Which of the following is an example of a field device connected to a PLC?

Master the Motor Controls Level 3 Test. Engage with flashcards and detailed multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and thorough explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a field device connected to a PLC?

Explanation:
Field devices are the components that interface directly with the physical process and feed signals into the PLC, or receive commands from it, through the plant’s I/O. A switch fits this role because it’s located in the field and provides a discrete signal (open or closed) that the PLC reads via an input module. This direct electrical signal from the environment is exactly what the PLC processes to control the system. The PLC CPU, by contrast, sits inside the PLC hardware and is the brain that executes the control program, not a device that participates in sensing or actuating the process in the field. An HMI panel is used for operator interaction and monitoring; it’s connected to the PLC but isn’t a field device since it doesn’t directly sense or control the field equipment. A programming terminal is used to program or configure the PLC, not to participate in the ongoing field operations. So the switch is the clear example of a field device connected to a PLC.

Field devices are the components that interface directly with the physical process and feed signals into the PLC, or receive commands from it, through the plant’s I/O. A switch fits this role because it’s located in the field and provides a discrete signal (open or closed) that the PLC reads via an input module. This direct electrical signal from the environment is exactly what the PLC processes to control the system.

The PLC CPU, by contrast, sits inside the PLC hardware and is the brain that executes the control program, not a device that participates in sensing or actuating the process in the field. An HMI panel is used for operator interaction and monitoring; it’s connected to the PLC but isn’t a field device since it doesn’t directly sense or control the field equipment. A programming terminal is used to program or configure the PLC, not to participate in the ongoing field operations.

So the switch is the clear example of a field device connected to a PLC.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy