PLC Basics Extended Second Edition

Yes.

PLC Basics was designed for students with no prior Programmable Controller experience. All you need is basic electrical knowledge and a Windows PC.

The course starts with what a PLC is and how it works, then covers numbering systems and data types, and what Ladder Logic is and how it works, before moving on to creating, testing, and troubleshooting programs.

I specifically designed this training for electricians, technicians, and engineers who want to learn how to set up, program, and troubleshoot PLCs.

Whether you’re completely new to PLCs, or you’re an industrial electrician or maintenance technician responsible for keeping a PLC-controlled machine or system running, this course will help you develop the skills needed to confidently set up, program, and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley MicroLogix PLCs.

I also focus on the practical skills industrial automation professionals actually use every day. You’re not just going to learn how to write basic Ladder Logic—you’ll learn how to apply it to real-world industrial applications such as motor control, part sensing, and production tracking.

The required video lessons total more than six hours of instruction. However, that does not include any additional time you choose to spend completing the optional hands-on exercises.

Most required lessons are 20 minutes or less, allowing you to complete them whenever your schedule permits without having to set aside several hours at a time.

And since all of my courses include lifetime access, you can return and review any lesson as often as you like.

No. You do not need a physical MicroLogix controller or hardware trainer to complete this course.

All hands-on exercises are completely optional, and I show you how to download and use the free editions of the Allen-Bradley PLC programming and emulation software used in this course, so you can create and test programs on your PC without purchasing any hardware.

One free option I provide my students is a license of my PLC Application Simulator. This lightweight Windows 10 and Windows 11 application simulates a generic PLC along with my classic “Widget Machine,” allowing you to build and test the Ladder Logic solutions covered in the optional exercises without requiring any other hardware or software. While it doesn’t exactly replicate a specific Programmable Controller, it’s very similar and a license is provided free to all my PLC/PAC students.

For students looking for a more advanced experience, I also introduce Logic Design’s PLCLogix 500 simulator (Lesson 1.07), as well as Factory I/O, which can be used with Ethernet MicroLogix and SLC-500 controllers (Lesson 1.06).

And for those who’d prefer to learn with a physical PLC, I cover which MicroLogix controllers and programming cables work best and why, as well as how to set them up and program them. I even provide a list of the components and devices used to build the affordable, homemade PLC trainer used in this course.

For more detailed information about these and other available options, please watch Lesson 1.02, which is available as a free preview before purchasing the course.

The PLC programming and emulation software used in this course is free.

I show you how to download, install, and set up RSLogix Micro Starter Lite, along with the free emulation and RSLinx communications software, from Rockwell’s website.

For more information, see Lesson 1.02 (available as a free preview before purchasing the course) and the Course Requirements section above.

Yes.

When you enroll in this course, you receive more than just the video lessons and downloadable materials—you also receive direct access to the instructor for lesson-related questions.

At the bottom of every lesson is a discussion area where students can post questions, and I personally answer them.

And if a written response isn’t enough to resolve your question, eligible students may also schedule a short Microsoft Teams meeting with me during office hours (see Lesson 1.11).

Note that the number of complimentary live meetings available depends on the course you’ve purchased, and these sessions are specifically intended to answer questions related to the course material, and not as a free consulting or tech support service.

For those students seeking assistance beyond the course content, paid mentoring services are also available for topics covered in my training (see Lesson 1.12).

Yes.

The course is completely self-paced, allowing you to progress through the lessons according to your own schedule and learning style.

Because all of my courses include lifetime access, you can also revisit and review any lesson as many times as necessary.

Yes.

This course includes numerous optional hands-on exercises that allow you to apply what you’ve learned throughout the video lessons and demonstrations.

For students who don’t own a MicroLogix controller, I also discuss several free and low-cost ways to complete the optional exercises in Lesson 1.02, which is available as a free preview before purchasing the course.

Yes.

Completing this course is a significant achievement, and I want to make sure you have professional documentation recognizing your accomplishment.

Once you’ve passed all required quizzes and marked every lesson complete, a link will appear on the course homepage allowing you to view, print, and download your course completion certificate. You’ll also find links to leave course feedback, request a discount on your next course, and submit a course review.

Your certificate also lists the Professional Development Hours (PDHs) you’ve earned while completing the course. These hours are calculated based on the time required to complete all required lessons and successfully pass the quizzes (students may retake quizzes as needed), ensuring they represent meaningful professional development.

Please note that time spent completing the optional hands-on exercises is not included in the PDHs listed on your certificate.

However, upon request, I do offer an optional “exercise review” service for an additional fee. This allows you to earn additional PDHs by having me personally review each of the programs you created while completing the optional exercises. Interested students should reach out to me directly using the “Contact” link at the top of the site.

This course focuses on the MicroLogix 1000 and MicroLogix 1100, which can both be programmed using free software from Rockwell. I explain why I chose these controllers in Lesson 8.

