Getting started with DigiKey's Arduino Opta Kit

[APDahlen]

Welcome

DigiKey’s Arduino Opta kit provides an excellent way to learn PLC programming and the fundamentals of industrial control and automation. This page identifies a series of labs designed to get you started.

Image of the complete PLC trainer showcasing the Arduino Opta PLC and supporting field devices.

Purchasing

The trainer shown in Figure 1 is available in kit form.

• The kit does not include the recommended wire ferrules and the UL 508A compliant white-with-blue stripe wire for ground signals.

• A bench power supply (not included) is required to supply 24 VDC (recommend a current limited supply with up to 1 A capacity).

• You are encouraged to modify the list to meet your individual classroom needs and learning objectives. For additional information, please review this page which describes the thought process involved in trainer component selection.

Preliminary Industrial Labs

We recommend starting with these introductory labs:

• First Steps for DIN rail hardware

• Construct the Phase Dock base and DC power distribution block

• Fundamentals of industrial switches

• Relays and ladder diagrams

Opta Foundation Labs

When the preliminary labs are complete, you can progress to the Opta labs:

• Wire and troubleshoot the Opta

• Mapping to the Arduino ACE-100 lab

• Arduino ACE-100

Related Opta Articles

These articles allow you and your students to explore the Opta:

• ESSENTIAL! Arduino Opta namespace

• Connection digital inputs to the Opta

• Connection digital outputs to the Opta

• View I/O status using LEDs (Opta WiFi required)

• UDFB in Ladder Logic

• C Programming:

  • Mastering the PLC Cycle Scan

  • Case Study using X Macros

  • Mastering non-blocking delay techniques

Opta Adjacent Topics

The following articles expand the utility of the Phase Dock trainer, however, the components are NOT included as part of the Arduino Opta kit.

• Troubleshooting

• Start stop jog fundamentals

• Introduction to motor starters

• Interposing relay

• Spring vs screw-terminal connections

• Applications of PNP and NPN sensors

Feedback

The DigiKey Opta material is still under construction. We appreciate your feedback, as it helps inform the development process. Please leave your general comments and questions in the space below. Place your lab-specific questions on the respective lab pages.

You may also be looking for a larger trainer. This page describes how to use standard 19-inch rack and plate components to assemble a desktop trainer that is perfect for extended PLC programming exercises.

DIY PLC Trainer Using 19-inch Rack Mount Components

This article describes a Programmable Logic Control (PLC) trainer constructed using common 19-inch rack components. The assembly shown in Figure 1 provides a functional, compact solution which can be modified to meet your needs. This assembly provides a natural progression from the smaller introductory trainer as described in this article. The smaller trainer is ideal for the introductory labs exploring pushbuttons, relays, motor starters, safety relays, and small PLCs. The larger trainer may b…

Related Information

Please follow these links to related and useful information:

• DigiKey’s product selection guides

About This Author

Aaron Dahlen, LCDR USCG (Ret.), serves as an application engineer at DigiKey. He has a unique electronics and automation foundation built over a 27-year military career as a technician and engineer which was further enhanced by 12 years of teaching (interwoven). With an MSEE degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, Dahlen has taught in an ABET-accredited EE program, served as the program coordinator for an EET program, and taught component-level repair to military electronics technicians. Dahlen has returned to his Northern Minnesota home and thoroughly enjoys researching and writing articles such as this.