What will you find in this free PLC Programming course?
Hi, I'm Jacob! Welcome to the first part of our Siemens PLC S7-1200 Free Course! In this tutorial, we will guide you through the basics of the Siemens S7-1200 programmable logic controller (PLC), one of the most popular and widely used controllers in industrial automation. Whether you are a beginner looking to start your journey in PLC S7-1200 programming or an experienced professional seeking to refresh your knowledge, this free Siemens PLC course is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the S7-1200, covering everything from hardware setup to basic programming concepts. Let’s dive in and explore the world of Siemens PLCs together!
Download Siemens TIA V16 for Siemens PLC S7-1200 programming
To get started with Siemens PLC S7-1200 programming, it is essential to have the right tools, and the Siemens TIA V16 is one of the most important software platforms for this purpose. In this part of our course, we will guide you through the process of downloading and installing TIA Portal V16, which includes the PLCSIM for simulation, ensuring you have everything set up to begin your Siemens S7-1200/S7-1500 PLC training. Follow the link provided to download the Siemens TIA V16 and prepare for hands-on learning with your PLC projects.
Download Siemens TIA V16: https://bit.ly/488aLXD
Free trial license for TIA Portal
Your first program in Ladder Logic for Siemens S7-1200 PLC
To create your first program in Ladder Logic for the Siemens S7-1200 PLC, follow the step-by-step instructions provided in the video. Ladder Logic is a fundamental programming language used in PLC programming, resembling electrical relay logic diagrams. It is widely used for its intuitive, visual approach to designing automation processes. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to implement LADDER logic in the TIA Portal software, which is crucial for programming the Siemens S7-1200. By the end, you’ll have a basic LADDER logic program up and running on your Siemens PLC, giving you practical experience!
Add an HMI panel and create a visualization
In this PLC tutorial lesson, you will learn how to add an HMI panel to your Siemens S7-1200 PLC project and create a visualization for your automation process using TIA Portal. Human-Machine Interface (HMI) panels are crucial components in industrial automation, allowing operators to interact directly with the PLC by monitoring real-time data and inputting commands. By following the steps provided in the video, you’ll integrate an HMI panel with your Siemens S7-1200 PLC and design a user-friendly visualization interface. This will not only enhance the functionality of your automation system but also improve control and monitoring efficiency.
Is Free PLC Training Worth It?
Yes, as long as you treat free online training as the first step and not the whole journey. A good free PLC training gives a beginner the basics of PLC programming: how a programmable logic controller reads each input, runs the program in a scan cycle and sets each output, how ladder logic works, and how to download and test a project. That is enough to decide whether automation is a career path you want to follow, without spending money on hardware and software.
What free training usually does not give you is depth and structure. Free videos rarely cover troubleshooting a real machine, wiring of sensors and actuators, structured programming with function blocks, or larger projects with an HMI and SCADA. This series was built to close part of that gap: you follow along with real TIA Portal projects instead of watching slides.
How to Get the Most out of Free PLC Training
If you want to learn from free resources, the order in which you learn matters more than the number of videos you watch. This is the path we recommend:
- Inputs, outputs and wiring. Learn how push buttons, limit switches and proximity sensors are wired to digital inputs, and how outputs drive relays, contactors and lamps. An electrician or maintenance technician who already reads electrical drawings and uses a multimeter has a big head start here.
- PLC ladder logic basics. Start with NO and NC contacts, coils, a seal-in (latching) circuit for a motor, then a timer and a counter. Ladder diagram (LD) is the easiest PLC logic for a beginner because it looks like relay circuits.
- A PLC simulator. You do not need hardware to start. PLCSIM in TIA Portal, the CODESYS soft PLC or a 3D scene in Factory I/O give you PLC simulation on your laptop, so you can test every program and solve practice problems such as conveyors and tank filling.
- Other IEC 61131-3 languages. When ladder logic feels natural, learn function block diagram (FBD) and structured text (ST). ST is the best choice for calculations, loops and data handling.
- HMI and diagnostics. Add a simple HMI screen, alarms and online monitoring. Knowing how to find a fault quickly is what makes a PLC programmer valuable on the shop floor.
Which platform should you start with?
Pick one platform and learn it well before switching. Siemens TIA Portal with the S7-1200 is a common choice in Europe and is used in this free PLC training. In North America many plants run Allen Bradley PLCs from Rockwell Automation, programmed in Studio 5000 Logix Designer, RSLogix 500 (MicroLogix and SLC 500) or Connected Components Workbench for the Micro800 family. CODESYS is free to download and runs on many controllers from different manufacturers, which makes it a cheap way to learn PLC programming on your own computer. Omron and other brands follow the same IEC 61131-3 ideas, so the core knowledge of PLC programming transfers between them.
Allen-Bradley hardware used in our materials (Micro800 controllers, HMI panels and accessories) is supplied by our technology partner Elmark Automatyka, an authorized Rockwell Automation distributor.
Free PLC Training vs a Full Online PLC Course
Free training is great to get started, but sooner or later you will want a structured training course with full projects, homework and someone to answer your questions. The free lessons in this series are taken from our full Siemens PLC training, so if you like the way we teach, you can continue with the TIA Portal LAD/FBD course. If you are completely new to industrial automation and want to understand sensors, actuators, drives (VFDs) and control systems first, start with Industrial Automation Basics. Our automation courses are video courses you can follow at your own pace, with practical exercises in the same software used in factory automation.
Free PLC Training - FAQ
Can I learn PLC programming for free?
Yes. With free programming software (a TIA Portal trial license, CODESYS or the free Standard Edition of Connected Components Workbench) and free videos like this series you can learn the basics of PLC programming and build simple programs in a simulator. To work as a PLC programmer you will also need practice on larger projects and real hardware.
Do I need a PLC to start learning?
No. A simulator is enough for learning PLC programming at the beginning. PLCSIM, the CODESYS soft PLC and Factory I/O let you run and test your logic without buying a controller. Hardware becomes useful later, when you want to practice wiring and troubleshooting.
Is free training enough to get a job?
Usually not on its own. Employers look for practical knowledge: reading electrical drawings, wiring, troubleshooting, structured programming and experience with HMI and communication. Free training is the right way to start; a full PLC course and your own projects are what turn that start into job-ready skills.
What's next?
Siemens S7-1200 PLC Programming Free Course - tutorial part #2
Introduction to variables - Basic instructions of Ladder Logic - NO contacts, AND, OR operations
Check out the next lesson of the free course, or go ahead and join the full training!
