Small PLC's or Logic Relays used in Domestic/Commercial Settings

[sbrown2]

Hello All

I am looking for peoples experience of using small PLC's or Logic Relays in the domestic setting. I am looking at the likes of the moeller easy, mitsubishi alpha, and the likes. I have only used one of these types of relay in an industrial application over ten years ago and this was a keyence controller. I'm looking at these as I work with a builder/plumber who has started to get into the air source heating installations and I was wondering whether these types of units were cost effective against traditional heating controls. Do domestic/commercial electricians program these units? Or is this specialist?
Any advice relaating to these units even in different applications would be greatly appreciated

Kind Regards

sbrowns

 

[sbrown2]

Come on guys, somebody must have experience of these applications.

 

[lewlec]

hi

i have used the telemecanique zelio smart relay for various apps but never for domestic, but often thought they could be used for heating controls. they are quite simple to programme once you get into it.

regards
gary

 

[sbrown2]

Thanks for the reply.

I would have thought that quite a few electricians would be interested in looking at applications related to these units especially if as appears to be happening home automation eventually starts to boom.

 

[UNG]

Like Lewlec I have have used the Telmecanique Zelio for various control applications but as with all things cost will always be the issue in the domestic setting

 

[pmac10]

and another for the Zelio (not in domestic), great bit of kit and you could do a lot more than just the heating should you wish, as for programming they are supplied with a software cd for your laptop but if you fancied having a try before you buy you can download it for free from the schnieder electric website. you can write the program at your leisure and dont need to be connected to the unit and also run simulations to ensure it works.
takes a bit of practice but remember, ladder programes were developed by engineers FOR electricians so if you can read a wiring diagram ladder programs will cause you no problems.
( just to clarify, no i dont sell them)

 

[Marvo]

I use the seimens LOGO controllers in commercial and industrial control systems. These would be cheap enough to use in high-end domestic environments nowadays. If you're looking for predictive control I've only set up the S7 controller for that but I doubt this would be in the budget of many domestic clients.

 

[sbrown2]

thanks for the replies.

I really think that these systems (logic controllers) are the way forward in the domestic commercial market. My experiencewas initially AB, Siemens S5, Mitsubishi but I've come into the domestic market and I am looking for opportunities in maybe the home automation markets

 

[Canoeboy]

Hello All

I am looking for peoples experience of using small PLC's or Logic Relays in the domestic setting. I am looking at the likes of the moeller easy, mitsubishi alpha, and the likes. I have only used one of these types of relay in an industrial application over ten years ago and this was a keyence controller. I'm looking at these as I work with a builder/plumber who has started to get into the air source heating installations and I was wondering whether these types of units were cost effective against traditional heating controls. Do domestic/commercial electricians program these units? Or is this specialist?
Any advice relaating to these units even in different applications would be greatly appreciated

Kind Regards

sbrowns

What do you want to control with them in a domestic environment ?

 

[Knobhead]

What ever you go for make sure it uses “Ladder” logic. Most will let you introduce maths functions if needed.

 

[Zimmer]

I think all of those smart relays are made/licensed by Moeller but the Zelio is my favourite version. Wouldn't worry too much about ladder programming either as I think FBD language is easier to use and better.
They are easy to program and quite amazing devices and relatively inexpensive.
In your average domestic installation, I'm not sure what you would need/use one for, but if you have got the application, these little beauties will certainly do the job. You can add a com module, a gsm modem etc.

 

[sbrown2]

Thanks for the replies. Only just got back from some work.

I am based in Nottingham. More recently working with a builder/plumber who wanted an arrangement of valves and control for air source heating system. Being as I'm not proficient in domestic systems, as he changed his mind on how he wanted the system to function I was brought to using a logic controlling system that I/and he could easily change.
I am, as a person with industrial maintenance and automation experience, looking to transfer my experience into the domestic/commercial markets.

Anyway.........Regards!

 

[sbrown2]

Are they cost effective in heating and how are they applied in home automation?