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This program is designed for an entry level maintenance person or a seasoned veteran who is already familiar with motor controls. Whether your work involves facility maintenance, production maintenance or HVAC controls, automation plays a key role. This program begins with an overview of different types of sensors including thermocouples, RTDs, photo-electric devices, capacitive proximity switches, inductive, proximity switches, and introduction to programmable logic controllers. Regardless of the manufacturer PLCs have four basic parts which include the power supply, the central processing unit, the input/output section, and some type of programming device. We will break down each of these key components in a basic, easy to understand format. We will concentrate on understanding the sections from a troubleshooter’s aspect. During the discussion different brands of PLCs will be introduced to show how similar they are to each other. Once the student fully grasps the basics then the course continues to accelerate. The input/output section is examined in greater detail.

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Attendees should bring a multimeter, preferably the one they use on the job, with them for this hands-on program.