Hello everyone, I recently received an S7 PLC system at work that was taken off an idle production line. My colleague mentioned that the code is not backed up anywhere and asked me to create a backup just in case the PLC gets damaged. Although I have not performed this task before, I believe it is possible. The PLC is an S7-1200 series, which I have experience working with. If I connect it to my laptop with TIA PORTAL (version 18), can I read the program on the PLC and generate a project from it? Thank you.
There are two options available when it comes to backing up your PLC system. The first option involves creating a binary backup, which allows you to save a snapshot of your PLC's current state for later download. Additionally, if your PLC has a memory card, you can copy the data into a directory and transfer it to a different card at a later time. The second option is to upload the PLC system and obtain an editable version. It is important to note that this option requires the TIA version used for uploading to be the same as the one that was downloaded. For Option 1, not only do you need the same Portal, but also a project with the same CPU part number and firmware revision to store the backup. However, the Simatic Automation Tool provides a solution for performing this function without the need for exact matches. Visit SIOS support on industry.siemens.com for more information.
MK42 suggested two options for backing up a PLC: 1) creating a binary backup to save a snapshot of the current state for later download, or 2) uploading an editable version, which requires using the same TIA version. Option 1 may also require matching CPU part number and firmware revision. The Simatic Automation Tool can help with this process without the need for complete matching. If your PLC has a card slot, you can use a spare Siemens SD card to create a backup by inserting it into the slot and writing to it. This method can help save important data for future use. Check out the links provided for more information.
When a PLC has a valid program stored on an SD card, it will overwrite the PLC, regardless of whether the program is empty. It is unclear what happens if an empty card is inserted. Referencing the manual, it states that an empty S7 SD card in the slot will absorb the project in the internal load memory. By default, the setting "disable copy from internal load memory to external load memory" is disabled. More information can be found in section 5.5.1 of the 1200 system manual. Remember to consult the manuals for further clarification.
To start, power up the device, plug in a network cable, and check the status under online and diagnostics settings. Navigate to Online access > choose your network adapter > locate the PLC > online and diagnostics > General. This will display details about the PLC, with the TIA portal version listed on the fifth line. You can then easily transfer a backup to a new project by matching the TIA version. Note that it may require effort and referring to electrical drawings to fully understand the labels and functions of the device.
When transferring a backup into a new project using TIA software, it is important to ensure that the correct version is being used. It may be necessary to refer to electrical drawings to understand the functionality of the project, as not all labels may be retained during the transfer process. However, 1200s are known to keep their tag names and comments intact. To upload a device as a new station, create a new project and navigate to Online > Upload device. This process, known as Mk42's Option 2, requires the same Portal version as the original project. As mentioned by Puddle, there may be compatibility issues with earlier firmware versions.
Absolutely, you can definitely connect the S7-1200 to your laptop using TIA Portal and create a backup of the program. Once you're connected, you should be able to use the "Upload" function to read the existing program from the PLC and generate a project file. Just make sure you have the correct drivers installed and your communication settings configured properly. It's a good practice to back up existing programs, especially if there’s no record of them. Good luck, and feel free to ask if you hit any snags in the process!
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Answer: - To create a backup for an S7-1200 PLC system using TIA Portal, you can connect the PLC to your laptop with TIA Portal software installed and then read the program from the PLC to generate a project.
Answer: - Yes, it is possible to generate a project from the loaded code on an S7-1200 PLC by connecting the PLC to TIA Portal and reading the program to create a backup.
Answer: - It is recommended to use TIA Portal version 18 or a compatible version when connecting to an S7-1200 PLC to read the program and generate a project for backup purposes.
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