The Allen Bradley 1747-PT1 Hand Held Terminal Tutorial

The Allen Bradley Handheld Terminal, affectionately known as 1747-PT1, is something that was more popular when Ronald Reagan was president and Duran Duran was a cool new wave band. That’s the 1980’s for those who are not my generation. I’m kind of a nostalgic guy so digging into how a hand held programmer works is some sort of weird interest for me. For good reason these devices were left in the closest to gather dust once personal computers came around and you could program your PLC in DOS. With the advent of RSLogix and cheap laptops there’s very little reason to brush the dust of your 1747-PT1. Then again, maybe there is if all you want to do is just check a value or quickly change a preset on a timer. You could be the coolest geek around with this puppy strapped to your belt. Just beware your boss and work mates might think you’re goofing of playing game boy.

This article is different then a regular 1747-PT1 tutorial. As the saying goes, “If you don’t use it you lose it”, so this is meant to be more of a cheat sheet or a quick refresher course. I assume you all ready have a knowledge of how the SLC500 processors store files and how to address memory. I’m more concerned with how to get around the menu structure of the 1747-PT1 once they’ve escaped my brain cells after a couple months of non-use. If you’re looking for something more in depth then you can still download “The Getting Started Guide for HHT” and/or the “1747-PT1 User Manual” from the Rockwell Automation site.

The 1747-PT1 hand held programmer is only good on these SLC-500 processors.

Fixed SLC500

1747-L20A
1747-L20B
1747-L20C/F
1747-L20D
1747-L20E/G
1747-L20L/N
1747-L20R
1747-L20P
1747-L30A
1747-L30B
1747-L30C
1747-L30D
1747-L30L
1747-L30P
1747-L40A
1747-L40B
1747-L40C/F
1747-L40E
1747-L40L
1747-L40P

SLC 500 Modular 5/01 and 5/02

1747-L511
1747-L514
1747-L524

This means the 5/03, 5/04 and 5/05 processors are NOT supported.

Extra tid bits

The communication cable is part number 1747-C10. The unit is powered off the CPU through this connection.
There’s also a power supply 1747–NP1 or NP2 used to power on the terminal when there is no PLC. I don’t have this but dig around in your closest and see if you have one. It could come in handy.
Since the programmer has been sitting in the closest for ages you might get a BATTERY TEST FAILED message when first starting up or there may be a flashing letter B on the prompt line. All this means is you need to replace your battery (catalog number 1747-BA). Do a search on the internet and get it cheap. Just slide the back cover off and replace it.
Hopefully you have the PTA1E memory card installed too so that when the power is turned off you can retain the program in hand held programmer.

Keypad Overview

The function keys and keypad are pretty clunky but once you get used to the flow you can get pretty fast at it. I imagine back in the day when these were used a lot a good programmer would have some crazy flippin’ fingers going as he input new rungs of ladder logic.

Function Keys

The function keys keep changing but they are labeled on the bottom line of the screen.
If you see a > on the bottom right then hit the ENTER key and there will be more functions.
The prompt line is the second from the bottom above the function descriptions. It will tell you what’s going on.
The ESC key is your friend. If you get lost then just keep hitting this and it will take you back home.

Keypad

Press and release the SHIFT key to type the top letters. Press it again to toggle back to normal mode. An up arrow will be displayed on the screen when in shift mode. Sometimes this is automatic when it’s expected an input like an address.
If you make an error when entering data then hit ESC or use the cursor to go back. The SPACE key will wipe out a character. Keep hitting ESC if you want to exit without saving.
Press RUNG and enter the number of the rung to go straight to it.
Pressing ZOOM when on an instruction will display it’s details.

Menu Structure

On the first screen the only two functions I use are PROGMAINT and UTILITY.

PROGMAINT stands for Program Maintenance which allows you to:

name programs and program files create, delete, and edit program files
create and delete data files
edit data files
select processors and configure the I/O
clear HHT memory

UTILITY allows you to:

attach online to a processor

upload and download programs between the processor and HHT
change processor mode
transfer processor memory between RAM and EEPROM
force inputs and outputs

access network diagnostic functions
create or delete processor passwords
clear processor memory
monitor the ladder diagram while the processor is in Run mode

Function List

Usually the short menu items are self explanatory but just in case here's a list of all of them described.

