Horner XL7 PLC

Reasonably good device, especially at the price they sell for - we use them for some simple heating control cabinets where I work. Nothing complicated - temperature input analyzed and solenoids for valve control run by DO based on programming. The display makes them superior to a simple loop control panel meter, for just a bit more cost. The analog I/O is a bit tricky to figure out at first. Our programmer is an "Allen Bradley Expert" and he picked this programming up very quickly. We have some out there for several years now functioning fine so far. A representative of the company has been to our plant numerous times to offer support if needed. We have the same reaction from most customers and end up using Allen Bradley or Siemens many times because they are rejected by the end user. As I understand the units are built in the USA - amazing in this day and age.

Ive used one and spec'd them a couple times. Getting acceptance from customers is hard because of the market penetration that AB has. However, their support is excellent, the software (CSCAPE) is free, and the integration of display and logic into a single program is very nice. You can network units together and they also have remote and distributed I/O. Made in Indianapolis IN. The factory offers training frequently (when I went, there was no charge for it!).

--John M.

I have used Horner PLCs, not the X7, for mini panels to be used in the construction industry that sit outside with no weather protection. We have sold about 30 units to date over a period of 4 years, and have not had any hardware problems. CSCAPE is versatile and easy to program. Our normal users are unskilled roofing operatives who can be trained to use the five soft button* menu driven system to program direction, speed and end position in manual or automatic mode, of 2 stepper motors and a pair of linear actuators in a few minutes.

*soft buttons change function depending on the screen display. The operator has access to about 20 nested screens and there are a further 6 password accessible set-up screens so potentially we have access to 100+ PBs. We use about 30 PB functions in this application.