Retentive Timer On (RTO)

This information applies to the
CompactLogix
5370,
ControlLogix
5570,
Compact GuardLogix
5370,
GuardLogix
5570,
Compact GuardLogix
5380,
CompactLogix
5380,
CompactLogix
5480,
ControlLogix
5580, and
GuardLogix
5580 controllers.
The RTO instruction is a retentive timer that accumulates time when the instruction is enabled.
Available Languages
Ladder Diagram
Function Block
This instruction is not available in function block.
Structured Text
This instruction is not available in structured text.
Operands
IMPORTANT:
Unexpected operation may occur if:
  • Output tag operands are overwritten.
  • Members of a structure operand are overwritten.
  • Except when specified, structure operands are shared by multiple instructions.
Ladder Diagram
Operand
Data Type
Format
Description
Timer
TIMER
tag
Timer structure
Preset
DINT
immediate
Value of Timer.PRE.
Accum
DINT
immediate
Value of Timer.ACC.
Preset and Accum (corresponding to .PRE and .ACC in the timer tag) are pseudo-operands. For details, see Pseudo-operand initialization.
TIMER Structure
Mnemonic
Data Type
Description
.EN
BOOL
The enable bit contains rung-condition-in when the instruction was last executed.
.TT
BOOL
The timing bit when set indicates the timing operation is in process.
.DN
BOOL
The done bit when set indicates the timing operation is complete (or paused).
.PRE
DINT
The preset value specifies the value (1 millisecond units) which the accumulated value must reach before the instruction indicates it is done.
.ACC
DINT
The accumulated value specifies the number of milliseconds that have elapsed since the RTO instruction was enabled.
Description
The RTO instruction accumulates time until:
  • The timer is disabled.
  • The timer completes.
The time base is always 1 millisecond. For example, for a 2 second timer, enter 2000 for the .PRE value.
The timer will set the .DN bit to true when the timer completes.
When enabled, timing can be paused by setting the .DN bit to true and resumed by clearing the .DN bit to false.
How a Timer Runs
A timer runs by subtracting the time of its last scan from the current time:
ACC = ACC + (current_time - last_time_scanned)
After it updates the ACC, the timer sets last_time_scanned = current_time. This gets the timer ready for the next scan.
Affects Math Status Flags
No
Major/Minor Faults
A major fault will occur if:
Fault type
Fault code
.PRE < 0
4
34
.ACC < 0
4
34
See Index through arrays for array-indexing faults.
Execution
Ladder Diagram
Condition/State
Action Taken
Prescan
The .EN bit is cleared to false.
The .TT bit is cleared to false.
Rung-condition-in is false
Set Rung-condition-out to Rung-condition-in
The .EN bit is cleared to false.
The .TT bit is cleared to false.
Rung-condition-in is true
Set Rung-condition-out to Rung-condition-in
See RTO Flow Chart (True).
Postscan
N/A
RTO Flow Chart (True)
Example
Ladder Diagram
When limit_switch_7 is set, light_2 is on for 180 milliseconds (timer_3 is timing). When timer_3.acc reaches 180, light_2 goes off and light_3 goes on. Light_3 remains on until timer_3 is reset. If limit_switch_7 is cleared while timer_3 is timing, light_2 goes off. When limit_switch_8 is set, the RES instruction resets timer_3 (clears status bits and .ACC value).
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