Hello everyone, I am the new controls technician at the manufacturing plant. I have received a Dell Windows 10 PC from my predecessor, equipped with Siemens TIA Portal versions 16 and 17. The PC has USB, Ethernet, and serial ports. We have Siemens S7-300 and S7-1200 PLCs with 9-pin ports, as well as S7-1200 and Simatic ET 2000SP PLCs with Ethernet connectivity. Which interface cables should I use to upload the programs? I am unsure if there were any files left on the laptop or if I accidentally deleted them. Unfortunately, my attempts to recover deleted files from the backup drives were unsuccessful. The current PC does not have a file recovery tool. The backups for Allen Bradley and Omron devices are secure. Will I only be able to access the ladder logic without any descriptions on these units? Thank you in advance for your assistance. - James
The 9-pin port is typically used for MPI connections. You may need an MPI adapter, which can be expensive. However, there are alternative non-Siemens options available at a lower cost. For other connections, a standard Ethernet cable should suffice. To configure the communication settings, look for an icon with a wrench or Siemens logo in the desktop or system tray. When uploading from the 300, you may not see any comments. Make sure to check for PLC files in specific directories, typically with extensions like .S7p in Step7 classic software. Additionally, the ability to edit the firmware version on the 300 will vary. Older versions may require S7 Classic instead of TIA for editing. Remember, LD can provide detailed information on this topic.
If you're wondering which interface cables are needed to upload programs, James McQuade asked this question. To successfully upload programs, it is essential to have the right cables. For Siemens S7 300 models, ensure they are MPI and Profibus compatible. Pay close attention to the ports - DP corresponds to Profi and MPI to MPI. The software required will vary depending on the CPU's age and model. Some older 300 models may not support TIA. Consider using the Siemens 6GK1571-0BA00-0AA0 PLC S7 USB to MPI ProfiBus DP PPI 32 64 bit cable to ensure smooth operation. It is also worth noting that the 1200 models come with ProfiNet and can simply use a Cat5 cable for connection. By adding the device to your network, you should be able to easily access and manage it. For more PLC cables, trainers, and industrial automation supplies, visit plccable.com.
The USB-9pin adapter is commonly used for MPI or DP connections. Another option is the larger CP5711, which also functions well but is bulky and comes with a bag/case and requires an external power supply.
While I do offer the CP5711 for connecting to a 300, I believe it may not be necessary for most individuals as it typically costs around $1200. However, in certain applications, it is considered essential.
Responses above have addressed your cable organization. In the TIA Portal, file names typically end with .apNN, with NN representing the version of the Portal (e.g. 16, 17...). However, simply having the file is not sufficient; you must ensure that everything in its respective folder is included. If your older CPUs were previously programmed using Simatic Manager, you will need to become familiar with a tool known as Set PG/PC Interface. This tool allows you to designate the communication adapter that the software will utilize to navigate the network, along with adjusting the properties of said adapter. When connecting to MPI/Profibus, utilizing the Auto setting may help detect the network specifications (such as baud rate) before adjusting the interface accordingly.
Hi James! Welcome to the field. For connecting to your S7-300 PLCs, you can likely use your PC's serial port with a PC-to-PLC programming cable- Siemens offers the PC/PPI cable as an option for this. As for your S7-1200 and Simatic ET 2000SP PLCs, an Ethernet cable can do the job just fine, as these PLCs have Ethernet ports. As for recovering files, yes, you may face some issues if legendary comments were not saved within the PLC but instead only in the original project files. If those are gone, unfortunately, you might indeed only see raw ladder logic without comments. I'd recommend looking into a separate external file recovery tool to deal with deleted files in the future - there are plenty of third-party options available. Good luck!
Hello James, welcome to the group! For the Siemens S7-300 PLC, you'll need a MPI or PROFIBUS cable that is usually connected via the 9-pin serial port. However, if your PC lacks the 9-pin port, there are USB to MPI or PROFIBUS converters out there. For the S7-1200 and Simatic ET 2000SP, you can use a regular Ethernet cable as they both support Profinet. Regarding the program files, unless they were backed up externally, it's unlikely that you'll recover any deleted files without a dedicated tool. The PLC should still contain the programs, but as you mentioned, the ladder logic might be without any descriptions if they weren't specifically added in the PLC program. Still, it's definitely worth uploading the programs to see what's available. Good luck with your new role!
Hi James, welcome aboard! For the S7-300 PLCs, you would typically use a PC Adapter (6ES7 972-0CB20-0XA0) which connects to your PC via USB and to the PLC via the 9-pin port. For the S7-1200 and ET 2000SP, an Ethernet cable should suffice. As for the deleted files, it's unfortunate that you couldn't retrieve them from the backup drives. One of the challenges with Siemens PLCs is that you can’t upload comments or tag descriptions from the PLC, only the raw PLC program. So yes, without the original project files, you'll only be able to access the ladder logic without any descriptions. That said, it might be worth it to invest in a good file recovery tool for future needs or reach out to Siemens support to see if they can assist. Good luck on your new role!
Hi James! Welcome to the team! For connecting to the S7-300 and S7-1200 PLCs, you'll want to use a 9-pin null-modem cable for the 9-pin ports and standard Ethernet cables for the Ethernet connections with the S7-1200 and Simatic ET 2000SP. As for accessing ladder logic without descriptions, it depends on how your predecessor organized the files; you might be able to monitor the existing programs in TIA Portal, but without the documentation, it could be tricky if you need specific details. Don’t hesitate to reach out to colleagues for any extra documentation they might have, and best of luck getting everything sorted out!
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Answer: - You can use USB, Ethernet, or serial cables based on the port availability on your PC and PLCs. For PLCs with 9-pin ports, a serial cable may be required, while Ethernet cables can be used for PLCs with Ethernet connectivity.
Answer: - If you do not have a file recovery tool on your PC, you may consider using third-party data recovery software or seeking professional help to recover deleted files from backup drives.
Answer: - If the program files containing descriptions are deleted, you may still be able to access and upload ladder logic from the PLCs using Siemens TIA Portal versions 16 and 17, but the detailed descriptions may not be available unless they are re-entered or recovered.
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