Logix 5000™Controllers

Ladder Diagram
1756 ControlLogix®, 1756 GuardLogix®, 1769 CompactLogix™,
1769 Compact GuardLogix®, 1789 SoftLogix™, 5069
CompactLogix™, 5069 Compact GuardLogix®, Studio 5000®
Logix Emulate™

Rockwell Automation Publication 1756-PM008J-EN-P - July 2022

Supersedes Publication 1756-PM008I-EN-P - March 2022

Programming Manual Original Instructions

Logix 5000 Controllers Ladder Diagram

Important User Information

Read this document and the documents listed in the additional resources section about installation, configuration, and
operation of this equipment before you install, configure, operate, or maintain this product. Users are required to familiarize
themselves with installation and wiring instructions in addition to requirements of all applicable codes, laws, and standards.
Activities including installation, adjustments, putting into service, use, assembly, disassembly, and maintenance are required to
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In no event will Rockwell Automation, Inc. be responsible or liable for indirect or consequential damages resulting from the use
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requirements associated with any particular installation, Rockwell Automation, Inc. cannot assume responsibility or liability for
actual use based on the examples and diagrams.
No patent liability is assumed by Rockwell Automation, Inc. with respect to use of information, circuits, equipment, or software
described in this manual.
Reproduction of the contents of this manual, in whole or in part, without written permission of Rockwell Automation, Inc., is
prohibited.
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WARNING: Identifies information about practices or circumstances that can cause an explosion in a hazardous environment, which may lead to personal injury
or death, property damage, or economic loss.

ATTENTION: Identifies information about practices or circumstances that can lead to personal injury or death, property damage, or economic loss. Attentions
help you identify a hazard, avoid a hazard, and recognize the consequence.

IMPORTANT Identifies information that is critical for successful application and understanding of the product.

Labels may also be on or inside the equipment to provide specific precautions.

SHOCK HAZARD: Labels may be on or inside the equipment, for example, a drive or motor, to alert people that dangerous voltage may be present.

BURN HAZARD: Labels may be on or inside the equipment, for example, a drive or motor, to alert people that surfaces may reach dangerous temperatures.

ARC FLASH HAZARD: Labels may be on or inside the equipment, for example, a motor control center, to alert people to potential Arc Flash. Arc Flash will cause
severe injury or death. Wear proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Follow ALL Regulatory requirements for safe work practices and for Personal
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Rockwell Automation recognizes that some of the terms that are currently used in our industry and in this publication are not in
alignment with the movement toward inclusive language in technology. We are proactively collaborating with industry peers to
find alternatives to such terms and making changes to our products and content. Please excuse the use of such terms in our
content while we implement these changes.

2 Rockwell Automation Publication 1756-PM008J-EN-P - July 2022

 Summary of changes
This manual includes new and updated information. Use these reference
tables to locate changed information.
Grammatical and editorial style changes are not included in this summary.

Global changes
This table identifies changes that apply to all information about a subject in
the manual and the reason for the change. For example, the addition of new
supported hardware, a software design change, or additional reference
material would result in changes to all of the topics that deal with that subject.
Change Topic
Removed confusing "in order" text in Arrange the input Arrange the input instructions on page 14
instructions section.

New or enhanced features

None in this release.

Rockwell Automation Publication 1756-PM008J-EN-P - July 2022 3

 Table of Contents
Summary of changes Studio 5000 environment ........................................................................... 7
Preface Additional resources .................................................................................... 8
Legal Notices ................................................................................................ 8

Chapter 1
Program ladder diagram Introduction ................................................................................................ 11
Instruction ............................................................................................. 11
Branch ................................................................................................... 11
Rung condition..................................................................................... 12
Write ladder logic ....................................................................................... 12
Choose the required instructions ....................................................... 13
Arrange the input instructions ........................................................... 14
Arrange the output instructions ......................................................... 14
Choose a tag name for an operand ..................................................... 15
Enter ladder logic ....................................................................................... 16
Append an element to the cursor location ......................................... 16
Drag and drop an element ................................................................... 17
Assign instruction operands ..................................................................... 17
Create and assign a new tag ................................................................ 17
Choose a name or an existing tag ....................................................... 18
Drag and drop a tag from the Tags window ...................................... 19
Assign an immediate (constant) value ............................................... 19
Enter a rung comment .............................................................................. 20
Language switching ............................................................................ 20
Verify the routine ....................................................................................... 21
Index

Rockwell Automation Publication 1756-PM008J-EN-P - July 2022 5

 Preface
This manual shows how to program Logix 5000® controllers with the relay
ladder programming language. This manual is one of a set of related manuals
that show common procedures for programming and operating Logix 5000®
controllers.
For a complete list of common procedures manuals, refer to the Logix 5000®
Controllers Common Procedures Programming Manual, publication
1756-PM001.
The term Logix 5000® controller refers to any controller based on the Logix
5000® operating system.