FUNCTIONS
Abbreviation	Meaning
ACCUM	accumulator value
ACP_RNG	accept rung
ADDR	address
ADV_SET	advanced setup
ADV_SIZ	advanced size
APP_BR	append branch
B	battery
BIN	binary number
CAN_ED	cancel edit
CAN_RNG	cancel rung
CFG_SIZ	configure size
CHG_ADR	change node address
CHG_NAM	change name
CLR_MEM	clear memory
CLR_OWNR	clear ownership
CLR_PRC	clear processor
CONT	continuous
CPT/MTH	compute/math
CRT_DT	create data
CRT_FIL	create file
CSN	continuous scan
CUR-INS	current instruction
CUR-OPD	current operand
DEC	decimal number
DEL_BR	delete branch
DEL_DT	delete data
DEL_FIL	delete file
DEL_INST	delete instruction
DEL_RNG	delete rung
DEL_SLT	delete slot
DIAGNSTC	diagnostic
DWNLOAD	download
EDT_DAT	edit data
EDT_FIL	edit file
EDT_I/O	edit I/O
ENT	enter
ENT_MAS	enter master
EXEC_FILE	executable files
EXT_DWN	extend down
EXT_UP	extend up
F	force
FILEPRT	file protection
FLT	fault
FUTACC	future access
HEX/BCD	hexadecimal/binary coded decimal number
INDXCHK	index across files
INS_BR	insert branch
INS_INST	insert instruction
INS_RNG	insert rung
INT_SBR	interrupt subroutine
I/O_MSG I/O	message
MAX_ADR	maximum node address
MEM_MAP	memory map
MEM_PRC	memory module to processor
MEM_SIZ	memory size
MOD_INST	modify instruction
MOD_RCK	modify rack
MOD_RNG	modify rung
MOD_SET	modify setup
MOD_SLT	modify slot
MOR_CPT	more compute
MOV/LOG	move/logic
NEW-INS	new instruction
NEW_PRG	new program
NEXT_FL	next file
NEXT_PG	next page
NODE_CFG	node configuration
OFL	offline
OTHERS	other instruction choices
PASSWRD	password
PRC_MEM	processor to memory module
PREV_FL	previous file
PREV_PG	previous page
PRG	program
PRG_SIZE	program size
PROGMAINT	program maintenance
RLY	relay
REM	remove
REM_ALL	remove all
REM_MAS	remove master
SAVE_CT	save and continue
SAVE_EX	save and exit
SEL_PRO	select processor
SET_OWNR	set ownership
SFT/SEQ	shift/sequencer
SNK	sink
SRC	source
SSN	single scan
TERM	terminal
TMR/CNT	timer/counter
TRANS	transistor
TRI	triac
TSTRUNG	test single rung
UND_INST	undelete instruction
UND_RNG	undelete rung
UND_SLT	undelete slot
WTCHDOG	watchdog
XFERMEM	transfer memory

Instruction List

INSTRUCTIONS
Mnemonics	Meaning
ADD	add
AND	and
BSL	bit shift left
BSR	bit shift right
CLR	clear
COP	copy file
CTD	count down
CTU	count up
DCD	decode 4 to 1 of 16
DDV	double divide
DIV	divide
EQU	equal
FFL FIFO	load
FFU FIFO	unload
FLL	file fill
FRD	convert from BCD
GEQ	greater than or equal to
GRT	greater than
HSC	high-speed counter
IID I/O	interrupt disable
IIE I/O	interrupt enable
IIM	immediate input with mask
INT	interrupt subroutine
IOM	immediate output with mask
JMP	jump to label
JSR	jump to subroutine
LBL	label
LEQ	less than or equal to
LES	less than
LFL LIFO	load
LFU LIFO	unload
LIM	limit test
MCR	master control reset
MEQ	masked comparison for equal
MOV	move
MSG	message
MUL	multiply
MVM	masked move
NEG	negate
NEQ	not equal
NOT	not
OR	or
OSR	one-shot rising
OTE	output energize
OTL	output latch
OTU	output unlatch
PID	proportional integral derivative
REF I/O	refresh
RES	reset
RET	return from subroutine
RPI	reset pending I/O interrupt
RTO	retentive on-delay timer
SBR	subroutine
SCL	scale data
SQC	sequencer compare
SQL	sequencer load
SQO	sequencer output
SQR	square root
STD STI	disable
STE STI	enable
STS STI	start immediately
SUB	subtract
SUS	suspend
SVC	service communications
TND	temporary end
TOD	convert to BCD
TOF	timer off-delay
TON	timer on-delay
XIC	examine if closed
XIO	examine if open
XOR	exclusive or

