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Bit Instructions

Bit instructions are the core of Ladder Logic. They examine or control a single BOOL value — a contact on the input side, a coil on the output side.

Available Bit Instructions

InstructionSymbolPurpose
XIC

dataBit

Passes power along the rung when the referenced bit is 1. Equivalent to a normally-open contact.
XIO

dataBit

/
Passes power along the rung when the referenced bit is 0. Equivalent to a normally-closed contact and the closest thing to a NOT in ladder logic.
OTE

dataBit

Sets a bit to 1 while the rung is true and back to 0 when the rung goes false. The standard output coil.
OTL

dataBit

L
Latches a bit to 1 and leaves it on, even after the rung goes false. Pair with OTU to clear.
OTU

dataBit

U
Unlatches a bit back to 0 while the rung is true. Pair with OTL.
ONS

storageBit

[ONS]
Makes a rung true for exactly one scan on each rising edge of its input. Requires a dedicated storage bit per instance.

Contacts vs Coils

  • Contacts (XIC, XIO) go on the left side of a rung. They examine a bit and decide whether power continues along the rung.
  • Coils (OTE, OTL, OTU) go on the right side of a rung. They act on a bit based on whether power reached them.

A rung always flows: contacts → (optional more contacts) → coil.

Looking for NOT?

Ladder Logic has no dedicated NOT instruction. To negate a bit, use XIO instead of XIC. Both examine the same tag; XIO simply inverts the result.

XIO(Fault)OTE(Ready)

Ready energizes when Fault = 0.

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