Chapter 5: Timers and Counters

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

Ladder Logic
Learning objectives

Describe the use of timers and counters in ladder

logic

Describe such terms as retentive,

retentive cascade,
cascade delay on
and delay off

E l i the
Explain
th operation
ti off TON,
TON TOF,
TOF and
d RTO timers
ti

Explain
p
the use of CTU and CTD timers

Utilize timers and counters in ladder logic

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

Timers
Overview

Ti
Timers
are used
d to
t delay
d l actions
ti

Timing functions are vital in PLC applications

Keep an output on for a specified time after an input turns off

Keep an output off for a specified time before it turns on

Cycle times are critical in many processes

Many PLCs use block-type timers and counters

Compliance with IEC 61131-3 standards

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

Block-Type Timer
E
Example
l
TON

I:2

TIMER ON DELAY
Timer
Time Base
Preset
Accum

EN
T4:0
0.1
50
0

DN

Above Timer is labeled T4:0

Ti
Timer
Attributes
A ib

Time Base:
Timers are typically
yp
yp
programmed
g
with several different time bases

1 second, 0.1 second, 0.01 second, 0.001 second

Suppose time base is set to 0.1 and Delay increments is set to 50
timer has 5 seconds delay (0.1 x 50)

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

Block-Type Timer
Example
TON

I:2

TIMER ON DELAY
Timer
Time Base
Preset
Accum

EN
T4:0
0.1
50
0

DN

Preset Attribute:
Preset value is the number of time increments timer must count
before changing the state of the output

Time Delay = Preset value x Time Base ( refer to previous example)

Preset can be constant or a variable

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

Block-Type Timer
Example
TON

I:2

TIMER ON DELAY
Timer
Time Base
Preset
Accum

EN
T4:0
0.1
50
0

DN

Accum Attribute:
[Rockwell] Timers have one input. When the input transits from low
to high, the timer will begin timing (Accum value)

Timers that do not lose their accumulated time when the enable input line
transitions to low again are known as Retentive Timers
Retentive Timers continue to maintain accumulated time and increment
the time when the input line goes to high again
Non-retentive Timers lose the accumulated time whenever the enable
input transitions to low

The accumulated time resets to zero

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

Timer Block
Numbering System
TON

I:2

TIMER ON DELAY
Timer
Time Base
Preset
Accum

EN
T4:0
0.1
50
0

DN

Above Timer is calledT4:0

Timer

T4:0

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

T
4
:
0

File Type
Fil
T
(Timer)
(Ti
)
File Number of the Timer
Delimiter
Element (The actual timer number)

Block-Type Timer
E
Example
l
TON

I:2

TIMER ON DELAY
Timer
Time Base
Preset
Accum

EN
T4:0
0.1
50
0

DN

Timer On (TON) Delay

Timer On Delay
y Instruction:
Turns an output on after a Timer has been on for a preset time
interval

TON starts accumulating

g time when rung
g becomes true
Continue accumulating until one of the following occurs:

Accumulated (Accum) value equals preset value

The rung conditions becomes false

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

Block-Type Timer
Status Bits (EN, DN, TT)

Timer Status bits can be used in ladder logic

Bit

S t When
Set
Wh

R
Remains
i Set
S t Till

Timer done Bit

(bit 13 or DN)

Accumulated value is
equal to or greater than the
preset value

Rung conditions go false

Timer Timing bit

(bit 14 or TT)

Rung conditions are true

and the accumulated value
is less than the preset
value

Rung conditions go false or

when the done bit is set

Timer enable bit

(bit 15 or EN)

Rung conditions are true

Rung conditions go false

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

Using Status Bits in Ladder Logic

EN Bit
Timer Enabled bit can be used in ladder logic

Consider timer T4:0 from the example:

The Timer Enable (EN) bit is set immediately when the rung
goes true. It stays set until the rung goes false

The EN bit indicates that the timer T4:0 is enabled

The EN bit from any timer can be used for logic:

T4:0/EN could be used as a contact in a ladder

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

10

Using Status Bits in Ladder Logic

TT Bit
Timer Timing (TT) bit can be used
sed in ladder
logic

C
Consider
id timer
ti
T4
T4:0
0 from
f
the
th example:
l

The Timer Timing (TT) bit is set when the rung goes true. It stays
set until the rung goes false or the Timer Done (DN) bit is set (i
(i.e.,
e
when accumulated value equals preset value)

The TT bit from any timer can be used for logic:

T4:0/TT could be used as a contact in a ladder

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

11

Using Status Bits in Ladder Logic

DN Bit
Timer Done bit can be used
sed in ladder logic

Consider timer T4:0 from the example:

