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Microcontroler is not reliable for harsh enviroments like PLC
Microcontrollers in a nut shell are complete PLC embedded in chip. Embedded arithmetic logic unit (ALU), memory, timer/counters, serial port, input/output (I/O) ports and a clock oscillator on the same chip.
Contrary to this PLCs are modular in structure separate module to handle larger no.s of I/Os. Each type of I/O has a separate module or combo module depending on the process requirement of industry. Further, CPU is dedicated with ALU, timer/counters, with modular memory to gain the flexibility in size of the program code.
Specially designed to cater the requirements of Industry, sophisticated controls and monitoring system in the shape of HMI.
PLC have developed user friendly programming lanaguages such as Ladder diagram and SFC (Sequence Flow Charts). On the other hand microcontroller language is still textual.
These are major differences in my opinion. Although, they can perform the same tasks that are based on logic.
plc is used for complex network or circuit..the base is digital logic design..its cost alot..but microcontroller is cheap and can be used for small scale control application
