When you're looking at programmable automation controllers for your application, here are some considerations to keep in mind. View as PDF

New System

For a new system, a PAC offers monitoring, control, and data acquisition capabilities plus Ethernet connections with company computers. Full analog and digital control, motion control, the ability to interface with serial devices, and remote monitoring should all be PAC capabilities. You may not need them all now, but needs have a way of expanding.

Also, look for PAC features that can reduce expenditures on network hardware, such as additional built-in network interfaces. The PAC shown at right, for example, includes two independent Ethernet network interfaces plus four serial ports configurable for RS-232 or RS-485/422.

Existing System

For an existing installation, a PAC can consolidate separate systems and link them with company computers, so that control, production, and monitoring data can be exchanged as needed. Verify that new PACs are compatible with all legacy systems, including all networks and protocols.

Learn more

• See ALL SNAP-PAC Controllers
• Explore an interactive What is PAC? demo ​​
• Read the white paper, Understanding Programmable Automation Controllers (PACs) in Industrial Automation

Location and extent of system

Is your system distributed over a broad area? Do you need to monitor assets in remote locations? Because PACs combine distributed control with remote communication options, they can efficiently handle extensive systems with remote installations.

Choose the PAC size and options that suit the size of your system. For example, a PAC that mounts on the I/O rack is probably more suited to cell control, RTU-type installations, or smaller systems. A more powerful, standalone PAC may be needed for more extensive distributed systems.

For the most efficient PAC-based system, choose one that utilizes distributed intelligence, not just a distributed architecture. Distributed intelligence offloads many control functions to remote processors co-located with distributed I/O. Distributed intelligence shortens wiring runs, reduces network traffic, maintains critical control should communications fail, and frees the central controller for supervisory tasks.

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• View Opto Case Studies
• Do you need a standalone PAC or a rack-mounted PAC? See specifications for each Opto 22's SNAP PAC programmable automation controllers
• See ALL Opto rack-mounted controllers R SERIES products
• See ALL Opto Standalone controllers S SERIES products

Networks and communications

Choose a PAC that has all the networking and communication options you need—and anticipate needing—built in.

Networks may include Ethernet (either wired or wireless), serial, or others. Communication options might include OPC, Modbusor Modbus/TCP, Profibus, Allen-Bradley DF1, and other standards on the control side. For communication with computer networks, you may also need protocols such as TCP/IP, SMTP for email, SNMP for network management, and FTP for file transfer.

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• See ​Compare features: PCs, PACs, PLCs, DCSs, RTUs

Environment

Unlike a personal computer (PC), PACs are industrially hardened and built to withstand normal industrial use. Check the PAC's specs for temperature and humidity tolerances. If your application involves extreme temperatures, vibration, dampness, dust, electrical noise, or other exceptional conditions, provide necessary enclosures and protection just as you would for a traditional control system.

Types of sensors, actuators, and devices

Signal requirements for inputs and outputs vary widely. Look for PAC-based systems offering reliable I/O with the digital, analog, and serial signals you need. These may include temperature, rate, RMS, pH/ORP, load cell, and others in addition to voltage and current. The PAC should be able to communicate with all signal types natively, rather than requiring signal conditioners.

Where cabinet space is limited, high-density I/O is a good choice. Software-configurable I/O—for example, an input module configurable as any of several thermocouple types—offers flexibility and reduces the number of spares you need to have on hand.

Learn more

• View Opto Case Studies
• Check out SNAP I/O

Advanced control capabilities

PAC-based systems have advanced control capabilities built in. Make sure that your requirements for high-speed digital control, motion control, PID loop, and mathematically complex logic, for instance, can be satisfied without add-ons.

Advanced programming

Because a PAC is similar to a PC, the integratd software that comes with it includes advanced programming features such as subroutines, string handling, complex conditions, and floating-point math. In addition, a PAC can often be programmed in C or other standard programming languages.

While it may seem easier to continue using programming tools you're familiar with (such as ladder logic for a PLC), you may find that software designed for the PAC is more efficient for your expanding needs. It's a good idea to explore any software suite designed for the PAC. Such an IDE (Integrated development environment) will likely save development time and effort, and it may be easier to learn than you think.

Learn more

• Read Software for Programmable Automation Controllers (White Paper)
• Find out what software is used to program a PAC

Data acquisition and database connectivity

For data acquisition applications, choose a PAC system with two strengths: first, substantial memory for acquiring and storing data; and second, the ability to share data directly with corporate databases over an Ethernet network.

If control networks and computer networks need to be separated, consider how you'll accomplish this. One way is to segmented networking using independent Ethernet network interfaces on the PAC itself.
 

Operator Interface

Check out the PAC-based system's human-machine interface (HMI) options. The integrated software development environment should use a single tagname database, so that once you define variables and I/O in the control software, you can immediately use them in the HMI software.

A PAC should also offer communication with third-party HMIs using OPC. And other options, such as a touchscreen terminal, may be available as well.

Future expansion

Plan for the future. When your needs change, additional distributed I/O can be handled by the same PAC—as can process, discrete, and motion control. All of these types of control should be programmable in the same software as part of the same system, and most changes should require no middleware or add-ons.

Learn more

• View OptoDataLink Introduction video
• Read Considerations for Choosing a PAC (PDF)