I am having difficulty find a product that suits my purpose when it comes to using a PLC in a lighting control (dimming) strategy. The PLC in use is an Allen Bradley ControlLogix. Essentially, we are trying to place the PLC transparently into the dimmer control circuit. We have solve the dimmer input to the PLC analog input side of the system, but the PLC output is giving use fits.

Standard lighting control requires the BALLAST generated signal to sink at the analog output card. Unfortunately, the PLC output cards are sourcing outputs. What we need is a current mirroring device... source to sink on the PLC side and sink to source on the lighting Ballast side... basically a current converter. Has anyone heard or know of such a device?

Thanks in Advance.

 

Beckhoff makes some interesting light control modules. I actually have the KL2751 terminal that dims an incandescent light directly. They also have a higher wattage unit KL2761.

These are generic terminals that can be connected to a BK9105 and controlled via Ethernet/IP or a BK5200 and controlled via DeviceNET.

They also have some DALI modules if you have ballasts with the interface.