PLC TIMERS AND COUNTERS

Why timers and counters are used in PLC?

• A PLC is a specialized computer that is used to control and operation of manufacturing process or
machinery. It is not possible to control complex systems by using certain logic and it is because we
can’t use sensors to check all the conditions. So during these conditions, we use events to determine
the condition of the system. Mostly a PLC would use certain events such as PLC scanning which
indicates that the PLC has just been turned on. The timer is used to indicate that the input is turned
ON/OFF or to create a delay. Counters are used to count the set of events that have occurred and the
latch or unlatch is used to lock something ON or to turn it off.

• There is memory space in the PLC to store instructions and it would also do the functions such as
timing, counting, arithmetic, data handling, and sequencing. The timers and counters are used in a PLC
for its continuous operation so they are inevitable in a PLC. The timer would time up to the value set by
the user and the counter will count up to the value set by the user. The timer and counter both are of 16
bits, the timers and counters are the fundamental PLC instructions and it is common to all PLCs. Both
the timer and counter would function as output instructions in a PLC program.
What is a PLC Timer?
• The PLC timer consists of an internal clock, a count value register, and an accumulator, and
the timer is mostly used for the timing process. Many of the control tasks would need the
programming of time. The timer instructions are used in PLC to create the program time
delays. The number of timers that we can use in our program is depended on the amount of
memory in the CPU. The timers are used in PLC to delay actions, the timer would keep an
output for a specified time after an input turns off. The timer would also keep an output off for
a specified time before it turns ON. The major function of a timer is to keep an output ON for
a specified length of time. A timer has certain parts such as time base, accumulated value,
timer address, and preset value. There are bits that are related to the current state of the
timer and it is called the status bits. The timing functions are inevitable in PLC applications
the cycle time is really critical in many processes. The timers in PLC are considered as a
software module and it would generate digital timing. There is memory space in the PLC to
store the delay time.
Timer instructions
• The timer instructions are the output instructions which is used to time the intervals for which
the rung conditions are true or false. The timer accuracy will be depended upon the
microprocessor which is being used. The timer instruction is composed of two values and
they are
• Accumulated value – This is a current number of time-based intervals that have been
counted from the moment when the timer is energized.
• Preset value – This value is set by the programmer, if the preset value is less than or equal
to the accumulated value then a status bit is set and this bit is to control an output device.
• Each timer is composed of two status bit
• Timer enable-bit – This bit will be set if the rung condition to the left of the timer instruction is
true and when this bit is set then the accumulated value will be incremented on each time
base interval till it reaches the preset value.
• Done bit – This bit will be set if the preset value and the accumulated value are equal and it
will be reset if the rung condition is FALSE
Timer working
• The timer will be activated if the execution condition is started and it will be
reset if the execution condition stops or goes OFF. If the execution condition
keeps ongoing or if it is long enough for the timer to time down to zero. Then
the completion flag will be turned ON and it will remain ON till the execution
condition is completed or turn off.

• The address of the timer is unique in the PLC memory, the timer instruction is
one element and the timer element is composed of 16-bits. The word zero
will cover the status bits and it has three state bits such as EN, TT, and DN.
The word one is for the preset value and the word two is for the accumulated
value.
Types of timers
• This type of timer can be seen in small PLC’s and this timer would be on after
a particular time delay. This is widely used for PLC programming we can also
create other timer functions by using an on-delay timer. So this timer would
delay the turning ON time in a system. This type of timer would count the
time base interval if the instruction is true. So if the rung condition becomes
true then the on delay timer instructions will start to count the time base
intervals. So if the rung conditions stay true then the timer would adjust its
accumulated value during each evaluation till it reaches the preset value. So
when the rung condition becomes false then the accumulated value is reset.
The three timer bits EN, TT, and DN can be used as rung conditions.
OFF delay timer
• This is the exact opposite of the on delay timer, this timer
would delays the turning off. So these timers are on for a
fixed period of time before turning off. The output will be
turned off after a delay, so when this timer is turned on
then the output is also turned on. So if the output needs to
be turned off then it needs to be turned on in the
beginning. So this timer won’t be activated before we turn
the input off again, so if we do that the timer will start the
count after the delay and the output will be turned off.
Pulse timer
• This timer is not used widely in a PLC it can be very
helpful for some PLC operations. The pulse timer is used
to generate the pulse and it will be of a specific length.
The pulse timer can be activated by turning on the input
and when it is turned on then the timer would start
counting the time. So basically a pulse timer can switch
on or off for a fixed period of time.
What is a PLC counter?
• The counters are needed in a PLC to detect the numbers and events, mostly the controller
needs to operate with the counters. The counters are used to eliminate the requirement of
relays to represent the events that have occurred. The counters are used to index,
increment, or decrement the values. The counter would count from zero to the
predetermined value and it is the preset value. Mostly the counters are used in PLC to count
items an example of this will be counting the cans which go into a box on an assembly line.
So the counters are really important, if a box is filled then it needs to be moved so that
another one can be filled. So basically a PLC counter is a function block that would count up
or down till it reaches a limit and when the output is set then the limit is reached.

• The counters can help to log to SCADA systems, they would count the number of times the
event has happened or it would set the alarm when the event happens for a certain amount
of time. The counters consist of variables and it is used to store the numbers in the PLC. All
the counter would store a minimum of two numbers and they would be counter limit and
current counter value. These two numbers will be saved as word or integer data types.
UP counter
• This is another step that is widely used in a PLC, this type of
counter will count down. By using a down counter we can
determine how many counts are remaining before the limit is
reached. By using a down counter we can count down from a
certain number till it reaches zero. Instead of a reset the down
counted has a pin and it is called load and it will load a value to
the current counter value and it is because to count down to zero
an initial value is needed. Each pulse on the count input will
decrease the current counter value by one. If the CV is less than
or equal to zero then the output is set. The load input would add
the value of the counter limit to CV.
UP down counter
• This type of counter can count in both ways and this could be
useful for certain PLC functions. We can count a number both up
and down and also can set an upper or lower limit. Each pulse in
the count input (CU) will increase the current counter value by
one. Each pulse on the count input (CD) will decrement the
current counter by one. If the CV is greater than or equal to the
counter limit (PV) then the output is set. If the CV is less than or
equal to zero the output (QD) is set. A pulse on the reset input (R)
will reset the value of the CV to zero. The counter limit value will
be added to CV by the load input pulse.