The P controller

Classification
The P controller constitutes the simplest of all continuous controller types. It is created out of the
PID controller when the I and D components are left out or disabled and acts on the system like
the basic P element. For the relationship between the error signal e(t) (input variable of the
controller) and the manipulated variable y(t) (controller's output variable) the following
expression applies

The following Figure shows the step response and block symbol of the P controller.

The parameter KP is termed proportional coefficient (controller gain) of the P controller. To

distinguish this from the proportional coefficient of the basic P element, the parameters is
frequently termed KPR or just simply KR.
The P controller is often used in simple control loops with very low requirements. Its essential
disadvantage is in the fact that it in most controlled systems it leads to a steady-state error signal,
i.e. the actual value does not exactly reach or coincide with the setpoint value.

Experiment: P control of a PT system 2

In the following experiment you should set up a representative control loop with a P controller,
before performing a more precise analysis on P control loops in the subsequent chapters.

Set up the experiment circuit depicted below and configure the PID experiment card as a pure
P controller.
Activate the step response plotter and configure it as shown in the following Table.

Settings Input

Channel A Meas. range: 10 V Coupling: DC

Channel B Meas. range: 10 V Coupling: DC

Other Range: 100 Offset: 0

Settings Output

Step change from ... to ... 0 50%

Delay time/ms 0

Measurements 300

Settings Diagram

Display Channels A and B

x-axis from ... to ... 0 0.5 s

y-axis from ... to ... 0 100

Now determine the step response (controlled variable and error signal) of the closed control
loop for KP values of 1 and 10. Copy the traces into the spaces reserved below.
Step response for KP = 1
 Step response for KP = 10

Describe the characteristic of the step responses. How do they differ? What holds true
regarding the remaining or steady-state error signal? Enter your answers in the answer box.