Rockwell Automation recognizes that some of the terms that are currently
used in our industry and in this publication are not in alignment with the
movement toward inclusive language in technology. We are proactively
collaborating with industry peers to find alternatives to such terms and
making changes to our products and content. Please excuse the use of such
terms in our content while we implement these changes.

Studio 5000® environment The Studio 5000 Automation Engineering & Design Environment® combines
engineering and design elements into a common environment. The first
element is the Studio 5000 Logix Designer® application. The Logix Designer
application is the rebranding of RSLogix 5000® software and will continue to
be the product to program Logix 5000® controllers for discrete, process, batch,
motion, safety, and drive-based solutions.

The Studio 5000® environment is the foundation for the future of

Rockwell Automation® engineering design tools and capabilities. The Studio
5000® environment is the one place for design engineers to develop all
elements of their control system.

Rockwell Automation Publication 1756-PM008J-EN-P - July 2022 7

Preface

Additional resources These documents contain additional information concerning related

Rockwell Automation products.
Resource Description
Logix 5000® Controllers Program Parameters Describes how to use program parameters when
Programming Manual, publication 1756-PM021 programming Logix 5000® controllers.
Logix 5000® Controllers General Instructions Reference Describes the available instructions for a Logix 5000®
Manual, publication 1756-RM003 controller.

Logix 5000® Controllers Process and Drives Instructions Describes how to program a Logix 5000® controller for
Reference Manual, publication 1756-RM006 process or drives applications.
Logix 5000® Controllers Motion Instruction Set Describes how to program a Logix 5000® controller for
Reference Manual, publication MOTION-RM002 motion applications.

Product Certifications website, Provides declarations of conformity, certificates, and

http://ab.rockwellautomation.com other certification details.

You can view or download publications at

http://www.rockwellautomation.com/literature. To order paper copies of
technical documentation, contact your local Rockwell Automation distributor
or sales representative.
Rockwell Automation recognizes that some of the terms that are currently
used in our industry and in this publication are not in alignment with the
movement toward inclusive language in technology. We are proactively
collaborating with industry peers to find alternatives to such terms and
making changes to our products and content. Please excuse the use of such
terms in our content while we implement these changes.

Legal Notices Rockwell Automation publishes legal notices, such as privacy policies, license
agreements, trademark disclosures, and other terms and conditions on the
Legal Notices page of the Rockwell Automation website.

End User License Agreement (EULA)

You can view the Rockwell Automation End-User License Agreement ("EULA")
by opening the License.rtf file located in your product's install folder on your
hard drive.

Open Source Licenses

The software included in this product contains copyrighted software that is
licensed under one or more open source licenses. Copies of those licenses are
included with the software. Corresponding Source code for open source
packages included in this product are located at their respective web site(s).
Alternately, obtain complete Corresponding Source code by contacting
Rockwell Automation via the Contact form on the Rockwell Automation

8 Rockwell Automation Publication 1756-PM008J-EN-P - July 2022

 Preface
website:
http://www.rockwellautomation.com/global/about-us/contact/contact.page
Please include "Open Source" as part of the request text.
A full list of all open source software used in this product and their
corresponding licenses can be found in the OPENSOURCE folder. The default
installed location of these licenses is C:\Program Files (x86)\Common
Files\Rockwell\Help\<Product Name>\Release
Notes\OPENSOURCE\index.htm.

Rockwell Automation Publication 1756-PM008J-EN-P - July 2022 9

 Chapter 1

Program ladder diagram

Introduction You organize ladder diagram as rungs on a ladder and put instructions on
each rung. There are two basic types of instructions:
Instruction • Input instruction: An instruction that checks, compares, or examines
specific conditions in your machine or process.
• Output instruction: An instruction that takes some action, such as
turn on a device, turn off a device, copy data, or calculate a value.

Branch A branch is two or more instructions in parallel.

There is no limit to the number of parallel branch levels that you can enter.
This example shows a parallel branch with five levels. The main rung is the
first branch level, followed by four additional branches.

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Chapter 1 Program ladder diagram
You can nest branches to as many as 6 levels. This example shows a nested
branch. The bottom output instruction is on a nested branch that is three
levels deep.

Large rungs with complex, nested branches result in having to scroll through
the ladder editor and may end up spanning multiple pages when you print the
logic. To make it easier to maintain, divide the logic into multiple smaller
rungs.

Rung condition The controller evaluates ladder instructions based on the rung condition
preceding the instruction (rung-condition-in).

Only create instructions that affect the rung-condition-in of subsequent

instructions on the rung.
• If the rung-condition-in to an input instruction is true, the controller
evaluates the instruction and sets the rung-condition-out to match the
results of the evaluation.
• If the instruction evaluates to true, the rung-condition-out is true.
• If the instruction evaluates to false, the rung-condition-out is false.
• An output instruction does not change the rung-condition-out.
• If the rung-condition-in to an output instruction is true, the
rung-condition-out is set to true.
• If the rung-condition-in to an output instruction is false, the
rung-condition-out is set to false.
Write ladder logic Writing ladder logic requires that you choose the input and output
instructions, and choose the tag names for operands.

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 Chapter 1 Program ladder diagram

Choose the required Use these steps to choose the required instructions.

instructions
To choose the required instructions
1. Identify the conditions to check and separate them from the action to
take for the rung.
2. Choose the appropriate input instruction for each condition and the
appropriate output instruction for each action.
For more information on specific instructions, see:
• Logix 5000® Controllers General Instructions Reference Manual,
publication 1756-RM003
• Logix 5000® Controllers Process and Drives Instructions Reference
Manual, publication 1756-RM006
• Logix 5000® Controllers Motion Instruction Set Reference Manual,
publication MOTION-RM002
Tip: I/O module data updates asynchronously to the execution of logic. If you reference an
input multiple times in your logic, the input could change state between separate references. If
you need the input to have the same state for each reference, buffer the input value and
reference that buffer tag.
You can also use Input and Output program parameters which automatically buffer the data
during the Logix Designer application execution. See the Logix 5000® Controllers Program
Parameters Programming Manual, publication 1756-PM021.

The examples in this chapter use two simple instructions to help you learn
how to write ladder diagram logic. The rules that you learn for these
instructions apply to all other instructions.
Symbol Name Mnemonic Description

Examine If Closed XIC An input instruction that looks at one bit of data.
If the bit is Then the instruction
(rung-condition-out) is
On (1) True
Off (0) False
Output Energize OTE An output instruction that controls one bit of data.
If the instructions to the left Then the instruction turns the bit
(rung-condition-in) are
True On (1)
False Off (0)

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Chapter 1 Program ladder diagram

Arrange the input Determine how to arrange the input instructions on the rung, as shown
below.
instructions
To check multiple input conditions when: Arrange the input instructions:

• All conditions must be met to take action. In series:

For example, If condition_1 AND condition_2 AND condition_3…

• Any one of several conditions must be met to take action. In parallel:

For example, If condition_1 OR condition_2 OR condition_3…

• There is a combination of the above. In combination:

For example:
If condition_1 AND condition_2…
OR
If condition_3 AND condition_2…

Tip: The controller executes all instructions on a rung regardless of their rung-condition-in. For optimal
performance of a series of instructions, sequence the instructions from most likely to be false on the left to
least likely to be false on the right.

When the controller finds a false instruction, it executes the remaining instructions in the series with their
rung-condition-in set to false. Typically, an instruction executes faster when its rung-condition-in (rung) is
false rather than true.

Arrange the output Place at least one output instruction to the right of the input instructions. You
can enter multiple output instructions on a rung of logic:
instructions
Option Example

Place the output instructions in sequence on the rung (serial).

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 Chapter 1 Program ladder diagram
Option Example

Place the output instructions in branches (parallel).

Place the output instructions between input instructions. The last instruction on the
rung must be an output instruction.

Choose a tag name for Tag names follow these formats:

an operand For a: Specify:

Tag tag_name
Bit number of a larger data type tag_name.bit_number
Member of a structure tag_name.member_name
Element of a one dimension array tag_name[x]
Element of a two dimension array tag_name[x,y]
Element of a three dimension array tag_name[x,y,z]
Element of an array within a structure tag_name.member_name[x]
Member of an element of an array tag_name[x,y,z].member_name

where:
• x is the location of the element in the first dimension.
• y is the location of the element in the second dimension.
• z is the location of the element in the third dimension.
For a structure within a structure, add .member_name.
Example: Choose a Tag Name for an Operand
To Access: The tag name looks like this:
machine_on tag

bit number 1 of the one_shots

tag
DN member (bit) of the
running_seconds timer
mix member of the north_tank
tag
element 2 in the recipe array
and element 1,1 in the tanks
array

element 2 in the preset array

within the north_tank tag

part_advance member of
element 1 in the drill array

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Chapter 1 Program ladder diagram

Enter ladder logic A new routine contains a rung that is ready for instructions.

Use the Language Element toolbar to add a ladder diagram element.

Append an element to the Use these steps to append an element to the cursor location.

cursor location IMPORTANT Use caution when copying and pasting components between different versions of the Logix
Designer application. The application only supports pasting to the same version or newer
version. Pasting to a prior version of the application is not supported. When pasting to a
prior version, the paste action may succeed but the results may not be as intended.

