The most commonly used PLC instruction, after coils and contacts, is the timer. This article deals with how timers time intervals and the way in which they can control outputs. We discuss the basic PLC on-delay timer function, as well as other timing functions derived from it, and typical industrial timing tasks.

Timer Instructions in PLC

PLC timers are instructions that provide the same functions as on-delay and off-delay mechanical and electronic timing relays. PLC timers offer several advantages over their mechanical and electronic counterparts. These include the fact that:

• Time settings can be easily changed.
• The number of them used in a circuit can be increased or decreased through the use of programming changes rather than wiring changes.
• Timer accuracy and repeatability are extremely high because its time delays are generated in the PLC processor.

In general, there are three different PLC timer types:

• the on-delay timer (TON),
• off-delay timer (TOF), and
• retentive timer on (RTO).

The most common is the on-delay timer, which is the basic function. There are also many other timing configurations, all of which can be derived from one or more of the basic time-delay functions.

Figure 1 shows the timer selection toolbar for the Allen-Bradley SLC 500 PLC and its associated RSLogix software. These timer commands can be summarized as follows:

• TON (Timer On Delay): Counts time-based intervals when the instruction is true.
• TOF (Timer Off Delay): Counts time-based intervals when the instruction is false.
• RTO (Retentive Timer On): Counts time-based intervals when the instruction is true and retains the accumulated value when the instruction goes false or when power cycle occurs.
• RES (Reset): Resets a retentive timer’s accumulated value to zero.

Several quantities are associated with the timer instruction:

• The preset time represents the time duration for the timing circuit. For example, if a time delay of 10 s is required, the timer will have a preset of 10 s.
• The accumulated time represents the amount of time that has elapsed from the moment the timing coil became energized.
• Every timer has a time base.

Once the timing rung has continuity, the timer counts in time-based intervals and times until the preset value and accumulated value are equal or, depending on the type of controller, up to the maximum time interval of the timer.

The intervals that the timers time out at are generally referred to as the time bases of the timer. Timers can be programmed with several different time bases: 1 s, 0.1 s, and 0.01 s are typical time bases. If a programmer entered 0.1 for the time base and 50 for the number of delay increments, the timer would have a 5-s delay (50 x 0.1 s = 5 s). The smaller the time base selected, the better the accuracy of the timer.

Although each manufacturer may represent timers differently on the ladder logic program, most timers operate in a similar manner. One of the first methods used depicts the timer instruction as a relay coil similar to that of a mechanical timing relay.

Figure  2 shows a coil-formatted timer instruction. Its operation can be summarized as follows:

• The timer is assigned an address and is identified as a timer.
• Also included as part of the timer instruction is the time base of the timer, the timer’s preset value or time-delay period, and the accumulated value or current time-delay period for the timer.
• When the timer rung has logic continuity, the timer begins counting time-based intervals and times until the accumulated value equals the preset value.
• When the accumulated time equals the preset time, the output is energized and the timed output contact associated with the output is closed. The timed contact can be used as many times as you wish throughout the program as an NO or NC contact.

Timers are most often represented by boxes in ladder logic. Figure 3 illustrates a generic block format for a retentive timer that requires two input lines. Its operation can be summarized as follows:

• The timer block has two input conditions associated with it, namely, the control and reset.
• The control line controls the actual timing operation of the timer. Whenever this line is true or power is supplied to this input, the timer will time. Removal of power from the control line input halts the further timing of the timer.
• The reset line resets the timer’s accumulated value to zero.
• Some manufacturers require that both the control and reset lines be true for the timer to time; removal of power from the reset input resets the timer to zero.
• Other manufacturers’ PLCs require power flow for the control input only and no power flow on the reset input for the timer to operate. For this type of timer operation, the timer is reset whenever the reset input is true.
• The timer instruction block contains information pertaining to the operation of the timer, including the preset time, the time base of the timer, and the current or accumulated time.
• All block-formatted timers provide at least one output signal from the timer. The timer continuously compares its current time with its preset time, and its output is false (logic 0) as long as the current time is less than the preset time. When the current time equals the preset time, the output changes to true (logic 1).

On-Delay Timer Instructions in PLC

Most timers are output instructions that are conditioned by input instructions. An on-delay timer is used when you want to program a time delay before an instruction becomes true.

Figure 4 illustrates the principle of operation of an on-delay timer. Its operation can be summarized as follows:

• The on-delay timer operates such that when the rung containing the timer is true, the timer time-out period commences.
• At the end of the timer time-out period, an output is made true.
• The timed output becomes true sometime after the timer rung becomes true; hence, the timer is said to have an on-delay.
• The length of the time delay can be adjusted by changing the preset value.
• In addition, some PLCs allow the option of changing the time base, or resolution, of the timer. As the time base you select becomes smaller, the accuracy of the timer increases.

The Allen-Bradley SLC 500 timer file is file 4 ( Figure 5 ). Each timer is composed of three 16-bit words, collectively called a timer element. There can be up to 256 timer elements. Addresses for timer file 4, timer element number 2 (T4:2), are listed below.

T4 = timer file 4

:2 = timer element number 2 (0–255 timer elements per file)

T4:2/DN is the address for the done bit of the timer.

T4:2/TT is the address for the timer-timing bit of the timer.

T4:2/EN is the address for the enable bit of the timer.

The control word uses the following three control bits:

• Enable (EN) bit: The enable bit is true (has a status of 1) whenever the timer instruction is true. When the timer instruction is false, the enable bit is false (has a status of 0).
• Timer-timing (TT) bit: The timer-timing bit is true whenever the accumulated value of the timer is changing, which means the timer is timing. When the timer is not timing, the accumulated value is not changing, so the timer-timing bit is false.
• Done (DN) bit: The done bit changes state whenever the accumulated value reaches the preset value. Its state depends on the type of timer being used.

The preset value (PRE) word is the set point of the timer, that is, the value up to which the timer will time. The preset word has a range of 0 through 32,767 and is stored in binary form. The preset will not store a negative number.

The accumulated value (ACC) word is the value that increments as the timer is timing. The accumulated value will stop incrementing when its value reaches the preset value. The timer instruction also requires that you enter a time base, which is either 1.0 s or 0.01 s.

The actual preset time interval is the time base multiplied by the value stored in the timer’s preset word. The actual accumulated time interval is the time base multiplied by the value stored in the timer’s accumulated word.

Figure 6 shows an example of the on-delay timer instruction used as part of the Allen-Bradley PLC-5 and SLC 500 controller instruction sets. The information to be entered includes:

• Timer number: This number must come from the timer file. In the example shown, the timer number is T4:0, which represents timer file 4, timer 0 in that file. The timer address must be unique for this timer and may not be used for any other timer.
• Time base: The time base (which is always expressed in seconds) may be either 1.0 s or 0.01 s. In the example shown, the time base is 1.0 s.
• Preset value: In the example shown, the preset value is 15. The timer preset value can range from 0 through 32,767.
• Accumulated value —In the example shown, the accumulated value is 0. The timer’s accumulated value normally is entered as 0, although it is possible to enter a value from 0 through 32,767. Regardless of the value that is preloaded, the timer value will become 0 whenever the timer is reset.

The on-delay timer (TON) is the most commonly used timer. Figure 7 shows a PLC program that uses an on-delay timer. The operation of the program can be summarized as follows:

• The timer is activated by input switch A.
• The preset time for this timer is 10 s, at which time output D will be energized.
• When input switch is A is closed, the timer becomes true and the timer begins counting and counts until the accumulated time equals the preset value; the output D is then energized.
• If the switch is opened before the timer is timed out, the accumulated time is automatically reset to 0.
• This timer configuration is termed non-retentive because any loss of continuity to the timer causes the timer instruction to reset.
• This timing operation is that of an on-delay timer because output D is switched on 10 s after the switch has been actuated from the off to the on position.

Figure  8 shows the timing diagram for the on-delay timer’s control bits. The sequence of operation is as follows:

• The first true period of the timer rung shows the timer timing to 4 s and then going false.
• The timer resets, and both the timer-timing bit and the enable bit go false. The accumulated value also resets to 0.
• For the second true period input A remains true in excess of 10 s.
• When the accumulated value reaches 10 s, the done bit (DN) goes from false to true and the timer-timing bit (TT) goes from true to false.
• When input A goes false, the timer instruction goes false and also resets, at which time the control bits are all reset and the accumulated value resets to 0.

The timer table for an Allen-Bradley SLC 500 is shown in Figure 9. Addressing is done at three different levels: the element level, the word level, and the bit level.

The timer uses three words per element. Each element consists of a control word, a preset word, and an accumulated word. Each word has 16 bits, which are numbered from 0 to 15. When addressing to the bit level, the address always refers to the bit within the word:

EN = Bit 15 enable

TT = Bit 14 timer timing

DN = Bit 13 done

Timers may or may not have an instantaneous output (also known as the enable bit) signal associated with them. If an instantaneous output signal is required from a timer and it is not provided as part of the timer instruction, an equivalent instantaneous contact instruction can be programmed using an internally referenced relay coil.

Figure 10 shows an application of this technique. The operation of the program can be summarized as follows:

• According to the hardwired relay circuit diagram, coil M is to be energized 5 s after the start pushbutton is pressed.
• Contact TD-1 is the instantaneous contact, and contact TD-2 is the timed contact.
• The ladder logic program shows that a contact instruction referenced to an internal relay is now used to operate the timer.
• The instantaneous contact is referenced to the internal relay coil, whereas the time-delay contact is referenced to the timer output coil.

 Figure 11 shows an application for an on-delay timer that uses an NCTO contact. This circuit is used as a warning signal when moving equipment, such as a conveyor motor, is about to be started. The operation of the circuit can be summarized as follows:

• According to the hardwired relay circuit diagram, coil CR is energized when the start pushbutton PB1 is momentarily actuated.
• As a result, contact CR-1 closes to seal in CR coil, contact CR-2 closes to energize timer coil TD, and contact CR-3 closes to sound the horn.
• After a 10-s time-delay period, timer contact TD-1 opens to automatically switch the horn off.
• The ladder logic program shows how an equivalent circuit could be programmed using a PLC.
• The logic on the last rung is the same as the timer-timing bit and as such can be used with timers that do not have a timer-timing output.

 Timers are often used as part of automatic sequential control systems. Figure 12 shows how a series of motors can be started automatically with only one start/stop control station. The operation of the circuit can be summarized as follows:

• According to the relay ladder schematic, lube-oil pump motor starter coil M1 is energized when the start pushbutton PB2 is momentarily actuated.
• As a result, M1-1 control contact closes to seal in M1, and the lube-oil pump motor starts.
• When the lube-oil pump builds up sufficient oil pressure, the lube-oil pressure switch PS1 closes.
• This in turn energizes coil M2 to start the main drive motor and energizes coil TD to begin the timedelay period.
• After the preset time-delay period of 15 s, TD-1 contact closes to energize coil M3 and start the feed motor.
• The ladder logic program shows how an equivalent circuit could be programmed using a PLC.

Off-Delay Timer Instructions in PLC

The off-delay timer (TOF) operation will keep the output energized for a time period after the rung containing the timer has gone false.

Figure 13 illustrates the programming of an off-delay timer that uses the SLC 500 TOF timer instruction. If logic continuity is lost, the timer begins counting time-based intervals until the accumulated time equals the programmed preset value. The operation of the circuit can be summarized as follows:

• When the switch connected to input I:1/0 is first closed, timed output O:2/1 is set to 1 immediately and the lamp is switched on.
• If this switch is now opened, logic continuity is lost and the timer begins counting.
• After 15 s, when the accumulated time equals the preset time, the output is reset to 0 and the lamp switches off.
• If logic continuity is gained before the timer is timed out, the accumulated time is reset to 0. For this reason, this timer is also classified as non-retentive.

Figure  14 illustrates the use of an off-delay timer instruction used to switch motors off sequentially at 5 second intervals. The operation of the program can be summarized as follows:

• Timer preset values for T4:1, T4:2, and T4:3 are set for 5 s, 10s, and 15 s, respectively.
• Closing the input switch SW immediately sets the done bit of each of the three off-delay timers to 1, immediately turning on motors M1, M2, and M3.
• If SW is then opened, logic continuity to all three timers is lost and each timer begins counting.
• Timer T4:1 times out after 5 s resetting its done bit to zero to de-energize motor M1.
• Timer T4:2 times out 5 s later resetting its done bit to zero to de-energize motor M2.
• Timer T4:3 times out 5 s later resetting its done bit to zero to de-energize motor M3.

Figure  15 shows how a hardwired off-delay timer relay circuit with both instantaneous and timed contacts. The operation of the circuit can be summarized as follows:

• When power is first applied (limit switch LS open), motor starter coil M1 is energized and the green pilot light is on.
• At the same time, motor starter coil M2 is de-energized, and the red pilot light is off.
• When limit switch LS closes, off-delay timer coil TD energizes.
• As a result, timed contact TD-1 opens to de-energize motor starter coil M1, timed contact TD-2 closes to energize motor starter coil M2, instantaneous contact TD-3 opens to switch the green light off, and instantaneous contact TD-4 closes to switch the red light on. The circuit remains in this state as long as limit switch LS1 is closed.
• When limit switch LS1 is opened, the off-delay timer coil TD de-energizes and the time-delay period is started.
• Instantaneous contact TD-3 closes to switch the green light on, and instantaneous contact TD-4 opens to switch the red light off.
• After a 5-s time-delay period, timed contact TD-1 closes to energize motor starter M1, and timed contact TD-2 opens to de-energize motor starter M2.

Figure 16 shows an equivalent PLC program of the hardwired off-delay timer relay circuit containing both instantaneous and timed contacts. The timer instruction carries out all of the functions of the original physical timer.

Figure 17 shows a program that uses both the on-delay and the off-delay timer instruction. The process involves pumping fluid from tank A to tank B. The operation of the process can be summarized as follows:

• Before starting, PS1 must be closed.
• When the start button is pushed, the pump starts. The button can then be released and the pump continues to operate.
• When the stop button is pushed, the pump stops.
• PS2 and PS3 must be closed 5 s after the pump starts. If either PS2 or PS3 opens, the pump will shut off and will not be able to start again for another 14 s.

Retentive Timer Instructions in PLC

A retentive timer accumulates time whenever the device receives power, and it maintains the current time should power be removed from the device. When the timer accumulates time equal to its preset value, the contacts of the device change state. Loss of power to the timer after reaching its preset value does not affect the state of the contacts.

The retentive timer must be intentionally reset with a separate signal for the accumulated time to be reset and for the contacts of the device to return to its non-energized state.

Figure  18 illustrates the action of a motor-driven, electro-mechanical retentive timer used in some appliances. The shaft-mounted cam is driven by a motor. Once power is applied, the motor starts turning the shaft and cam.

The positioning of the lobes of the cam and the gear reduction of the motor determine the time it takes for the motor to turn the cam far enough to activate the contacts. If power is removed from the motor, the shaft stops but does not reset.

A PLC retentive timer is used when you want to retain accumulated time values through power loss or the change in the rung state from true to false. The PLC-programmed retentive on-delay timer (RTO) is programmed in a manner similar to the non-retentive on-delay timer (TON), with one major exception—a retentive timer reset (RES) instruction.

Unlike the TON, the RTO will hold its accumulated value when the timer rung goes false and will continue timing where it left off when the timer rung goes true again. This timer must be accompanied by a timer reset instruction to reset the accumulated value of the timer to 0.

The RES instruction is the only automatic means of resetting the accumulated value of a retentive timer. The RES instruction has the same address as the timer it is to reset. Whenever the RES instruction is true, both the timer accumulated value and the timer done bit (DN) are reset to 0.

Figure 19 shows a PLC program for a retentive on-delay timer. The operation of the program can be summarized as follows:

• The timer will start to time when time pushbutton PB1 is closed.
• If the pushbutton is closed for 3 seconds and then opened for 3 seconds, the timer accumulated value will remain at 3 seconds.
• When the time pushbutton is closed again, the timer picks up the time at 3 seconds and continues timing.
• When the accumulated value (9) equals the preset value (9), the timer done bit T4:2/DN is set to 1 and the pilot light output PL is switched on.
• Whenever the momentary reset pushbutton is closed the timer accumulated value is reset to 0.

Figure 20 shows a timing chart for the retentive on-delay timer program. The timing operation can be summarized as follows:

• When the timing rung is true (PB1 closed) the timer will commence timing.
• If the timing rung goes false the timer will stop timing but will recommence timing for the stored accumulated value each time the rung goes true.
• When the reset PB2 is closed, the T4:2/DN bit is reset to 0 and turns the pilot light output off. The accumulated value is also reset and held at zero until the reset pushbutton is opened.

The program drawn in Figure 21 illustrates a practical application for an RTO. The purpose of the RTO timer is to detect whenever a piping system has sustained a cumulative overpressure condition for 60 s. At that point, a horn is sounded automatically to call attention to the malfunction.

When they are alerted, maintenance personnel can silence the alarm by switching the key switch S1 to the reset (contact closed) position. After the problem has been corrected, the alarm system can be reactivated by switching the key switch to open contact position.

Figure  22 shows a practical application that uses the on-delay, off-delay, and retentive on-delay instructions in the same program. In this industrial application, there is a machine with a large steel shaft supported by babbitted bearings.

This shaft is coupled to a large electric motor. The bearings need lubrication, which is supplied by an oil pump driven by a small electric motor. The operation of the program can be summarized as follows:

• To start the machine, the operator turns SW on.
• Before the motor shaft starts to turn, the bearings are supplied with oil by the pump for 10 seconds.
• The bearings also receive oil when the machine is running.
• When the operator turns SW off to stop the machine, the oil pump continues to supply oil for 15 seconds.
• A retentive timer is used to track the total running time of the pump. When the total running time is 3 hours, the motor is shut down and a pilot light is turned on to indicate that the filter and oil need to be changed.
• A reset button is provided to reset the process after the filter and oil have been changed.

Retentive timers do not have to be timed out completely to be reset. Rather, such a timer can be reset at any time during its operation. Note that the reset input to the timer will override the control input of the timer even though the control input to the timer has logic continuity.

Cascading Timers

The programming of two or more timers together is called cascading. Timers can be interconnected, or cascaded, to satisfy a number of logic control functions.

Figure  23 shows how three motors can be started automatically in sequence with a 20 s time delay between each using two hardwired on-delay timers. The operation of the circuit can be summarized as follows:

• Motor starter coil M1 is energized when the momentary start pushbutton PB2 is actuated.
• As a result, motor 1 starts, contact M1-1 closes to seal in M1, and timer coil TD1 is energized to begin the first time-delay period.
• After the preset time period of 20 s, TD1-1 contact closes to energize motor starter coil M2.
• As a result, motor 2 starts and timer coil TD2 is energized to begin the second time-delay period.
• After the preset time period of 20 s, TD2-1 contact closes to energize motor starter coil M3, and so motor 3 starts.

Figure 24 shows an equivalent PLC program of the hardwired sequential time-delayed motor-starting circuit. Two programmed on-delay timers are cascaded together to obtain the same logic as the original hardwired timer relay circuit. Note that the output of timer T4:1 is used to control the input logic to timer T4:2.

Two timers can be interconnected to form an oscillator circuit. The oscillator logic is basically a timing circuit programmed to generate periodic output pulses of any duration.

Figure 25 shows the program for an annunciator flasher circuit. Two internal timers form the oscillator circuit, which generates a timed, pulsed output. The oscillator circuit output is programmed in series with the alarm condition.

If the alarm condition (temperature, pressure, or limit switch) is true, the appropriate output indicating light will fl ash. Note that any number of alarm conditions could be programmed using the same flasher circuit.

At times you may require a time-delay period longer than the maximum preset time allowed for the single timer instruction of the PLC being used. When this is the case, the problem can be solved by simply cascading timers, as illustrated in Figure 26 .

The operation of the program can be summarized as follows:

• The total time-delay period required is 42,000 s.
• The first timer, T4:1, is programmed for a preset time of 30,000 s and begins timing when input SW is closed.
• When T4:1 completes its time-delay period 30,000 s later, the T4:1/DN bit will be set to 1.
• This in turn activates the second timer, T4:2, which is preset for the remaining 12,000 s of the total 42,000-s time delay.
• Once T4:2 reaches its preset time, the T4:2/DN bit will be set to 1, which switches on the output PL, the pilot light, to indicate the completion of the full 42,000-s time delay.
• Opening input SW at any time will reset both timers and switch output PL off.

A typical application for PLC timers is the control of traffic lights. The ladder logic circuit of Figure 27 illustrates a control of a set of traffic lights in one direction. The operation of the program can be summarized as follows:

• Transition from red light to green light to amber light is accomplished by the interconnection of the three TON timer instructions.
• The input to timer T4:0 is controlled by the T4:2 done bit.
• The input to timer T4:1 is controlled by the T4:0 done bit.
• The input rung to timer T4:2 is controlled by the T4:1 done bit.
• The timed sequence of the lights is: Red—30 s on Green—25 s on Amber—5 s on
• The sequence then repeats itself.

The chart shown in Figure 28 shows the timed sequence of the lights for two-directional control of traffic lights. Figure 29 shows the original traffic light program modified to include three more lights that control traffic flow in two directions.