PLC Data to MQTT
Passive methods to stream PLC tags to MQTT brokers and cloud platforms without touching ladder logic or stopping the line.
Industrial Automation · Reference Library
News & Insights
Selection guides, head-to-head comparisons, and field-tested configuration notes for control engineers, integrators, and maintenance teams.
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1
Electronic Cam Controllers vs PLC Motion
A PLC motion module emulates cams in software — flexible but adds scan-time jitter to each transition. A dedicated electronic cam controller resolves positions in hardware at microsecond speed with zero jitter.
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2
Reagent-Free vs Wet-Chemistry Water Quality
Wet-chemistry analyzers consume reagents, generate chemical waste, and need monthly service visits. Reagent-free optical and electrochemical sensors measure directly with no consumables.
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3
Electronic vs Mechanical Cam Switches
A mechanical cam switch adjusts 8-16 cams with a hex key by trial and error. An electronic cam encoder has 256 virtual cams programmed with 0.1-degree resolution.
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4
RTD vs Thermocouple Input Module Guide
A grounded thermocouple on a non-isolated module shares a common return with every channel — a ground loop on channel 3 shifts readings on channels 1 through 8.
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5
Multi-Parameter Water Controllers
A multi-parameter controller measures pH, conductivity, ORP, temperature, and biocide timer in one unit — replacing five separate transmitters and their wiring.
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6
VFD Enclosure Selection: IP55 vs IP20
IP55/IP66 wall-mount VFDs eliminate cabinet costs, shorten motor cables, and reduce EMC filters. But through-wall heatsink cooling limits ambient range.
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7
Cabinet-Free Automation
Traditional cabinets consume floor space, need air conditioning, and home-run every cable. Decentralized automation puts IP67 drives, I/O, and controllers directly on the machine frame.
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8
Pressure-Free vs Back-Pressure Conveying
Back-pressure conveying pushes containers together — line pressure builds, scuffing labels and crushing thin-wall PET. Pressure-free conveying spaces containers so none touches another.
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9
DCS vs PLC Process Control Decision
A PLC controls a machine. A DCS controls a plant. When I/O crosses 5,000 points and the process runs 24/7, the differences between PLC and DCS stop being academic and start affecting uptime, engineering workflow, and lifecycle cost.
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10
Stepper Drive: Pulse/Direction vs Analog
Pulse-and-direction sends a digital pulse train — immune to noise, no calibration drift. Analog +/-10V requires a DAC, drifts with temperature, and picks up EMI.