The so-called network port PLC refers to the PLC that downloads programs through the network port. For this type of PLC, it is recommended to use the frost cicada technology remote LAN module SC-GR841-NS.

The PLC and the remote LAN module are connected by a network cable, the SClink software is installed on the computer side, and the P2P service is started. The PLC programming software can be remotely connected to the PLC, and the operation is very simple.

From the perspective of terminal customers, the introduction of remote serial terminal and remote LAN module, without redundant functions, reduces costs. Facilitate the popularization of remote operation and maintenance of the system.

Demand 2: Remote monitoring of equipment

Connect the device to the network, and the data of the device can be transmitted to the far end through Ethernet to realize the functions of remote real-time monitoring, remote alarm, data analysis and processing of the device. Then improve production efficiency and management efficiency.

To address this need, PLC application scenarios can be divided into two categories: standard systems and non-standard systems.

The so-called non-standard system refers to a non-standard system specially developed for a specific project, and the application scenarios of different systems vary greatly. Due to the large difference in application scenarios of each system, the cost of self-development monitoring platform is too high, so the PLC edge computing gateway + cloud configuration solution is launched for non-standard systems;

For products and solutions, use SC-GN980 series PLC gateways to apply for a free account of the Frost Cicada Industrial Internet of Things platform, edit the cloud configuration, and generate mobile phone applications synchronously, which is convenient and fast. Especially suitable for non-standard system monitoring platform.

The so-called standard system refers to the conventional standard products produced by equipment manufacturers, and the system application scenarios are not much different. For standard systems, a low-cost DTU + private cloud solution is introduced. Because it is a standard product and the quantity is large, you can use low-cost DTU modules to dock the device, and then customize the monitoring platform according to the system.

Frost Cicada Cloud provides an API interface for third-party applications to call. Customers only need to care about the implementation of the application, without worrying about device connection and management. Can greatly improve development efficiency. Frost Cicada Technology can provide technical support throughout the development cycle.