Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4: A Simulation Software for Testing and Debugging S7 Programs

Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 is a software tool that allows you to simulate the behavior of a Simatic S7 controller on your PC. You can use it to test and debug your S7 programs without connecting to a physical CPU. You can also use it to create and run virtual controllers for training purposes or for developing applications that communicate with S7 controllers.
Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 supports the following S7 controller types: S7-300, S7-400, C7 and WinAC. It also supports the following programming languages: LAD, FBD, STL, SCL and GRAPH. You can use Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 with STEP 7 V5.4 SP4 or SP5 or STEP 7 V5.5, with or without SP1, or higher.
Some of the features and benefits of Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 are:
- It allows you to simulate inputs and outputs, timers, counters, flags, data blocks and system functions.
- It provides a graphical user interface that shows the status of the simulated controller and its components.
- It enables you to monitor and modify variables, force values, set breakpoints and trace program execution.
- It offers a scripting interface (S7ProSim) that allows you to automate simulation tasks and integrate Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 with other applications.
- It supports multiple simulation instances that can run simultaneously on the same PC or on different PCs connected via a network.
- It allows you to save and load simulation states and values.
- It supports failsafe data blocks and redundant CPU systems.
If you want to try Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4, you can download a free trial version from the Siemens Industry Online Support website. The trial version is valid for 14 days and includes the latest update (SP8 Update 1) that contains bug fixes and improvements. You can also find more information about Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 on the same website, such as product details, documentation, online Readme notes and FAQs .
In this section, we will show you how to use Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 to simulate a simple S7 program that controls a traffic light. The program consists of three data blocks (DB1, DB2 and DB3) that store the parameters and states of the traffic light, and one organization block (OB1) that contains the logic of the program. The program uses three inputs (I0.0, I0.1 and I0.2) to receive signals from sensors that detect the presence of cars on each lane, and three outputs (Q0.0, Q0.1 and Q0.2) to control the color of the traffic light on each lane. The program also uses a timer (T1) to switch the traffic light every 10 seconds.
To simulate this program with Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4, you need to follow these steps:
- Install Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 on your PC. You can download the trial version from the Siemens Industry Online Support website. You need to have STEP 7 V5.4 SP4 or SP5 or STEP 7 V5.5, with or without SP1, or higher installed on your PC as well.
- Create a new project in STEP 7 and add a CPU 314C-2 DP as the hardware configuration.
- Create the data blocks (DB1, DB2 and DB3) and the organization block (OB1) in your project and write the code for the traffic light program. You can use any programming language supported by Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4.
- Compile and download your program to Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4. You can use the menu command PLC > Download or the toolbar button Download to do this.
- Start Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 from the Windows Start menu or from the toolbar button PLCSIM in STEP 7. You will see a window that shows the status of the simulated CPU and its components.
- Set the simulation mode to RUN-P by clicking on the button RUN-P in Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 or by using the menu command PLC > RUN-P in STEP 7. This will start the execution of your program in Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4.
- Simulate the inputs by clicking on the buttons I0.0, I0.1 and I0.2 in Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 or by using the menu command PLC > Set/Reset Inputs in STEP 7. This will send signals to your program that indicate the presence of cars on each lane.
- Observe the outputs by looking at the LEDs Q0.0, Q0.1 and Q0.2 in Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 or by using the menu command PLC > Monitor Outputs in STEP 7. This will show you the color of the traffic light on each lane.
- Monitor and modify variables by using the menu command PLC > Monitor/Modify Variables in STEP 7 or by using the S7ProSim interface in Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4. This will allow you to view and change the values of data blocks, timers, counters, flags and system functions in your program.
- Set breakpoints and trace program execution by using the menu command PLC > Debugging in STEP 7 or by using the S7ProSim interface in Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4. This will allow you to pause and resume your program at specific points and to step through your code line by line.
- Save and load simulation states and values by using the menu command File > Save/Load Simulation State/Values in Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4 or by using the S7ProSim interface in Simatic s7-plcsim v5.4. This will allow you to store and restore your simulation settings and data for later use.
- Stop the simulation mode by clicking on the button STOP in Simatic