If you’re like many people, you shop online for almost everything expecting to save money by not paying the overhead of traditional “brick and motor” stores. Buying PLC parts and hardware online is no different, you can save thousands of dollars on a single PLC part by purchasing it online and not paying the overhead and markups by purchasing directly from the manufacturer. You’ll have to do the research yourself to make sure it is the correct part you need, but you can expect to save big time for your efforts.
We’ve put together a list of websites which sell a large variety of PLC parts online:
PLCDDCStore.com - This store searches and indexes all relevant eBay listings in categories by manufacturer and by PLC part type. Nearly all major PLC manufacturers are represented. You can also search all of the products listed through our website by part number (i.e. Siemens Simatic S7). Both new and used PLC parts are included.
PLCCenter.com - Large, searchable inventory of PLC parts with nearly all top manufacturers represented including Siemens, Allen Bradley, ABB, Cutler Hammer, Omron, Modicon, Square D, and more.
Please feel free to leave comments of websites that you’d like to contribute to the list. Our goal is to give you the largest selection of PLC related web stores.
Eaton offers a great 29 part online training course titled “101 Basics Series“, and it is free for anyone to take. This course covers topics from basic electrical knowledge including transformers, circuit breakers, and switches to advanced product specific training on variable frequency drives, PLCs, and transfer switch equipment.
Here is an excerpt from their website describing the course:
The 101 Basics Series is designed to provide a solid foundation of industry knowledge — from the fundamentals of electricity and electrical distribution to basic information on product groups like adjustable frequency drives, panelboards and motor control centers. The 101 Basics Series also includes information on topics such as DeviceNet and Power Management.
There are 29 modules within the series and each learning module focuses on a specific product group and contains general information such as common terms, product theory and operation, codes and real-world applications. The modules also contain review questions to help you gauge your understanding of the material.
These modules are great for everyone:
The Beginner looking for an introduction to the industry and its products.
The Intermediate or Advanced learner who is extending into less familiar product or market areas.
The Experienced professional seeking specific information or refresher courses.
For those of you who are new to the PLC world or would just like a refresher, Siemens has put together a series of introductory online training courses which cover the basics of electrical/safety, motor and control, and power distribution. The courses are offered in a downloadable, PDF format and are not specific to Siemens equipment so what you learn can be applied to any system.