Chapter 6 - Wiring Techniques

lighting the LED in the opto-isolator. This means that any device connected to the
terminals INPUT 1, INPUT 2 and INPUT 3 must have the opposite end of the device
connected to a positive voltage in order to light the LED in the opto-isolator. If more than
one power supply is used to power the devices, all of them have to have the negative
power lead connected to INPUT COM because that is the only terminal available to connect
to the negative input of the opto-isolator.

Figure 6-5 - PLC With Common Inputs

A PLC with isolated inputs is shown in Figure 6-6. Since each input has no
connection with any other input, each one may be connected as desired with no concern
for power supply interaction. The only requirement is that for the LED in the opto-isolator
to light, a positive voltage must be applied to the (+) terminal of the PLC input with respect
to the (-) terminal.

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Chapter 6 - Wiring Techniques

Figure 6-6 - PLC With Isolated Inputs

6-5.

Inputs Having a Single Common

Let us now look at the wiring connections required to implement a system in which
all inputs have a common power supply. For this type of system a PLC with inputs having
a single common connection may be used as shown in Figure 6-5. A system of this type
is shown in Figure 6-7.

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Chapter 6 - Wiring Techniques

Figure 6-7 - Non-Isolated Input Wiring

This drawing shows three devices connected to the PLC, a normally open
pushbutton (SW1), a normally closed pushbutton (SW2) and a photodetector (OPTO-1).
The system also has two power supplies providing power for the input devices PS1 and
PS2. Notice that the two power supplies have the negative side connected to the INPUT
COM terminal. Let us first look at the connection for normally open pushbutton SW1.
Remember to think of the input in terms of lighting the LED in the opto-isolator. Since the
LED must be forward biased to light, the positive voltage must be applied to the anode of
the LED and the negative voltage to the cathode. All three opto-isolators have the cathode
lead of the LED connected to the INPUT COM terminal. That means that any power supply
used to light the LED's must have the negative lead connected to the INPUT COM terminal.
For that reason, both PS1 and PS2 have the negative lead of the supply connected to the
INPUT COM terminal. With the negative lead of PS1 connected to the cathode of the
INPUT 1 LED, the positive lead of PS1 must be connected to the anode of the INPUT 1
LED. If this were done, the INPUT 1 LED would light and the PLC would accept INPUT 1
as being turned ON. The problem is that INPUT 1 would always be ON. To control this
INPUT, SW1 is placed in series with the positive power supply lead going to INPUT 1. If
SW1 is not being pressed, the switch would be open (remember it is a normally open
switch) and no voltage would be applied across the INPUT 1 LED. The LED would not light
and the PLC would accept INPUT 1 as being OFF. If SW1 is pressed, the SW1 contacts
will close and the positive lead of PS1 will be connected to the anode of the INPUT 1 LED
causing the LED to light. This will cause the PLC to accept INPUT 1 as being ON.
INPUT 2 is connected similar to INPUT 1 except that switch SW2 is a normally
closed pushbutton. Since it is normally closed if the switch is not being pressed, the
positive lead of PS1 will be connected to the INPUT 2 LED, causing it to light. This will
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