Teaching yourself PLC is entirely doable! The key is a systematic learning path + hands-on practice. Below is the “Complete Guide to Teaching Yourself PLC from Zero” I put together for you, distilled from years of industrial automation experience, to help you skip the detours:
1. Prerequisites
- Electrical knowledge (must-have)
- Read circuit diagrams and relay control principles (start-hold-stop / forward-reverse)
- Understand sensors (NPN/PNP wiring), contactors, switching power supplies and other components
- Computer skills
- File management, installing software, basic debugging
- Logical thinking
- Able to reason through “IF…THEN…” conditional logic
💡 Important note: if your electrical fundamentals are weak, start with the “Electrician Work Permit” material (I recommend the “电工大吴” video series on Bilibili)
📚 2. Staged Learning Path (with Resources)
▶ Stage 1: Building PLC Core Concepts (1-2 weeks)
- Focus:
- How a PLC works (input-process-output cycle)
- Hardware composition (CPU/IO modules/power supply/bus)
- Number base conversion (binary/hexadecimal)
- Recommended resources:
- Book: PLC Programming from Beginner to Mastery (by Liao Changchu)
- Video: the “PLC Principles in 10 Lessons” series by the “工控自习室” channel on Bilibili (free)
▶ Stage 2: Hands-On Programming Languages (the important part! 3-6 weeks)
| Language | Learning Advice | Simulation Software |
|---|---|---|
| Ladder Diagram (LD) | Learn this first! 80% of basic projects use it | Siemens TIA Portal learning edition |
| Function Block Diagram (FBD) | Study the standard function blocks (timers/counters) | Mitsubishi GX Works2 simulator |
| Structured Text (ST) | Pick it up after you know some C | CODESYS V3.5 (free) |
✨ Key exercises:
① Motor forward/reverse control
② Three-stage conveyor interlock
③ Water tank level PID control (analog)
▶ Stage 3: Hands-On Hardware (the core part!)
- Low-cost setup (total budget < 500 CNY):
graph LR A[Taobao used PLC] --> B[Mitsubishi FX1S-20MR ≈200 CNY] B --> C[Button/switch kit 50 CNY] C --> D[Relay module 30 CNY] D --> E[USB programming cable 40 CNY]
- Virtual setup (zero hardware):
- Factory IO (3D simulation software) + TIA Portal co-simulation labs
- Simulate real scenarios: conveyor sorting / smart warehousing / elevator control
▶ Stage 4: Industrial Communication and Advanced Applications (2-3 months)
- Communication protocols: Modbus RTU (must-learn), CANopen
- Getting started with HMI: build a simple control interface on a Weinview MT8071IE
- SCADA basics: data acquisition with Kingview/ForceControl
🔧 3. Pitfall Guide (hard-earned lessons!)
- ❌ Wrong path: diving straight into a Siemens S7-1500 (too complex, destroys your confidence)
- ✅ Right path: start with a domestic PLC (Xinje/Inovance) → Mitsubishi FX series → Siemens S7-1200
- 🚫 Pitfalls to avoid:
- Reading manuals without practicing cases → extremely inefficient
- Ignoring PLC grounding → risk of frying modules
- Editing a program without a backup → equipment downtime
🌐 4. Resources for Continuous Progress
| Type | Recommended Resources |
|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | PLC Fault Diagnosis and Maintenance PDF + the “工控老张说维修” channel on Douyin |
| Industry cases | The case section of the 中华工控网 forum (real project programs you can download) |
| Certification | Siemens S7-1200 Certified Engineer (can be taken online) |
| Open-source projects | Search “PLC Project” on GitHub to study production-line control source code |
🚀 5. Turning This Into Employability
- Build a portfolio:
- Record control simulation videos with Factory IO
- Build your own PLC console (Taobao sheet-metal enclosure + assembled components)
- Join projects:
- Take on simple freelance work: equipment retrofits / small custom automation (on the 智造家 platform)
- Join communities such as 工控侠客行 and contribute to volunteer projects
