PLC Communication using .NET

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Introduction

In this article, I will explain how to communicate with PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). I started my PLC communication program using .NET from 2007.

For a basic understanding of what PLC is, use Google because basically I am not a PLC Engineer or Electrical Engineer. However, I will explain to you how to connect PLC using .NET programs, how to read data from PLC, and how to write data to PLC. My sample programs are all based on MELSEC PLC using TCP/IP communication.

There are different kinds of PLC available like MELSEC ,SIMENS, etc. For each PLC communication, there are different types of protocols available. In this demo program, I have used TCP IP communication for MELSEC PLC.

Here, I have mentioned .NET programs instead of a language in .NET. In my article, you will find four zip files:

SPLCSharpConnect.zip contains the PLC component DLL source code. I started PLC communication programming in 2007. At that time, I was coding using VB.NET. I created my own Winsock component using VB.NET. Even now for PLC communication, I am using the same Winsock component MelsecPLC.dll in my projects. In that component, I have created simple functions as Connect, Disconnect, Read, Write and a DataArrival event. In the sample project attached, I have used the same DLL.

Before we start PLC communication programming, I'd like to explain the read and write processes in PLC communication.

Read Data from PLC

PLC Read Command: To read data from PLC, we need to send the command to PLC. Basically, the command we send will be like this: "500000FF03FF000018000A04010000D*0095000001";

String   cmd = "";
cmd = cmd + "5000" ;  // sub HEAD (NOT)
cmd = cmd + "00"  ;   //   network number (NOT)
cmd = cmd + "FF"  ;   //PLC NUMBER
cmd = cmd + "03FF" ;  // DEMAND OBJECT MUDULE I/O NUMBER
cmd = cmd + "00" ;    //  DEMAND OBJECT MUDULE DEVICE NUMBER
cmd = cmd + "001C"  ; //  Length of demand data
cmd = cmd + "000A";   //  CPU inspector data
cmd = cmd + "0401";   //  Read command (to read the data from PLC we should “0401”
cmd = cmd + "0000" ;  //  Sub command
cmd = cmd +"D*"  ;    //   device code
cmd = cmd + "009500"; //adBase 
cmd = cmd + "0001";
//Device No ,It’s a Address every PLC device will have an address
//we need to send the appropriate address to read the data.

Write Data to PLC

PLC Write Command: To write data to PLC, we need to send the command to PLC. Basically, the command we send will be like this: "500000FF03FF00001C000A14010000D*0095010002".

String   cmd = ""; 

cmd = cmd + "5000";   // sub HEAD (NOT)
cmd = cmd + "00";     // network number (NOT)
cmd = cmd + "FF";     // PLC NUMBER
cmd = cmd + "03FF";   // DEMAND OBJECT MUDULE I/O NUMBER
cmd = cmd + "00";     // DEMAND OBJECT MUDULE DEVICE NUMBER
cmd = cmd + "001C";   // Length of demand data
cmd = cmd + "000A";   // CPU inspector data
cmd = cmd + "1401";   // Write command
cmd = cmd + "0000";   // Sub command
cmd = cmd + "D*";     // device code
cmd = cmd + "009501"; // adBase 
cmd = cmd + "0002";   // BASE ADDRESS

You can see the difference, to read we use "0401" and "009500" but for write we use "1401" and "009501". The detailed code will be listed below.

Using the Code

I have attached C# sample programs for PLC communication in this article but for explanation here, I have used my component MelsecPLC.dll in the test project. First, add MelsecPLC.dll to your project.

1. Declare MelsecPLC.dll in the Form

//
using MelsecPLC;

2. Variable Declarations

//
public MelsecPLC.Winsock winsock1; // Declare the MelsecPLC Winsock Component
string Jig01;                      // To store the PLC read data.

3. Connect (PLC Connection)

For connection, we need the PLC IP address. Here, my PLC IP address is “10.126.224.221”. Enter the local port and remote port. Here, I have used “1027” for the local port and “8000” for the remote port. In form load, we call the PLC Connect function and we create a MelsecPLC DataArrival event. The DataArrival event will be triggered when PLC sends data to the PC (our computer).

