RSLogix Emulate 500 Configuration

In this practice, RSLogix Emulate 500 is configured to test programs for the SLC 5/xx and MicroLogix controller families.

At the time, Rockwell offered a demo version for the MicroLogix family from its download page. The idea of the exercise is to open an RSLogix 500 project, verify it, configure RSLinx and run it on the emulator.

Start from an already created RSLogix 500 program. Before taking it to the emulator, open it, verify it and compile it to avoid warnings when loading it.

Run RSLinx and configure a new driver. For RSLogix Emulate 500, select SLC500 (DH485) Emulator driver and add it.

Assign a name to the created driver.

Then configure the station number for the PC running RSLinx and assign it a name. In this example, the name PC is used.

The driver is now configured and running.

The next step is to run RSLogix Emulate 500 and click Open to load the program to be tested. If the program has not been verified and compiled, a warning will appear asking for compilation.

An emulator configuration window appears. The default values can be left as they are or adjusted as needed. The station number can be checked from the program itself.

In the program, go to Controller Properties and specify the previously created driver. From here, the station number assigned to the PLC can also be identified.

With these steps, RSLinx detects the emulated PLC. From here, the project can go online and the program operation can be checked.

The environment is now ready to test the logic of an RSLogix 500 project without the physical PLC.

Original article published on August 24, 2012.