CODESYS PLC Programming: Tips for Maximizing Performance

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⌚Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:25 - Introduction to optimization
01:34 - Application introduction
02:04 - Optimization
05:10 - Test and benchmark
06:02 - Conclusion
In this video, you will learn how to optimize your PLC code for performance.
Before we talk about how to optimize your PLC code, let’s quickly define what optimization is in the context of PLC programming.
In this video, you will see how we can refactor, or update, a CODESYS PLC application to optimize it for performance.
In PLC programming, performance optimization usually aims to lower PLC cycle times and reduce the memory usage of the application.
Low cycle times are important because we want to control processes at near real-time. High cycle times may lead to the loss of control of a process which can create dangerous situations.
Low memory usage is important because PLCs have limited memory resources. Unlike computers which have a lot of memory available, a typical PLC, like the “Wago CC100”, has only 32 megabytes available to store an application.
In this video, we will optimize a CODESYS application that monitors a temperature and controls a fan.
When the temperature reaches an upper limit, the fan turns on, and when the temperature reaches a lower limit, the fan turns off.
This sounds like a simple application but it will highlight how many opportunities there are to optimize even the easiest of applications.
Optimization starts with an analysis of the current code.
The aim here is to identify parts of the code that we can refactor to simplify calculations, consolidate logic, and improve memory usage by reducing the number of variables used.
By simplifying calculations and removing duplicate logic from an application, we can significantly reduce the cycle time of the application.
Starting with a complex three-rung calculation, we optimize the conversion from Celsius to Fahrenheit, initially using memory-consuming intermediate variables.
We will introduce an efficient method using the “Function Block Diagram” to replace the current process, thereby removing several rungs and intermediate variables.
Instead of converting values twice, we directly scale the analog input to Fahrenheit, saving cycle time. Duplicate calculations and excess intermediate variables for fan control are eliminated.
The result? A streamlined, more comprehensible program.
After this, we'll test and benchmark the outcome. After optimizing an application, you should check how much of an impact your changes have made to understand the value of the optimization and if the performance targets were reached.
The first thing to check is the reduction in memory use. You can see the memory use of an application when you build the application.
You can also check the reduction in cycle time by downloading the project to a PLC and opening the Monitor tab of the Task Configuration object.
This tab gives some statistics about the cycle time of the PLC including the last cycle time, average cycle time, max cycle time, and min cycle time.
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If you want to learn more about programming PLCs using CODESYS, check out the course CODESYS 1 - Introduction to PLC Programming: learn.realpars.com/courses/co...
You can purchase your WAGO StarterKit through this link:
www.wago.com/global/lp-wago-c...
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[@MyCodingDiarie]

I love how you incorporate real-world examples into your tutorials. It makes learning so much easier!

[@realpars]

Thank you very much!

[@KevinNguyen-tw5ml]

Thank you very much !

[@realpars]

You are very welcome!

[@khinmaungwan198]

Thank you sir

[@realpars]

You're very welcome!

[@RS_83]

Thank you) More videos about codesys please) Especially st language examples

[@realpars]

Thanks for your support, and for sharing your suggestion!

[@solidotech]

Hi, we are an automation company and we found your videos and articles very useful and practical. May I ask if we can share your content on our social media platforms? Will definitely give you the credit.

[@realpars]

Thank you for your kind words! You can share our video as long as it remains unmodified, tagged and credited back to us. Could you also make sure that our page name is mentioned in the first part of your caption? Thank you for checking in with us on that!

[@solidotech]

@@realpars Yes sure! Also thank you for the permission!🤝

[@Songrowup]

Make a FBD program of tank water filling with 2 valve. 1 valve is turn on for filling water when tank level with decrease than 20% . And turn valve 2 on when tank water level increase than 80%

[@russelsprout2155]

When I'm in the project window and I click on "prepared value" true or false, it should change the value when I click on it. But it's not happening for some reason. So I hover over prepared value with my mouse, click on it and then the actual value doesn't change, why is this ? Do I need to press another button on my laptop to initiate the change ?

[@realpars]

The prepared value isn't automatically written to the variable in the PLC. After preparing a value, you have to write it to the variable by right-clicking on the prepared value and selecting the Write Values command or by using the keyboard shortcut CTRL + F7

[@Pit-Moto]

🤝

[@Pit-Moto]

👍

[@marc-andregaudreault5100]

I've worked with codesys using an Eaton PLC and a Festo PLC. It work well for the most part, but programming in ladder is absolute trash, you wouldn't believe that a finished product like Codesys would get away with this. I DO NOT RECOMMEND. They support ladder but you don't want to use ladder with Codesys.

[@realpars]

Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Marc.

[@Monochron]

Weird that you pronounce Codesys wrong. Especially if you are trying to teach it.

[@mattstedwell4369]

How is it supposed to be pronounced?

[@Monochron]

Coe-Deh-Sys. It came from "Code Development System" and was originally capitalized as CoDeSys, though that fell out of use.

[@bahadirm]

CODESYS is really nice, I just wish that the license costs for private customers would be much lower... Edit: A buy-out license for any device would also be nice.