The Timer Done (DN) bit is not set until the accumulated value is
equal to the preset value. It stays set until the rung goes false

When DN bit is set, it indicates Timing operation is complete

The DN bit from any timer can be used for logic:

T4:0/DN could be used as a contact in a ladder

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

12

Using Other Bits in Ladder Logic

Preset (PRE)

PRE can be used in ladder logic

T4:0 PRE would access the preset value of T4:0

T4:0.PRE

Accumulated Value (ACC)

Note, PRE value is an integer

T4:0.ACC would access the accumulated value of timer T4:0

Time Bases are available in 1 second intervals, 0.01 and 0.001

second intervals

Potential time ranges:

Time Base

Potential Time Range

1 Second

To 32,767 intervals (up to

9.1 hrs)

0 01 Second
0.01

To 32,767
32 767 intervals (up to
5.5 minutes)

0.001 Second

To 32,767 intervals (up to

0.546 minutes)

What if a longer time is needed?

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

13

Memory Storage
Timers

15

14

13

EN

TT

DN

12

11

10

Internal Use

Bits
0 T4:0

Preset Value

1 T4:0.PRE

Accumulated Value

2 T4:0
T4:0.ACC
ACC

Current status of timer bits (EN, TT and DN) stored in first 16 bits

PRE value is held in the second 16 bit of timer storage

Third 16 bit holds accumulated value of timer

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

14

TON Timer
Ladder Diagram

TON

I:2
3

T4:0

TIMER OFF DELAY

Timer
Time Base
Preset
Accum

EN
T4:0
1.0
180
0

DN
O:5

TT

T4:0

DN

1
O:5
2

When input I:2/3 is true timer begins to increment the accumulated value of TON Timer
T4:0 in 1 second intervals
The TT bit is used in rung 2 to turn on Output O:5/1, while the timer is timing (ACC <PRE)
The DN bit of timer 4:0 is used in rung 3 to turn an output O:5/2 when the timer is done
timing (ACC = PRE)

Note: the Preset for this timer is 180 The timer will have to accumulate 180 1-second intervals to time
out
Note: This is a non-retentive timer: If Input I:2/3 goes low before 180 is reached, the accumulated value
is reset to zero

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

15

Timer OFF Delay

TOF
Timer OF (TOF) -Delay

Used to turn an output On or OFF after rung has

been off for a desired time

1.

2.

3.

4.

TOF starts to accumulate time when the rung becomes false

It continues to accumulate time until the accumulated value
equals the preset value or the rung becomes true
The timer enable bit (EN bit 15) is set when the rung becomes
true. It is reset when the rung becomes false and ACC < PRE or
the DN bit is reset (ACC = PRE)
The done bit (DN bit 13) is reset when the ACC value is equal to
g becomes true
the PRE value. The DN bit is set when the rung

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

16

Timer Off Delay

TOF Bits

Bit

S t When
Set
Wh

R
Remains
i Set
S t Till

Timer done Bit

(bit 13 or DN)

Rung conditions are true

Rung conditions go false

and the accumulated value
is greater than or equal to
the preset value

Timer Timing bit

(bit 14 or TT)

Rung conditions are false

and the accumulated value
is less than the preset
value

Rung conditions go true or

when the done bit is reset

Timer enable bit

(bit 15 or EN)

Rung conditions are true

Rung conditions go false

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

17

Ladder Logic
TOF Timer

TOF

I:2
3

TIMER OFF DELAY

Timer
Time Base
Preset
Acc

EN
T4:0
1.0
180
0

T4:0
This output is energized while the timer is timing

DN
O:5

TT

T4:0

This output is energized when the timer is done timing O:5

DN

Input I:2/3 is used to enable the timer

When input I:2/3 transitions from true to false The ACC value is incremented
as long as the input stays false and ACC PRE
The TT bit for timer T4:0 (T4:0/TT) is used to turn output O:5/1 on while timer is
timing
The DN bit of timer 4:0 (T4:0/DN) is used to turn on output O:5/2 when the timer
has completed the timing (ACC = PRE)

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

18

Retentive Timer On
RTO
RTO Instruction:

Used to turn an output On after a set time period

1.

The RTO timer is an accumulating timer. It retains the ACC

value
l even if th
the rung goes ffalse
l

2.

