Most automation books stop at ladder logic. This one follows the real job.
You start with wiring a contactor and writing your first PLC program. You finish knowing how process plants are controlled and protected, and how a real project goes from design to FAT, SAT and commissioning. These are the skills listed in automation job ads: DCS, PLC, SIS, Fire & Gas, system design, FAT/SAT and commissioning.
Every topic is explained in plain English, with diagrams, worked examples and programs you can run on your own laptop using free software. You don't need expensive hardware to start.
What's inside
- 22 chapters in 6 parts:
- Foundations
- PLC Programming
- Systems and Industry
- Process Automation and Project Delivery
- 16 Practical Projects
- Career Toolkit
- 16 complete projects. Each has an I/O list, a wiring diagram, the full program, a step-by-step explanation, a test checklist and upgrade challenges. They include:
- Motor control and star-delta starters
- Traffic lights and conveyors
- Pump duty/standby and pneumatic sequences
- A bottle filling line and an elevator
- Batch mixing and PID oven control
- VFD control over Modbus and an IIoT dashboard
- An emergency shutdown with 2-out-of-3 voting
- A fire and gas system with a cause-and-effect matrix
- 200+ diagrams, wiring drawings and ladder programs.
- DCS, SIS and Fire & Gas explained clearly:
- Cascade, ratio and split-range control
- SIL, LOPA and voting
- Gas detection and LEL setpoints
- Cause-and-effect matrices
- Real project documents:
- I/O lists, loop diagrams and cabinet sizing
- FAT procedures, punch lists and loop checks
- Job-Ready Toolkit:
- An automation engineer CV template
- 65 interview questions with model answers
- How to decode a job ad
- A plan for your first 90 days on the job
- 92 checked links to free courses, video lectures, free textbooks and vendor resources, listed at the end of each chapter.
- Free software guide: how to legally get CODESYS, TIA Portal (trial), Connected Components Workbench, Ignition Maker Edition, Factory I/O and more.
- Quizzes at the end of every chapter, with full answers.
- Siemens TIA Portal notes throughout, alongside vendor-neutral IEC 61131-3 code that works on any PLC brand.
Who it's for
Electrical, electronics, mechatronics, instrumentation and mechanical engineering students
Fresh graduates preparing for automation, controls, DCS or commissioning roles
Technicians who want to move into PLC programming and project work
Format
- PDF, A4, 384 pages
- Clickable table of contents, bookmarks and links
- Works on phone, tablet and laptop
- Instant download after purchase
FAQ
1. Do I need a PLC to use this book?
No. Every project can be built and tested in free or trial software, and Appendix A shows you how to set up your practice lab.
2. Is it only for Siemens?
No. The code follows the IEC 61131-3 standard, so it works on Siemens, Rockwell, Schneider, Delta, CODESYS-based PLCs and others. Siemens-specific notes are included where they help.
3. I'm a complete beginner. Is this too advanced?
No. Part I starts from basic electrical concepts. The process-plant chapters come later, once you have the foundations.
4. Will this get me a job?
No book can promise that. This one teaches the skills and gives you the projects, interview preparation and CV material that employers look for. The rest depends on your practice.