Application Article

Learning Institutions use Entertron's ePLCs to Teach Their Students

For years, Entertron has focused on establishing relationships with learning institutions that teach PLCs and programming.

The approach we have taken, is to provide the schools with an inexpensive hardware solution that would allow them to have one PLC per student. This approach provides the instructors with greater class time to go into more detailed levels of programming. Many schools would invest in one or two trainers that would be utilized by 15 to 30 students. The one student - one PLC approach benefits both the student and instructor, when it comes to learning about PLCs. Students can work hands on with our programming software and the open style of our controllers, to obtain a more thorough understanding of not only how to program a PLC, but how it works.

The majority of schools will use one or two controllers, and a program loader to make some lights work. The student will go through the procedures listed on their paper, for loading what is required in order to obtain the desired result from the controller. This is by no means the best way for a student to learn about programming. There is very little if any foundation. With Entertron's inexpensive solutions, not only can the student learn about digital I/O and programming, but they can also work with our software that includes a run simulator to test their program logic. Thus they have more tools at their disposal that can propel their learning experience.

Our approach can also address the growing acceptance of analog I/O into the PLC world. Both the SK1600-RIC and Smart-PAK PLUS can be ordered with Analog I/O that will not break the budget. Analog I/O has become more prevelent in today's PLC. Many of the schools do not address this growing requirement in their course curriculum.

In addition to our inexpensive hardware, we have made readily available to all, our programming software, simulator, manual and programming examples. Any student that has learned PLCs with Entertron, can download our latest programming software. If they have purchased an at home study program from NRI, they can use our latest software.

Entertron has always put a high value on education and students. We continue to do so.

Some of the learning institutions that have incorporated Entertron's ePLCs into their course curriculum are:

• North Dakota State University
• University of South Carolina
• Devry Institute of Technology (5 locations)

For years, Entertron has worked with National Radio Insitute (NRI - a division of McGraw Hill) in providing our Smart-PAK ePLC as the core of their "Manufacturing Control Technology" home study training course. The course was comprised of a total of 12 lessons (four utilizing the Smart-PAK). The student would receive a lesson book, go through the material, complete the test and mail it in for grading.

Entertron is proud to have had a part in teaching thousands of students over the years about the incredible world of PLCs.

In continued support of students, we are making available the following program:

Any Controller, Any Configuration - 20% off the OEM price.

Included are Programming software and computer cable.

Our most popular ePLCs used by schools and students are:

Please note that with the Smart-PAK series, you will require a power supply. Entertron can provide this or you can obtain an inexpensive one from just about any distributor or Radio Shack location. Although, our power supply is not the least expensive, it offers many nice features - for more details

Compare this with other Manufacturers and you will find this to be one of the best values out there.

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