Common Tasks

Clearing Memory

This clears the memory only in the HHT.

[F5] UTILITY
[F5] CLR_MEM
ARE YOU SURE?
[F2] YES
WORKING…

I don’t know why but if you wanted to clear the processor memory

[F5] UTILITY
[F1] ONLINE
GOING ONLINE…
[F4] MODE
[F5] PROGRAM
ARE YOU SURE?
[F2] YES
ESC
[F5] CLR_PRC
ARE YOU SURE?
[F2] YES
INITIALIZING PROCESSOR…

Upload from PLC to HHT

[F5] UTILITY
[F1] ONLINE
PROGRAM FILES DIFFER (If you don’t get the prompt then the files are the same.)
[F2] UPLOAD
UPLOAD FROM PROCESSOR?
[F2] YES
UPLOADING FILE…

Once done it will show the file name.

Download from HTT to PLC

[F5] UTILITY
[F1] ONLINE
PROGRAM FILES DIFFER or DEFAULT FILE IN PROCESSOR
[F3] DWNLOAD or [F2] DWNLOAD
DOWNLOAD TO PROCESSOR?
[F2] YES
DOWNLOADING FILE…

Once done it will show the file name.

Change Modes

[F5] UTILITY
[F1] ONLINE
[F4] MODE
[F1] RUN or [F5] PROGRAM
ARE YOU SURE?
[F2] YES

Monitor the Ladder Logic

[F5] UTILITY
[F1] ONLINE
If not in run mode then follow “change mode” instructions above
ENTER
[F5] MONITOR
ENTER FILE NUMBER: 2
WORKING… and there it is in all it’s glory.

Press RUNG and enter the number of the rung to go straight to it.

Pressing ZOOM when on an instruction will display it’s details.

[F4] SEARCH

Search functions

[F1] CUR-INS finds current instruction that the cursor is on
[F2] CUR-OPD finds current operand that the cursor is on
[F3] NEW-INS enter an instruction to find
[F4] UP/DOWN toggle to search up or down.
[F5] FORCE find force

Monitoring/Entering the Data

Follow the “monitor the ladder logic” instructions

[F3] EDT_DAT
The prompt has the current address value to be changed.
[F1] ADDRESS enter address to go to
[F2] NEXT_FL go to next file
[F3] PREV_FL go to previous file
[F4] NEXT_PG go to next page
[F5] PREV_PG go to previous page

Editing the Ladder Logic

[F3] PROGMAINT
[F3] EDT_FIL
ENTER FILE NUMBER:

[F1] INS_RNG this will put a rung above the cursor position.
[F2] MOD_RNG modify the current rung
[F3] SEARCH will search for instruction
[F4] DEL_RNG delete rung
[F5] UND_RNG undo rung
ENTER
[F2] EDT_DAT edit data
[F4] SAVE_CT compile program but do not exit editing
[F5] SAVE_EX compile program and exit editing

Example Editing an On Timer’s T4:0 Preset from 1000 to 1500

Place cursor on timer

[F2] MOD_RNG
[F3] MOD_INST
[F2] TMR/CNT
[F1] TON
ENTER TIMER: T4:0
ENTER
ENTER PRESET: 1000 change to 1500
ENTER
[F5] ACCEPT
WORKING…
ESC
ESC
[F5] ACP_RNG
ENTER
[F5] SAVE_EX
MODIFY OPTIONS, ACCEPT TO COMPILE
[F5] ACCEPT
STATUS: COMPILE IN PROGRESS. NO ERRORS.
ESC

Now go download the program