PLC Simulator
Allen-Bradley dialect

Allen-Bradley PLC Simulator

Practice RSLogix-style ladder logic in your browser. XIC, XIO, OTE, OTL, OTU, TON, CTU — the AB instruction set you need for Studio 5000 work. No licence, no install.

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Join 700+ learners practicing PLC programming

Allen-Bradley PLC simulator — practise RSLogix-style ladder logic with XIC, XIO, OTE, TON and CTU in the browser
Practise Allen-Bradley RSLogix-style ladder logic in the browser — no Studio 5000 licence required.

Why AB programmers use this

AB-specific syntax. Real execution. No Studio 5000 required.

RSLogix-style instructions

XIC, XIO, OTE, OTL, OTU, ONS, TON, TOF, CTU — the exact Allen-Bradley instruction mnemonics used in ControlLogix and CompactLogix programs.

Tag-based addressing

Symbolic tag names like MotorRun, Timer1.DN, Counter1.ACC — not file-based %I0.0 addresses. The same model you will use in Studio 5000.

40 auto-graded scenarios

Real machine control problems: conveyor sorting, motor sequencing, batch mixing, HVAC control. Write AB-style ladder and get immediate pass/fail feedback.

Allen-Bradley start/stop ladder rung with XIC Start, XIO Stop and OTE Motor output coil in Studio 5000 tag style
A start/stop rung in Allen-Bradley style: XIC Start, XIO Stop, OTE Motor.
Allen-Bradley three-wire motor seal-in latch rung where the OTE Motor coil seals itself around the XIC Start contact
The classic three-wire seal-in: the Motor coil holds itself in around the Start button.

AB instruction set

The Allen-Bradley instructions, mapped to IEC 61131-3

Every Allen-Bradley mnemonic — XIC, XIO, OTE, OTL/OTU, TON, CTU — maps to a standard IEC 61131-3 concept. The simulator lets you toggle between both so you learn the AB names and the standard behaviour behind them.

Table mapping Allen-Bradley instructions XIC, XIO, OTE, OTL, OTU, TON, CTU to their IEC 61131-3 equivalents
Allen-Bradley instruction mnemonics and their IEC 61131-3 equivalents.

Tag-based, not file-based

ControlLogix and CompactLogix controllers address I/O through a symbolic tag database, not RSLogix 500 file addresses. Physical module data is aliased to descriptive tags your ladder routine reads directly.

ControlLogix and CompactLogix tag-based addressing model showing input and output modules mapped to controller tags and ladder routines
The Logix tag-based model: physical modules → controller tag database → ladder routine.

TON on-delay timer behaviour

An Allen-Bradley TON sets its DN done bit only after ACC reaches PRE, then drops it instantly when the rung goes false — exactly how it behaves in Studio 5000.

Allen-Bradley TON on-delay timer timing diagram showing the EN rung, ACC accumulator ramp and DN done bit
An Allen-Bradley TON timer: DN turns on only after ACC reaches the PRE preset.

Scenarios

Practice scenarios in AB dialect

Motor Start/Stop

Seal-in rung, OTL/OTU pattern, overload interlock.

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Conveyor Sort

Diverter gate, part counter, CTU with DN bit.

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Batch Mixer

Multi-step sequence, TON timers, recipe steps.

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E-Stop Reset

Safety circuit, monitored E-stop, reset handshake.

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Jog/Run Motor

Jog vs run mode, anti-tie-down, feedback check.

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Forward/Reverse

Contactor interlock, direction feedback, timer delay.

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How it works

01

Sign up free

No credit card. Two scenarios unlocked immediately.

02

Select AB dialect

Switch to Allen-Bradley mode on any scenario. The code editor reflects AB instruction names.

03

Write your program

Use XIC, XIO, OTE, TON, CTU — the same instructions you use in Studio 5000.

04

Get graded

Auto-grader runs every test case. Instant pass/fail with per-test breakdown.

Flowchart for getting started practising Allen-Bradley ladder logic — switch to AB dialect, build XIC XIO OTE rungs, add TON and CTU, run the scan, get graded
Getting started: from AB dialect to auto-graded feedback in five steps.

Tag-based addressing tips

Moving from file-based RSLogix 500 to Studio 5000 tag-based addressing trips up most learners. These conventions get you fluent fast.

Checklist of Allen-Bradley tag-based addressing tips — alias tags, reading the DN done bit, timer and counter members, UDTs and tag scope
Allen-Bradley tag and member conventions worth practising early.

vs RSLogix trial and Studio 5000

No licence cost — Studio 5000 subscriptions run several hundred dollars per year
No Windows-only restriction — our simulator runs on Mac, Linux, Chromebook
No hardware required — ControlLogix hardware for training costs thousands
Auto-graded scenarios — Studio 5000 + PLCSIM gives no structured feedback
AB dialect + IEC 61131-3 in one tool — understand the standard behind the AB syntax
Interview prep tracks — timed AB coding exercises with certificates

Try it free. No Studio 5000 licence needed.

Two auto-graded scenarios free forever. Full access to all 40 scenarios from a monthly rate.

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Questions

Allen-Bradley Simulator FAQ

The Allen-Bradley dialect mirrors the RSLogix / Studio 5000 instruction set — XIC, XIO, OTE, OTL, OTU, TON, CTU, ONS — and tag-based addressing. It is not the proprietary Studio 5000 file format, but it accurately reflects the instruction names and logic behaviour that AB programmers use every day.

Practice AB ladder logic today

No install. No Studio 5000 licence. No credit card.

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