The detailed connect functions and DataArrival declaration in the form load are listed below:

//
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    winsock1Connect();
    winsock1.DataArrival += 
      new MelsecPLC.Winsock.DataArrivalEventHandler(winsock1_DataArrival);
    timer1.Enabled = true;
    timer1.Start();
}

private void winsock1Connect()
{
    try
    {
        if (winsock1.GetState.ToString() != "Connected")
        {
            winsock1.LocalPort = 1027;
            winsock1.RemoteIP ="10.126.224.221";
            int a = 8000;
            winsock1.RemotePort = 8000;
            winsock1.Connect();
        }
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
    }
}

4. DataArrival Event

In the DataArrival event, we get the actual data sent by PLC after the Read signal is sent to PLC. This event will be triggered whenever PLC sends data to the PC. To get data from PLC, we use the winsock1.GetData() method.

//
private void winsock1_DataArrival(MelsecPLC.Winsock sender, int BytesTotal)
{
    String s = String.Empty;
    winsock1.GetData(ref s);
    Jig01 = s;
}

5. Read Data from PLC

To read data from PLC, we need to send the signal to PLC for data read. I have explained the read functions in my article introduction. To send read signal to PLC, we use the winsock1.Send() method.

//
private void btnRead_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    if (winsock1.GetState.ToString() != "Connected")
    {
        winsock1Connect();
    }
    //String cmd = "500000FF03FF000018000A04010000D*0095000001";
    String cmd = "";
    String OutAddress = "0001";
    cmd = "";
    cmd = cmd + "5000" ;    // sub HEAD (NOT)
    cmd = cmd + "00"  ;     // network number (NOT)
    cmd = cmd + "FF"  ;     // PLC NUMBER
    cmd = cmd + "03FF"   ;  // DEMAND OBJECT MUDULE I/O NUMBER
    cmd = cmd + "00"  ;     // DEMAND OBJECT MUDULE DEVICE NUMBER
    cmd = cmd + "001C"  ;   // Length of demand data
    cmd = cmd + "000A";     // CPU inspector data
    cmd = cmd + "0401";     // Read command
    cmd = cmd + "0000" ;    // Sub command
    cmd = cmd +"D*"  ;      // device code
    cmd = cmd + "009500";   // adBase 
    cmd = cmd + OutAddress; // BASE ADDRESS           
    winsock1.Send(cmd);         
}

6. Write Data to PLC

To write data to PLC, we need to send the signal to PLC for data write. I have explained the write functions in my article introduction. To send a write signal to PLC, here we use the winsock1.Send() method.

//
private void btnWrite_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    if (winsock1.GetState.ToString() != "Connected")
    {
        winsock1Connect();
    }      
    String cmd = "";
    String OutAddress = txtWrite.Text.Trim();
    cmd = "";
    cmd = cmd + "5000";      // sub HEAD (NOT)
    cmd = cmd + "00";        // network number (NOT)
    cmd = cmd + "FF";        // PLC NUMBER
    cmd = cmd + "03FF";      // DEMAND OBJECT MUDULE I/O NUMBER
    cmd = cmd + "00";        // DEMAND OBJECT MUDULE DEVICE NUMBER
    cmd = cmd + "001C";      // Length of demand data
    cmd = cmd + "000A";      // CPU inspector data
    cmd = cmd + "1401";      // Write command
    cmd = cmd + "0000";      // Sub command
    cmd = cmd + "D*";        // device code
    cmd = cmd + "009501";    // adBase 
    cmd = cmd + OutAddress;  // BASE ADDRESS
    winsock1.Send(cmd);
}

Points of Interest

I love to work and play with HMI (Human Interface Program). I have worked with several HMI programs using C# like PLC, Sensor Programming, and NutRunner tool communication program. I want readers to benefit from this program.

History

• 5^th July, 2013: Initial release
• 21^st January, 2015: Initial post