Low-cost, high-speed, compact PLCs for small applications

Furthermore, up to 1Mb of scalable memory is available, and many highly developed features are included - as found on the advanced System 300S range that is used for highly complex centralised and decentralised applications. These new PLCs are fully STEP7 programmable with instruction set compatibility for Siemens S7-300 and S7-400 systems.

Ample system expansion potential is available without the need for costly hardware changes, thanks to the integrated standard MMC card slots for program and parameter file storage, and up to 1Mb of expandable processor memory via Vipa's memory configuration card (MCC). The use of MCCs is also said to allow much more potential memory storage than comparable compact systems, and it also facilitates trouble-free multiple automation system commissioning and reduces the number of CPUs required for spares.

Both the 313SC and 314SC feature an Ethernet interface for PG/OP communication, an RS485 and MPI connection, plus a real-time clock. Fixed digital I/O count is 24/16, analogue I/O is 4/2 with a single pt100 analogue input. An additional 4/4 I/O (switchable) is available for counter, PWM or stepper control - on the 314SC model the speed of the counter is improved from 60kHz to 200kHz, making it suitable for ultra-fast digital inputs and outputs for deterministic control or high-speed counters. The 314SC also includes a 12MBaud Profibus-DP Master interface for up to 125 slaves (switchable with the RS485 comms port) and eight digital I/O. For the 313SC, work memory complement is 32kb, expandable up to 512kb; to handle more complex applications, the memory for the 314SC is 64kb, expandable to 1Mb.