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Inst Tools > Blog > Formulas > PLC Analog Input Scaling

PLC Analog Input Scaling

Last updated: March 4, 2021 4:31 pm
Editorial Staff
Formulas PLC Tutorials
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An Allen-Bradley SLC500 programmable logic controller (PLC) uses a 16-bit analog-to-digital converter ( in its model 1746-NI4 ) in analog input card to convert 4-20 mA signals into digital number values ranging from 3277 (at 4 mA) to 16384 (at 20 mA).

However, these raw numbers from the PLC’s analog card must be mathematically scaled inside the PLC to represent real-world units of measurement, in this case 0 to 700 GPM of flow.

PLC Analog Input Scaling

Formulate a scaling equation to program into the PLC so that 4 mA of current registers as 0 GPM, and 20 mA of current registers as 700 GPM.

PLC Analog Input Scaling

We are already given the raw number values from the analog card’s analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit for 4 mA and 20 mA: 3277 and 16384, respectively.

These values define the domain of our linear graph:

PLC ADC counts

Calculating and substituting the slope (m) value for this equation, using the full rise-over-run of the linear function:

PLC Scaling Formula

Also Read : PLC Raw Count Calculation

This type of scaling calculation is so common in PLC applications that Allen-Bradley has provided a special SCL (“scale”) instruction just for this purpose.

Instead of “slope” (m) and “intercept” (b), the instruction prompts the human programmer to enter “rate” and “offset” values, respectively.

Furthermore, the rate in Allen-Bradley’s SCL instruction is expressed as the numerator of a fraction where the denominator is fixed at 10000, allowing fractional (less than one) slope values to be specified using integer numbers.

Aside from these details, the concept is exactly the same. Expressing our slope of 700/13107 as a fraction with 10000 as the denominator is a simple matter of solving for the numerator using cross-multiplication and division:

PLC multiplication factor

Thus, the SCL instruction would be configured as follows

PLC SLC instruction Block

Also Read : 4-20mA Conversion Formulas

Credits : by Tony R. Kuphaldt – Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License

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5 Comments
  • youcef says:
    August 11, 2017 at 10:50 am

    thank you

    Reply
  • Sanaullah M. Hasni says:
    July 26, 2019 at 7:42 pm

    Please tell me 4-20 mA is analog input or analog output in plc /Scada system.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • S Bharadwaj Reddy says:
      July 26, 2019 at 8:24 pm

      Always see the signal from control systems point of view.

      Example-

      Field transmitters signal is Analog Input to PLC or DCS.

      PLC or DCS signal to Control Valves is Analog Output.

      Reply
      • Satheesh says:
        December 31, 2019 at 11:06 am

        Sir please injection moulding plc check

        Reply
  • Alex says:
    February 25, 2020 at 8:02 am

    Wow what an information is shared in this platform. I am impressed thank you Inst Tools

    Reply

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