Allen-Bradley PLC-5: 1771/1785 Series

The Allen-Bradley PLC-5, once a stalwart in industrial automation, has been discontinued, though it remains prevalent in existing applications. Introduced in the 1980s, it earned trust for its reliability, modularity, and user-friendly design.

Key Points:

The Reliable Veteran: Known for its reliability and ease of use, the PLC-5 was widely adopted across industries for tasks like machine control, process automation, and material handling.
Workhorse of Automation: Its modular design, featuring a central processor and various I/O modules for digital and analog signals, allowed for customization based on project requirements.
Programming Power: Utilizing relay ladder logic (RLL), the PLC-5's programming was familiar to many engineers of its time.
Sunset and Migration: Production of new PLC-5 models has ceased, with Allen-Bradley now focusing on newer ControlLogix and CompactLogix lines. However, support for existing PLC-5 systems may still be available for maintenance and troubleshooting.