Siemens LOGO Starter Kit – PLC Programming for Beginners

If you are new to PLC programming, this starter kit teaches you the fundamentals.

The Siemens LOGO Starter Kit suits beginners because it is small and inexpensive, with software that is easy to use.

The LOGO PLC is one of the Siemens flagships. Siemens recently released the latest LOGO series version, called Siemens LOGO! 8. This mini PLC suits smaller projects and gives beginners a place to start learning PLC programming.

Despite its small size, the Siemens LOGO! 8 PLC handles complex tasks with ease.

This also makes the PLC useful for beginners who want to move beyond basic PLC programming.

You can work with analog signals and PID control, as well as data logging and HMI programming. Smartphone control of the PLC is possible too.

Connecting the LOGO PLC to other Siemens PLCs, such as the S7-1200, extends what you can do with it.

These connections let you use it in larger systems. Once you know the LOGO PLC, I strongly recommend moving on to the Siemens S7-1200 Starter Kit.

This starter kit gives you a way to learn PLC programming on the popular S7 platform.

Price is the drawback of the S7 starter kit. The Siemens LOGO Starter Kit costs much less.

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Siemens LOGO! 8 PLC’s

Version 8 is the latest LOGO PLC version, and all these starter kits use it.

Starter kits vary in the LOGO PLC they contain and whether they include an HMI. Before comparing the kits, look at the different LOGO PLC types so you can see which one each kit uses.

Siemens LOGO! 8 PLC models differ in input voltage, screen options and relay outputs. Choose the model that meets your needs when selecting a starter kit.

Siemens LOGO! 8 Supply Voltage

LOGO PLCs come with different input voltages, so the model determines whether you need to supply 230V AC or 12/24V DC.

Siemens includes the input voltage in each LOGO PLC name to distinguish between these two types:

• LOGO! 8 230RCE
• LOGO! 8 12/24RCE

Whether you need a power supply is the main difference between these models.

Connect an existing 230V AC supply directly to the LOGO! 8 230RCE PLC.

Without a 230V AC supply, you will most likely want the LOGO! 8 12/24RCE PLC.

You can then convert your supply voltage to 12 or 24 volts DC for the LOGO! PLC. Because 12 and 24 volts are standard voltages, finding a suitable power supply is easy.

LOGO! Power 24V

The Siemens LOGO! 8 Starter Kit 12/24 already includes a power supply, so you do not need to find one separately. Its 24V DC supply delivers 1.3 amperes and is called LOGO! Power 24V/1.3 A.

Like the LOGO PLC, the Siemens power supply comes as a module. It matches the PLC in height but is slightly thinner.

Allow a few extra centimetres on the DIN-rail for the power supply when choosing the 24V LOGO PLC.

Siemens 6EP1331-1SH03 LOGO!Power 24 V, 1.3 A

Buy the Siemens LOGO! Power separately or use any 24V DC power supply. Make sure it is stabilised: the Siemens LOGO PLC needs a consistent supply to operate at its best.

Siemens LOGO! 8 Starter Kits

Your budget also determines which Siemens LOGO Starter Kit to choose. Each kit has different parts and a different price. Spending more gets you more components, while the cheapest version contains the basics you need to start.

Higher priced starter kits include HMIs in various sizes, with or without colour screens.

Every starter kit includes these basic components to get you started:

• LOGO! 8 PLC (230 or 12/24V)
• LOGO! Soft Comfort V8
• Ethernet cable
• WinCC Basic (part of TIA Portal)

The following Siemens LOGO! 8 Starter Kits are listed in price order:

Siemens LOGO! 8 Starter Kit 230RCE

Siemens 6ED1057-3BA02-0AA8 LOGO! 8 Starter Kit 230RCE

The cheapest LOGO starter kit contains the basic components and software needed to begin. I recommend this kit if your budget is limited and you want to get started.

Siemens LOGO! 8 Starter Kit 12/24RCE

Siemens 6ED1057-3BA00-0AA8 LOGO! 8 Starter Kit 12/24RCE

Priced close to the previous kit, this starter kit also suits a limited budget. The PLC supply voltage is the only difference between them. This kit contains the Siemens LOGO! 8 12/24RCE which accepts a 12-24 volts DC input.