For students who want to learn more about the entire MicroLogix family, my new 2027 MicroLogix course, MicroLogix Programming Level 1, is bundled with this course at no additional charge.

Yes.

This course uses RSLogix Micro Starter Lite, the free edition of Rockwell’s MicroLogix programming software, and I show you how to download, install, and set it up on both Windows 7 and Windows 10 (Lessons 21A and 21B).

Yes.

The course covers setting up both Serial and Ethernet communications in RSLinx, as well as going online with Emulate (Lessons 24 through 26).

In the Extended portion of the course, I also demonstrate DF1 messaging (MSG) with both the MicroLogix 1000 and 1100 (Lessons 55 and 56).

Yes.

Analog inputs and outputs are covered in the Extended portion of the course.

Yes.

I cover adding and using 1762 Expansion I/O in Lesson 57.

Yes.

Unlike my CompactLogix and ControlLogix courses, which assume you already understand Ladder Logic, this course starts from the beginning by explaining what Ladder Logic is and how it works (Lessons 17 and 18).

From there, I spend a significant amount of time writing, explaining, and troubleshooting Ladder Logic programs because Ladder Logic remains the most widely used programming language for Programmable Controllers in North America.

Yes.

Understanding how a PLC organizes its memory is essential to reading and writing programs, so I cover PLC memory, program files, and data files in detail (Lesson 23).

In the Extended portion of the course, I also cover using subroutines (Lesson 52).

Yes.

Timers and Counters are fundamental instructions that every PLC programmer and troubleshooter should understand.

Throughout this course, you’ll use them in real-world applications, including detecting conveyor jams, tracking elapsed run times, and counting parts.

Yes.

The Extended portion of the course covers the ADD, SUB, MUL, and DIV math instructions, the GRT and LES comparison instructions, and using MOV to copy part counts (Lessons 40, 43, 44, and 45).

Yes.

Making changes to a running machine is one of the most valuable skills a PLC programmer can have, but it’s also one that should only be performed with a complete understanding of the process and its potential consequences.

In this course, I explain the Online Editing workflow in detail (Lesson 54).

No.

I may cover it in a future course, but it is not covered in this one.

Yes.

I’ve designed this course to take you from the fundamentals to real-world applications.

Early in the course, you’ll learn how to identify MicroLogix hardware, locate manuals and documentation, set up RSLinx communications, and go online with your PLC.

From there, you’ll build motor control, run/stop indication, and bin full detection applications, and learn how to troubleshoot your control logic.

In the Extended portion, you’ll also learn how to detect conveyor jams, track elapsed run times and production counts, perform math and comparison operations, Force I/O, and perform Online Edits.

The goal isn’t simply to teach software—it’s to teach the practical skills you’ll use to set up, program, and troubleshoot real PLC systems.

Yes.

Troubleshooting isn’t confined to a single lesson—it’s integrated throughout the course, and Lesson 32 is dedicated to troubleshooting control logic.

In the Extended portion, I also cover Forcing I/O (Lesson 51) and Online Editing (Lesson 54), two essential skills when troubleshooting field devices and running machines.

Yes.

I answer a similar question earlier in this FAQ (“Do I need physical PLC hardware and/or a physical PLC trainer?”), so I’ll simply reiterate that you do not need a physical PLC or a paid software license to successfully complete this course.

When I created this course, I chose PLCs that can be programmed and emulated using free software from Rockwell, so that students without access to equipment or a training budget could still learn hands-on.

I also provide every PLC/PAC student of mine with a license for my PLC Application Simulator for Windows 10 and Windows 11, along with information about several additional free and low-cost alternatives.

For more information, please refer to Lesson 1.02 or the previous hardware question.

Yes.

I show you how to download, set up, and test your programs using Rockwell’s free emulation software (Lesson 24), so it can serve as your PLC while completing the course demonstrations and optional exercises.

Yes.

In the Extended portion of the course, I demonstrate how to migrate digital-only SLC-500 programs (Lesson 61).

Yes.

Knowing how and when to Force I/O safely is an important skill for everyone using or maintaining programmable controllers, and I cover it in Lesson 51.

Yes, if you’re new to PLCs.

My CompactLogix and ControlLogix courses assume you already know what a Programmable Controller is and how it works, what Ladder Logic is and how it works, and what Data Types are and how they are used.

PLC Basics covers all three, which makes it the recommended starting point before taking Compact Basics or PAC Basics.

Yes.

I built this course specifically with electricians and technicians in mind.

For many maintenance professionals, the PLC isn’t just something they program—it’s one of the most valuable diagnostic tools available for determining why a machine isn’t running.

Because of that, I focus on practical skills such as reading Ladder Logic, going online with a running PLC, troubleshooting control logic, Forcing I/O safely, and performing Online Edits.