What textbooks are good for self-study of PLC?

Detail

Often regarded as the gold standard in PLC education, Petruzella's textbook provides a comprehensive introduction that is ideal for beginners and intermediate learners alike. The explanations are lucid, encompassing all fundamental aspects including hardware architecture, ladder logic programming, and system troubleshooting. Its practical examples make it an essential foundational text.

Targeting the specificities of programming within the Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley) ecosystem, this book is a valuable resource for North American automation standards. It is perfect for those who favor a hands-on approach, including numerous exercises and real-world scenarios designed to develop practical RSLogix skills and programming best practices.

This textbook adopts a more theoretical and systemic approach, examine the complex machinery that can be controlled and automated. Hugh Jack excels in explaining how PLCs fit within the broader context of manufacturing systems. It is highly recommended for readers who aspire to understand the integration of PLCs into complex industrial processes and full-plant architectures.

Hooper's guide serves as an excellent starting point for complete novices. It concisely covers the basics of PLC operations and provides a solid foundation for further, more complex study. The book stands out for its reader-friendly language and logical progression through automation concepts, making the technical world of PLCs much less intimidating.

Specifically crafted for those with absolutely no prior programming experience, Paul Lynn leads readers from basic relay logic to writing complex automation programs. Its step-by-step approach is heavily complemented by online resources, such as video lectures and programming software simulations, catering to multimedia learning preferences.

When engaging in self-study, it is critical to supplement textbook knowledge with hands-on practical experience. Reading about a timer instruction is very different from watching it execute in real-time.

Many of these books pair perfectly with low-cost PLC training hardware or free simulation software (like Do-more Designer or TwinCAT). Building a small benchtop test rig can significantly accelerate your learning curve.