To zero the ACC value, use a reset (RES) instruction in another rung with
the same address as the RTO

The status bits can be used as contacts in the ladder diagram

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

19

Retentive Timer On
Status Bits
Bit

Set When

Remains Set Till

Timer done Bit

(bit 13 or DN)

Accumulated value
preset value

The appropriate RES

Instruction is enabled

Timer Timing bit

(bit 14 or TT)

Rung conditions are true

and the accumulated value
< preset value

Rung conditions go false

or when the done bit is set

Timer enable bit

(bit 15 or EN)

Rung conditions are true

Rung conditions go false

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

20

Ladder Logic
RTO Timer
RTO

I0:2
3

TIMER OFF DELAY

Timer
Time Base
Preset
Accum

I0:2

EN
T4:0
10
1.0
180
0

DN

T4:0
RES

EN bit is set when rung becomes true

When EN is 1 Indicates Timer is timing

Note: EN remains 1until rung becomes false

TT bit is set when rung becomes true and remains set until ACC value equals
the preset value or RES instruction resets the timer
DN bit is set when the timers ACC value is equal to the preset value

When DN bit is set it indicates timing is complete

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

21

Cascading Timers

When Application requires longer time delays

than a single timer can provide

Use multiple timers

When the first timer times out, it becomes an input to

start the second timer timing

Cascading Timers
TON
O

I:2.0
1

TIMER ON DELAY
Timer
Time Base
Preset
Accum

EN
T4:0
1.0
32,767
0

DN

TON
T4:0
DN

TIMER ON DELAY
Timer
Time Base
Preset
Accum

EN
T4:1
1.0
7233
0

DN

Two timers are used to extend the time delay

The first timer output, T4:0/DN, acts as input to second timer

When Input I:2.0 becomes true, timer 1 begins to count to 32,767

seconds (the limit of the timers)

When it gets to 32,767 seconds, output T4:0/DN turns on

This energizes timer T4:1
Timer T4:1 times to 7233 seconds (its preset value)

T4:1/DN turns on
What is the delay?
23

Counters

Counting is critical in industrial applications

Suppose 24 can go into a case

Then the 24th can must be sensed by the PLC
and the case is sealed

Primaryy Counter
C
Types
yp

UP Counters
Down Counters

Up/Down Counters

- PLC sense how many finished products leaving the machine

- PLC sense how many parts are left

- PLC monitors an automated storage system to track how

many are coming and how many are leaving to determine total number in stock

Choice used depend on the task

Counters
A ib
Attributes

Counters usually use low-to-high

low to high transition from
an input to trigger the counting action
Counters count the number of low-to-high
g
transitions on the input line

Similar to Timers, which count the number of time

increments

Counters also have a reset instruction to clear

th accumulated
the
l t d countt

Counters (CTU)
Edge-Triggered
Edge
Triggered

CTU

I:2

Count Up
Counter
Preset
Accum

EN
C5:0
10
0

DN

C5:0

O:5

Energized when the Accum >= Preset

DN

Input I:2/3
Status

On
Of

Output O:5/1 On
Of
Status
0

10

11

The rising edge triggers the counter

I:2/3 counts the pulses:

Each time there is an Of to On transition, the Counter increments its count by 1 (CTU)
When the Accumulate count equals the preset value, the counter turns on

Turns on Output O:5/1

How does CTD work?

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

26

Counters
Numbering System
How counters are addressed:

C5:0

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

C
5
:
0

File Type
File Number of the counter
Delimiter
Element (The actual counter number)

27

Counters in Ladder Logic

Accessing Counter Values
To use the Done Bit:

C5 4 DN
C5:4.DN

To use the Preset Value

C5:4.PRE

To use the Accumulated Value

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

C5:4.ACC

28

Memory Storage
CTU Counter Bits
15

Bits

CU

13

12

DN

OV

11

10

Internal Use

Element
0 C5:0

Preset Value

1 C5:0.PRE

Accumulated Value

2 C5:0
C5:0.ACC
ACC

Count Up
p ((CU),
), Done ((DN)) and Overflow ((OV)) bits are stored in first 16 bits
The CPU sets the OV bit when the counter exceeds upper limit +32,767

14

ACC wraps around to -32,767 and continues from there towards zero

PRE value is held in the second 16 bit of counter storage

Thi d 16 bit h
Third
holds
ld accumulated
l t d value
l off counter
t

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

29

CTU Counter Bits

Bit

S t When
Set
Wh

R
Remains
i Set
S t Till

Count-up Overflow bit

(bit 12 or OV)

Accumulated value wraps

around to -32,768 (from
+32 767) and continues up
+32,767)
from there towards zero

A RES instruction that has

same address as the CTU
instruction is executed or
the count is decremented
less than or equal to
+32,767 with a CTD
instruction

Done bit
(bit 13 or DN)

The accumulated value is

=> the preset value

The accumulated value

becomes less than the
preset value

Count up enable bit (bit 15

Count-up
or CU)

