PLC or Programmable Logic Controller is an industrial computer that automates industrial processes. Today, almost all industries use PLC to automate industrial processes. Industrial automation not only reduces human errors but also increases productivity by boosting manufacturing speed. If you are an engineering student and pursuing a course in industrial automation, this post may help you. Here, we will list some best free PLC Simulators for Android. You can install these free PLC simulation apps on your Android smartphone and practice simple ladder logic problems so that you can hone your skills in PLC programming.
Best Free PLC Simulators for Android
We have three free PLC Simulators for Android on this list. Read this article to know what features they offer. Let’s start.
PLC Ladder Simulator 2
PLC Ladder Simulator 2 is the only app in this list that comes with a bunch of advanced features. In this app, you can change the nature of the inputs as Push Buttons and Switches. In addition to this, you can also select the input type as Digital and Analog. If we talk about the outputs, you can make them as Digital, Analog, or Servo Motor. To change the nature of the I/Os, first, tap on the Settings icon just above the Play button and then select I/O Manager on the top left side.
You will get a lot of input and output addresses on this free app. You may find using this free PLC Simulator app a bit difficult for the first time. Hence, we will provide here a quick guide to use the software.
In this app, you will get a number of components, including:
- I/Os
- Timers
- Counters
- Comparators
- Logic Gates
- Mathematical operators, like Address, Subtractors, etc.
- Jump instructions
How to use PLC Ladder Simulator 2
Before inserting any component (inputs, outputs, etc.), you have to define their addresses. For this, tap on the Settings and then select the I/O. Now, tap on any of the addresses. After selecting an address, tap on Tag at the bottom and define the name of the input, say, Start1. After defining the tag, tap on the Save button. Repeat this process to define addresses and tags for all the I/Os.
When you are done, you can create a ladder diagram. First, you have to insert a rung with an output coil. After inserting the rung with the output coil, a new window will popup in which you have to tap on the TAG button and then select the tag from the list. After that tap OK and then ADD.
How to use a Timer in PLC Ladder Simulator 2
When you add a Timer, you have to define the two values, namely, T File and Preset. The T File is the address of the Timer and the Preset is the delay in seconds. Let’s say you enter 0 in T File and 10 in Preset, the address of the Timer will be T:0 and the delay will be of 10 seconds.
It accepts the time directly in seconds. This means, if you want a delay of 50 seconds, you have to enter the value 50 without doing any calculations.
How to use a Counter in Ladder Simulator 2
In the case of Counter, the C File represents its address and the Preset represents its number of up or down counts.
When you are done, tap on the Play button to run the simulation.
PLC Ladder Logic Simulator
PLC Ladder Logic Simulator is another free PLC Simulator app for Android. Its user-friendly and easy-to-understand interface makes it easier to use for beginners. It comes with 15 I/Os. This means that you can define the address for inputs and outputs from 1 to 15. To save your inputs and outputs from being wasted, you can use a memory bit.
It consists of the following components:
- Normally Open and Normally Closed contacts
- Output coil
- Negate coil
- Latch and Unlatch
- On delay timer
- Off delay timer
- Up and Down Counters
- Reset coil
When you launch this app, you will see a blank screen. To start a new project, tap on the Plus icon on the top right side and select a blank project to start from scratch. It also comes with some sample projects, including:
- Simple Ladder
- Latch and Unlatch
- Counter Up
- Counter Down
- Timer
You can also load these projects.
On the new project screen, you will see the two rails only. Now, tap on the empty space to insert a component. After inserting a component, tap again on it. Now, this time you will see two options, namely, Symbol and Address. If you want to change the component, select Symbol, otherwise select Address. To delete an existing component, tap on it and select Symbol. After that select Delete.
How to use a Timer in PLC Ladder Logic Simulator
The below-listed steps will guide you on how to use a Timer in this free app.
- Tap on the empty space and select On delay or Off delay Timer.
- Tap on the Timer again and select Address.
- Now, select the Timer address from the list.
- Tap on the Timer again and select Value.
- Enter the value for a delay of particular seconds.
The Timer of this free app accepts the value directly in seconds. Hence, you need not do any calculations before entering a value.
How to use a Counter in PLC Ladder Logic Simulator
The procedure to use a Counter in this app is the same as that of the Timer.
The Timers and Counters of this app do not have any Reset input. Hence, you have to use the Reset coil separately to reset the Timer or Counter.
When you are done, tap on the Play button on the top right side to run the simulation.
Arduino PLC- Ladder Simulator
Arduino PLC- Ladder Simulator is among the basic PLC Simulators for Android smartphones. It comes with the following components:
- Normally open contacts
- Normally closed contacts
- Output coil
- Set and Reset coils
- Timer
- Counter
- Memory bit
Creating a ladder diagram in this app is very easy. Simply tap on any empty box and select the desired input or output. After selecting the input or output, you have to select its contact name and contact number. The contact number is the address to the I/O.
Though the I/O addresses are available from 1 to 32, the simulation is available only for the addresses 1 to 9. Hence, while designing a ladder logic diagram, you have to save your inputs and outputs. You can do this by defining a memory bit instead of the inputs or outputs where connecting the I/Os is not necessary. Let’s say, you have to turn a motor ON after some particular time, say 1 minute. The ladder logic of this problem can be created in two ways, by using the relays (output coils) and by using a memory bit. Using an output coil in this example is not necessary, Therefore, you can use a memory bit here.
How to use a Timer in Arduino PLC- Ladder Simulator
Using a timer is easy in this app. The steps are given below:
- Tap on the screen and select the Timer from the options.
- Tap on the drop-down menu next to the Select Quit/Counter/Timer Number option.
- Adjust the slider to set the time. You can enter the time up to 25 seconds.
It accepts the time with a multiplication factor of 10. This means if you want a delay of 10 seconds, you have to select the value 100 on the slider.
How to use a Counter in Arduino PLC- Ladder Simulator
The steps to use a counter are the same as that of the timer. There is no reset input to the same counter. Instead, they have provided a Reset Counter output which you can use to reset the counter with any address.
Save a project option is available in the app. If you modify the saved project, you have to save it with the same name in order to replace its previous version.
To start the simulation, tap on the three vertical dots on the top right side and select the Ladder Simulation option. To stop the simulation, tap there again and select PLC Editor.
Closing Words
All these free PLC Simulators for Android offer good features that make them suitable for students. Download and install these free apps on your smartphones and tell us about your favorite app in the comments below.
Related post: Best free Online PLC Simulator Tools.
