Chapter 7

Input Modules

Objectives (1 of 2)
Explain the differences between positive and
negative logic and sinking and sourcing.
Describe the available types of input
modules.
Explain the correlation between positive and
negative logic and sinking and sourcing.
Explain how specialty I/O modules enhance a
PLCs functionality.

Objectives (2 of 2)
Define module and sensor specifications from
data sheets.
List the advantages of three-wire solid-state
sensors and the disadvantages of using twowire sensors.
Explain the differences between analog and
discrete inputs.

PLC Connection
to the Outside World
The input section of a PLC is the physical
connection between the outside world and
the CPU.
Modular PLCs use interchangeable I/O
modules.
Modules are inserted into slots in the SLC
500 chassis.

Types of I/O Modules

Discrete input and output

Analog input and output
Specialty I/O modules
Communication modules

Discrete Versus Analog Inputs

Discrete or digital input signals are two-state
signals:
Input ON or OFF, 1 or 0

Analog input signals are values:

0 to 10 volts DC
-10 to +10 volts DC
4 to 20 milliamps

I/O Module Positioning in Chassis

The processor always goes in left-most
chassis slot.
SLC 500 slot numbering starts with the leftmost slot as slot 0.
I/O modules are inserted starting at
slot 1.

SLC 500 Four-Slot

Chassis with I/O Module

Image courtesy of Allen-Bradley, a Rockwell Automation business

Module Features
Identifier as to type of module:
Input
Output
Combination input or output

Status indicators
Screw terminals for connecting field devices
Removable terminal blocks

SLC 500 Combination I/O Module

(1 of 2)

Image courtesy of Allen-Bradley, a Rockwell Automation business

SLC 500 Combination

I/O Module (2 of 2)
Each screw terminal will have a unique
identifier called an address.
Each field device input screw terminal will
correlate to a status indicator.
Status indicator will be on when the input
point sees an input signal.
Status indicator will have same address
identifier as input screw terminal.

Typical Wiring of Input Signals

Block Diagram of a
Typical AC Input Circuit

Input Pulse with

Valid Signal Areas Defined

Optical Isolator

16-Point Input Module

with 8 Points Per Common

Solving Leakage Current Problems

Carefully match input device to input module.
Check manufacturers specifications.

When using a two-wire device, install bleeder

resistor when necessary.
Use a three-wire input device.

Sinking and Sourcing

Sinking and sourcing are terms used to
describe current flow through a field device in
relation to the power supply and the
associated I/O point.

In Which Direction
Does Current Flow?

PLC Current Flow

Many PLC manufacturers follow the theory
that current flows from positive to negative.

Switch Is Source of Current:

the Light Sinks to Ground

Light Is Source of Current:

the Switch Sinks to Ground

Sourcing DC Input Module

with a Sinking Switch

Sinking DC Input Module

with a Sourcing Switch

Sourcing Two-Wire
Inductive Proximity Sensor

Sinking Two-Wire
Inductive Proximity Sensor

Basic Principles
NPN transistors are open-collector, currentsinking devices, which interface to a sourcing
input module.
PNP transistors are open-collector, currentsourcing devices, which interface to a sinking
input module.

Simplified Circuitry
for a DC Input Module

DC Input Modules
Except for the bridge rectifier circuit, the DC
input module is very similar to the AC input
module.

Simplified DC
Input Module Circuitry

Leakage Current in DC Modules

Maximum off-state current
The maximum amount of leakage current
allowed in an input circuit that will keep the
input circuit in an OFF state.
Too much current leaking from input device
will be seen as a valid ON signal by input
module all the time.
It is most common with two-wire solid-state
input devices.

Bleeder Resistor
and Leakage Current
The bleeder resistor creates a parallel circuit
so excess current can be shunted away from
the input point.
Refer to manufacturers specifications for
calculations.

Bleeder Resistor
Installation in an Input Circuit

Calculation Example
If:
Maximum OFF-state current equal to 1 milliamp
Input point impedance of 1 K ohm
Sensor leakage current equals 1.7 milliamps

A 1K-ohm resistor in parallel with the input will split

current going into module input point in half to .85
milliamps.
Other .85 milliamps go through resistor to ground.

Solving Leakage Current Problems

Check manufacturers specifications and
carefully match input device to input module.
When using a two-wire device, install bleeder
resistor when necessary.
Use a three-wire input device.

Diagram of Connection
for Three-Wire Sensor

Discrete Input
Status Table Word
16-point discrete input modules are assigned
one word in the input status table.
A 16-point discrete input module residing in
slot 3 would be addressed as I:3.0, bits 0
through 15.

Input Status Table

Discrete I/O Module With 32 Points

Because input status word is 16 bits wide,
there are 16 bits available for up to 16 I/O
screw terminals.
A 32-point I/O module will require two 16-bit
words to accommodate all I/O points.
For a 32-point input module in slot 3, two
words, I:3.0 and I:3.1 will be created as part
of the I/O configuration.

32-Point Input Module

Input Addressing for Upper 16 Bits

Screw terminal 16 address would be I:3.1/0.

Screw terminal 17 address would be I:3.1/1.
Screw terminal 18 address would be I:3.1/2.
Screw terminal 31 address would be I:3.1/15.
Can be entered on ladder as I:3/31, will
display as set up in properties

Analog Inputs
Typical analog signals come from
temperature, pressure, position, and motor
speed.
Analog input modules convert analog signals
to digital words.
Analog input signals are current or voltage.

Typical Analog Inputs

Analog input signals
0 to 10 volts DC
-10 to +10 volts DC
0 to 5 or 1 to 5 volts DC
4 to 20 milliamps
0 to 20 milliamps
-20 to +20 milliamps

Analog Module Configurations

Analog input information comes in as an input
channel.
Analog modules are
All inputs
All outputs
Combination of input and output channels

Analog Input Signals

Represent Values
A potentiometer supplying a 0- to 10-V DC
input signal to an analog input module could
send a converted signal of 0 to 32767 into
PLC memory.
Analog data format is determined by module
and module configuration.

Local Versus Remote I/O

Local analog modules in a SLC 500 system
automatically send the converted signal into
the input status table.
Remote I/O analog signals require block
transfers.

Selected Allen-Bradley SLC 500

Analog Modules

Image courtesy of Allen-Bradley, a Rockwell Automation business

Analog Input Modules and

the Input Status Table
Each analog channel will be represented by a
entire word in the input status table.
A two-channel analog input module will have
two words in the input status table to
represent the binary representation of the
analog voltage or current.

Analog Data Is Represented

as Whole Word Data
Analog signals are not digital signals
represented as 1s and 0s.
Analog information is represented as a
16-bit signed integer in the data table.
Each channel will require one word.
Data table will reserve one word for each
channel.
This is part of the I/O configuration process.

Input Word Assignment

1746-NI8 is an 8-channel analog input
module.
Eight words will be assigned to the input
status table as part of the I/O configuration.
Module in slot 4 will have words I:4.0 through
I:4.7, one for each channel.

1746-NI8
Input Status Table Words

SLC 500 Analog Voltage

Input Specifications

Percentage of
Analog Potentiometer

Single-Ended Analog Input

Connections from Field Devices

Image courtesy of Allen-Bradley, a Rockwell Automation business

Differential Analog
Input Connections

Image courtesy of Allen-Bradley, a Rockwell Automation business