Rung conditions are true

Rung conditions go false or

a RES instruction that has
the same address as the
CTU instruction is enabled

Count-Up Counter
Ladder Diagram

CTU

I:2
3

COUNT UP
Counter
Preset
Accum

EN
C5:0
4
0

C5:0
Energized
g
when the Accumulated Preset

DN
O:5

DN

C5:0
Energized
g
when the counter overflows

O:5

OV

Input I:2/3 is used to enable the counter

Each time I:2/3 makes a low-to-high transition, the counter ACC value gets
incremented by1

The DN bit is set when the ACC value the Preset value

The DN bit of C5:0 (C5:0/DN) is used to turn on O:5/1 when ACC Preset value
The OV bit of C5:0 (C5:0/OV) is used to set O:5/2 when <What happens?>

See next slide

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

31

Count-Up Counter
Ladder Diagram

CTU

I:2
3

COUNT UP
Counter
Preset
Accum

EN
C5:0
4
0

C5:0
Energized
g
when the Accumulated >= Preset

DN
O:5

DN

C5:0
Energized
g
when the counter overflows

O:5

OV

I:2

Reset
ese cou
counter
e to
o zero
eo

C5:0
RES

The OV bit of C5:0 (C5:0/OV) is used to set O:5/2

if the count reaches +32,767

Bit 1 of contact I:2/1 is set to true(1) this causes the RES instruction to reset CTU C5:0s ACC value (i.e
Accum) to zero

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

32

Count-Down Counter
Ladder Diagram

CTD

I:2
3

COUNT DOWN
Counter
Preset
Accum

CD
C5:0
4
0

C5:0
Energized
g
when the Accumulated Preset

DN
O:3

DN

C5:0
Energized
g
when the counter underflows

O:3

UN

I:2

Resets
ese s cou
counter
e to
o zero
eo

C5:0
RES

Input I:2/3 is used to enable the counter

Each time input I:2/3 makes a 01 transition, the counter ACC value gets decremented by1

The DN bit is set when the ACC value the Preset value

The DN bit of C5:0 (C5:0/DN) is used to turn output O:3/1 on when Accum Preset value
The UN bit of C5:0 (C5:0/UN) is used to set OUTPUT O:3/2 ON when the ACC value
underflows (-32,768)
Input I:2/1 is used to reset the C5:0s ACC value to zero

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

33

CTD Counter Bits

Bit

S t When
Set
Wh

R
Remains
i Set
S t Till

Count-down Underflow bit

(bit 11 or UN)

Accumulated value wraps

around to +32,768 (from:
-32,767)
32 767) and continues
counting from there

A RES instruction that has

same address as the CTD
instruction is executed or
the count is incremented
greater than or equal to
+32,767 with a CTU
instruction

Done bit
(bit 13 or DN)

The accumulated value is

the preset value

The accumulated value

becomes less than the
preset value

Count down enable bit (bit

Count-down
14 or CD)

Rung conditions are true

Rung conditions go false or

a RES instruction that has
the same address as the
CTDinstruction is enabled

Memory Storage
CTU and CTD Counter Bits
Bits

15

14

13

12

11

CU

CD

DN

OV

UN

Internal Use

Element
0 C5:0

Preset Value

1 C5:0.PRE

Accumulated Value

2 C5:0
C5:0.ACC
ACC

ACC wraps around to -32,767 and continues incrementing from there towards
zero to +32,767

The CPU sets the UN bit when the counter exceeds lower limit -32,767

Count Up (CU), Count Down (CD), Done (DN), Overflow (OV) and
Underflow (UN) bits are stored in first 16 bits
The CPU sets the OV bit when the counter exceeds upper limit +32
+32,767
767

10

ACC wraps around

d tto +32,767
32 767 and
d continues
ti
d
decrementing
ti ffrom th
there ttowards
d
zero to -32,767

PRE value is held in the second 16 bit of counter storage

Third 16 bit holds accumulated value of counter

Computer Aided Manufacturing TECH 4/53350

35

Cascading Counters
CTU

I:2.0
1

COUNT UP
Counter
Preset
Accum

EN
C5:0
24
0

DN

CTU
C5:0
DN

COUNT UP
Counter
Preset
Accum

EN
C5:1
5000
257

DN

C5:0
RES

Two counters are used to extend the count

Counter C5:0 is used to count 24 cans for each case

When C5:0 ACC value 24, DN bit is set

The CTU C5:0/DN energizes CTU C5:1

The C5:1 Acc value is incremented to count number of cases of 24 cans

The ladder diagram shows 257 cases of 24 cans

36