To append an element to the cursor location

1. Select the instruction, branch, or rung that is above or to the left of
where you want to add an element.
2. On the Language Element toolbar, select the button for the element
that you want to add.

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 Chapter 1 Program ladder diagram

Drag and drop an element Drag the button for the element directly to the desired location. A green dot
shows a valid placement location (drop point).

Assign instruction operands After you add an instruction to a ladder rung, you assign tags to the
instruction operands. You can create a new tag, use an existing tag, or assign
a constant value.

Create and assign a Use these steps to create and assign a new tag.

new tag
To create and assign a new tag
1. Select the operand area of the instruction.

2. Type a name for the tag and press the Enter key.
3. Right-click the tag name and then select New "tag_name".
4. In the New Parameter or Tag dialog box, in the Usage box, choose the
usage.

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Chapter 1 Program ladder diagram
5. In the New Parameter or Tag dialog box, in the Data Type box, select
the button.

6. In the Select Data Type dialog box, choose the data type for the tag.

If you want to define the tag as an array, in the Array Dimensions

boxes, enter the number of elements in each dimension.
7. Select OK.
8. In the New Parameter or Tag dialog box, choose the scope for the tag.

9. Select OK.

Choose a name or an
existing tag
1. Double-click the operand area, and then select .
The Tag Browser window appears.
2. Select the name or tag:
To select a: Do this:

Label, routine name, or similar Select the name.

type of name

Tag Double-click the tag name.

Bit number a. Select the tag name.
b. To the right of the tag name, select .
c. Select the required bit.

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 Chapter 1 Program ladder diagram
3. Press the Enter key or select a different spot on the ladder diagram to
close the Tag Browser.
Drag and drop a tag from Use these steps to drag and drop a from from the Tags window.
the Tags window
To drag and drop a tag from the Tags window
1. Find the tag in the Controller Tags or the Program Parameters and
Local Tags window.
2. Double-click the tag to select it.
3. Select and drag the tag to its location on the instruction. A green dot
appears to show you where you can drop the tag.
Assign an immediate
(constant) value

1. Select the operand area of the instruction.

2. Type the value and press the Enter key.

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Chapter 1 Program ladder diagram

Enter a rung comment When entering a rung of ladder logic, you can add comments that explain the
purpose of your rung.
To enter a rung comment, perform this procedure.
1. Right-click the rung number of your ladder logic and then select Edit
Rung Comment.

The Rung Comment dialog box appears.

2. Type your rung comment, and then select the green check to save your
changes or select the red X to discard your changes.
Language switching With version 17 and later of the application, you have the option to display
project documentation, such as tag descriptions and rung comments for any
supported localized language. You can store project documentation for
multiple languages in a single project file rather than in language-specific
project files. You define all the localized languages that the project supports
and set the current, default, and optional custom localized language. The
application uses the default language if the current language's content is

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 Chapter 1 Program ladder diagram
blank for a particular component of the project. However, you can use a
custom language to tailor documentation to a specific type of project file user.
Enter the localized descriptions in your project, either when programming in
that language or by using the import/export utility to translate the
documentation off-line and then import it back into the project. Once you
enable language switching, you can dynamically switch between languages.
Project documentation that supports multiple languages within a project
includes:
• Component descriptions in tags, routines, programs, user-defined
data types, and Add-On Instructions.
• Equipment phases.
• Trends.
• Controllers.
• Alarm Messages (in ALARM_ANALOG and ALARM_DIGITAL
configuration).
• Tasks.
• Property descriptions for modules in the Controller Organizer.
• Rung comments, SFC text boxes, and FBD text boxes.
For more information on enabling a project to support multiple translations
of project documentation, see the online help.

Verify the routine As you program your routine (s), it is a good idea to periodically verify your
work.

1. In the Standard toolbar select the Verify icon.

2. Errors are listed in the Output window on the Errors tab at the bottom
of the application.
a. To go to the first error or warning, press the F4 key.
b. Correct the error according to the description in the Errors tab.
c. Repeat until you have corrected all errors.
3. To close the Output window, press the Alt+1 keys.

Rockwell Automation Publication 1756-PM008J-EN-P - July 2022 21

 Index
routine 21

Index

A
address 13

B
branch
ladder logic 11

C
create
tag 17

I
immediate value
ladder logic 19

L
ladder logic
arrange input instructions 14
arrange output instructions 14
assign immediate value 19
branch 11
develop 12
rung condition 12

N
name
tag name 15

R
routine
verify 21
rung condition 12

T
tag
assign 17
choose name 15
create 17
enter 17
ladder logic 15, 17

V
verify

Rockwell Automation Publication 1756-PM008J-EN-P - July 2022 23

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Supersedes Publication 1756-PM008I-EN-P - March 2022 Copyright © 2022 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.