pauljohnrickard

Unique ID in PLC

On a particular automation project, I had to generate a unique ID for a record. As it happens in this project I didn’t anything that could store the last value used, actually there were quite a number of requirements. The Number had to be unique If possible the number should be sequential The number wouldContinue reading “Unique ID in PLC”

Schneider: Unity Pro ZEF files

As it happens, I wanted to write a post about some code that I wrote for an automation project – but as I am writing this, I haven’t purchased my own copy of Schneider’s Unity Pro. But it led to something interesting… Knowing that much of the programs are stored in XML format, I wentContinue reading “Schneider: Unity Pro ZEF files”

Alarm Board V1

After the not so successful 1st attempt here is a 3D render of the next version of the Home Alarm system I have been designing. I’ll send it out for fabrication and should get it back in a little over a week. In this version, there will be float charging for a 12V battery andContinue reading “Alarm Board V1”

Planning takes Planning

We needed to install some new equipment into a switchroom, the issue we faced was, there was no more spare room in the MCC panels. On closer inspection, there was a redundant variable speed drive taking up space – so it had to go. The motor was still in use, so I had to carefullyContinue reading “Planning takes Planning”

Boom up in lights

It might not be the most technical design I’ve done, but it was a lot of fun. On this job, the security boom had been put in place by contractors, but not wired up. We decided while we were at it, we should retrofit a RGB. LED strip to the front of the boom toContinue reading “Boom up in lights”

Boxed in

Within the first few days of arriving to a site, I was told about a job where their Overhead cranes had burnt out coils or contacts, on several of their hoists. On closer inspection, these were reversing contactors with dual coils. That was a first for me, I had never seen these before. We couldContinue reading “Boxed in”

Unplugged

These sockets were the control interface for some rackable 3.3kV motor contactors, they were 30 years old and they had a problem. When ever the plug was removed, the socket would come with it as well – leaving us with the real risk of exposed live parts, or shorting control circuits. It turned out thatContinue reading “Unplugged”

Designing a new Home Alarm: Version 0

After years of our home alarm not quite working, and an abundance of newly found time on my hands I have decided to design and build a new home alarm system, with some slightly new features that didn’t exist when we bought our house. There was nothing truely wrong with the alarm, it did goContinue reading “Designing a new Home Alarm: Version 0”