To convert your supply voltage, the kit also includes a 24V power supply called LOGO! Power 24V/1.3 A.

That extra power supply makes this starter kit slightly more expensive than the previous one.

Siemens LOGO! 8 TDE Starter Kit

Siemens 6ED1057-3BA10-0AA8 LOGO! 8 TDE Starter Kit

This LOGO starter kit adds a small text display HMI called LOGO! TDE. Its Ethernet interface makes connecting the HMI to the LOGO PLC easy.

The PLC in this starter kit also differs from the others: it is the LOGO! 8 12/24RCEo.

The “o” at the end of this LOGO PLC name means it has no display, unlike the other PLCs. A display lets you program and configure the PLC, which can be convenient. You can also do both with the included programming software, so a display is unnecessary. Choosing a PLC without one can sometimes help prevent problems caused by operators or others reprogramming or reconfiguring it from an accessible display.

Siemens LOGO! 8 12/24RCE KP300 Basic Starter Kit

LOGO! 8 12/24RCE with KP300 Basic

This Siemens LOGO Starter Kit includes another HMI, the SIMATIC HMI KP300 Basic mono PN. This slightly more advanced HMI belongs to the SIMATIC series from Siemens.

The KP300 Basic HMI has a 3″ LDC screen and a PROFINET (Ethernet) interface that makes connecting it to PLCs easy. It communicates with both the LOGO PLC and Siemens S7 PLCs.

Use WinCC Basic to program and configure the HMI. The starter kit includes this software.

The software is covered later in this article.

Siemens LOGO! 8 12/24RCE KTP400 Basic Starter Kit

LOGO! 8 12/24RCE with KTP400 Basic

This kit moves on to a more advanced HMI with a colour display, the SIMATIC HMI KTP400 Basic.

This HMI is more advanced than the previous model, starting with its 4″ TFT colour display. It belongs to the SIMATIC series and also comes in one of the S7-1200 Starter Kits.

Siemens LOGO! 8 12/24RCE KTP700 Basic Starter Kit

LOGO! 8 12/24RCE with KTP700 Basic

A 7″ HMI comes with the final Siemens LOGO Starter Kit, which is also the most expensive.

I recommend this starter kit if you want to take PLC programming to a professional level.

The large HMI lets you use all the functions in WinCC. This kit suits learners who want to begin with the Siemens LOGO and then move on to the Siemens S7 platform.

Including the KTP700 Basic HMI makes this kit cost more than the other starter kits.

Siemens LOGO Programming Software

The Siemens LOGO Starter Kits include the software you need to configure and program the PLC and HMI. Here is how to get started with it.

All the starter kits contain two software packages: one programs the LOGO and the other programs the HMI.

LOGO! Soft Comfort v8 Download and Install

Start by installing LOGO! Soft Comfort v8 to write logic and upload it to the LOGO PLC. The software is easy to use and install.

The starter kits include the software on a CD. You can also download it from the Siemens LOGO website, along with upgrades for older versions of LOGO! Soft Comfort:

Download LOGO! Soft Comfort 8

To install Soft Comfort, open the installation program and follow its steps.

Siemens LOGO! Soft Comfort v8 Installation

Getting Started with Programming the LOGO 8

Soft Comfort 8 includes many sample programs that you can learn from.

Open a sample and work through its logic to understand how it runs. You can also download the program to the LOGO PLC and run it there.

LOGO 8 sample program: Alternating compressors

Click the open icon (Ctrl + O or File -> Open), then browse to your LOGO Soft Comfort installation folder to find the sample programs. The usual installation path is C:/Program Files/Siemens/LOGOComfort_V8.

Inside the installation folder, open the “Samples” subfolder to find all the example LOGO PLC programs.

Each sample program contains logic alongside text that explains how it works.

Soft Comfort lets you add text fields for comments without interfering with the program itself.

My video shows how to open sample programs and start a simulation in LOGO Soft Comfort V8: