Programming Siemens LOGO! 230RC with LOGO! Soft Comfort

Overview

The Siemens LOGO! 230RC is a logic module (compact PLC) in the LOGO! family designed for 230 V AC supply with relay outputs. It is widely used for small automation tasks such as lighting control, gate operation, pumping stations, and machine interlocks where a full SIMATIC S7 controller would be over-specified. Despite its modest size, the 230RC is programmed with the same engineering tool used for the entire LOGO! generation: LOGO! Soft Comfort.

LOGO! Soft Comfort is a Windows-based graphical editor that supports function block diagram (FBD), ladder diagram (LAD), and user-defined function (UDF) programming. It also performs on-line monitoring, simulation, and firmware update of the connected LOGO! base module. This guide walks through acquiring the software, configuring the PC-to-LOGO! link, creating a first project, and downloading it to the 230RC. It also documents the licensing model, the free demo restriction, and the upgrade path that protects your investment across releases.

Prerequisites

Before starting, verify that the following hardware and software prerequisites are available.

The 230RC does not include Ethernet. Connection to the PC is exclusively through the dedicated LOGO! PC cable that plugs into the cover-side socket on the module. Confirm the cable variant against your PC's available port before installation.

Acquiring LOGO! Soft Comfort

LOGO! Soft Comfort is commercial software. There is no perpetual free version that can communicate with a real LOGO! module. Three acquisition paths exist.

1. Purchase a full license. Order from Siemens directly (SIOS Web Shop) or from authorised distributors such as RS Components, Farnell, or Digi-Key. The order is delivered as a download package plus an electronic license key bound to a CoL (Certificate of License) file, or as a legacy DVD edition for older releases.
2. Upgrade from a previous version. If you own any older full license (for example V6 or V7), Siemens provides the latest release at no additional charge through the built-in update center. This is the most cost-effective path for users already holding an older license.
3. Use the demo only for evaluation. The free demo lets engineers explore the editor, build circuits, run the integrated on-screen simulation, and learn the function library. It is also useful as a viewer for project archives received from integrators.

To start an upgrade from an older full license, open the existing LOGO! Soft Comfort installation, choose Help → Update Center, and follow the wizard. The tool authenticates the existing license and unlocks the latest installer. Verify the address bar of any browser window opened by the update tool reads exactly https://www.siemens.com/logo-update before entering credentials; earlier releases sometimes pointed to a legacy subdomain.

Installing and Activating the Software

Installation follows the standard Siemens automation-software pattern and does not require a separate license server.

1. Run the setup executable LOGO!SoftComfort_Setup_Vx.x.exe as Administrator.
2. Accept the license terms and select the destination folder (default: C:\Program Files\Siemens\LOGO!SoftComfort).
3. Choose Typical unless you specifically need the FBD-only or LAD-only workspace; the typical install ships both editors and the simulation.
4. Restart the PC if the installer prompts for it. USB driver components for the LOGO! PC cable are installed automatically on Windows 10 / 11.
5. Launch LOGO! Soft Comfort, then choose Help → License Handling → Activate License. Point to the .CoL certificate file delivered with the order or generated by the upgrade wizard.

Identifying the Connected LOGO! 230RC

Connect the LOGO! PC cable to the host PC first, then attach the SUB-D or RJ-style connector to the socket on the front cover of the 230RC. Apply 230 V AC to the module so its display powers up. In LOGO! Soft Comfort, select Tools → Select Hardware → LOGO! 230RC (or use PC → LOGO! in the toolbar). The software reads the order number, firmware version, and program memory occupancy from the connected device.

If the device list shows No LOGO! found, double-check the cable seating and verify Windows Device Manager lists the LOGO! cable under Ports (COM & LPT) as Siemens LOGO! USB Serial Port (COMx). Record the COM number; it is needed if you choose manual port selection in older Soft Comfort versions.

Creating Your First Project

A LOGO! Soft Comfort project is stored as a single .lsc (LOGO! Soft Comfort) or .lgo archive file. The default workspace splits into a diagram pane (FBD/LAD editor), the block catalog on the right, and the status bar.

1. Choose File → New. The dialog asks for the hardware target; select LOGO! 230RC.
2. Drag constants and function blocks from the catalog into the diagram pane. Connectors (inputs I1…I8, markers M, outputs Q1…Q4) appear as terminals on the left and right rails.
3. Add inputs by selecting Co (Connector) and labelling with the physical terminal (for example I1 for digital input 1 on the 230RC base).
4. Add outputs by terminating branches with Q1…Q4 blocks. These map directly to the relay contacts on the module.
5. Insert logic functions (AND, OR, XOR, NOT, NAND, timers, counters, analogue threshold switches, PI controllers, latching relays) by drag-and-drop.
6. Save the project locally as MyFirstProject.lsc.

The diagram pane operates in either FBD or LAD view. To toggle, use View → LAD/FBD. The 230RC executes all logic in FBD internally, but the editor preserves your LAD representation for documentation.

Editing the Program in FBD

Function block diagram is the canonical programming language for the LOGO!. Each block exposes two to four pins on its left and right edges. A pin accepts either a connector (input/output), a constant, or a reference to another block's output.

Typical block fields and their meaning:

To edit a block parameter, double-click the block and enter the value in its parameter dialog. Time values use the format HH:MM:SS.s; counter values are integers; analogue thresholds are engineering units matching the scaled input. Right-click → Block Properties → Simulation lets you preset parameters for the on-screen simulation run.

Compiling and Simulating

Before downloading to the 230RC, run a simulation pass to catch wiring errors and timing mistakes. Choose Tools → Simulation (or press F5). The simulation panel appears below the diagram and exposes all input connectors as toggle switches. Click I1 to assert digital input 1; observe the resulting outputs and timer values update in real time.

Resolve any simulation warnings (yellow triangles) or errors (red) before attempting the download. Common simulation issues include unconnected block pins, parameter out-of-range, and circular references.

Downloading the Program to the LOGO! 230RC

With the cable attached, the 230RC powered, and the correct hardware selected, choose PC → LOGO! (or Transfer → PC to LOGO! in older versions). The transfer dialog shows source path, target device, and a banner reminding you that the existing program on the LOGO! will be overwritten. Confirm to begin the transfer.

1. The status bar shows Connecting… while Soft Comfort negotiates with the module.
2. The transfer progress bar reflects program block count. A typical 50-block program completes in under 10 seconds.
3. On completion, the LOGO! display shows PC → LOGO! OK and the new program is active.
4. Place the LOGO! in RUN by selecting Start on the front panel or via Soft Comfort's LOGO! → Run command.

If the LOGO! rejects the program because the password is set, Soft Comfort prompts for the password before transfer. If the module is in STOP, the new logic loads but does not execute until you switch it to RUN.

Going On-line and Monitoring

After download, click LOGO! → Online (or PC <-> LOGO!). The diagram pane overlays the live state of every block: green connectors indicate a logic 1, red a logic 0, and timer/counter blocks display their current value. This is the primary debugging view and mirrors what the LOGO! is executing in real time.

Use the on-line view to:

• Verify that physical inputs (wired to the 230RC terminals) toggle as expected.
• Watch timer countdown behaviour during commissioning.
• Force a specific output via right-click → Force for a one-shot test, then release.

Verification and Acceptance Test

Before handing the panel over, run an acceptance test that exercises every input and output path documented in the wiring diagram.

1. Energise the panel and confirm the LOGO! display shows the time/date (or the user-defined message) with no ERROR or PROGRAM banner.
2. Force each digital input I1…I8 with a jumper or test switch and observe the corresponding connector turning green in the on-line view.
3. Force each output Q1…Q4 by writing a momentary 1 in the diagram, then verify the relay contact closes (listen for the click, measure voltage on the load side).
4. Exercise every timer, counter, and threshold trigger with realistic input events. Compare elapsed times against design values within ±5%.
5. Power-cycle the 230RC. The program must survive the interruption and resume in RUN.
6. Document the firmware version, project file name, and any password set on the LOGO! in the project as-built folder.

Troubleshooting Matrix

Keeping the Software Current

Siemens periodically issues maintenance releases of LOGO! Soft Comfort that add new function blocks, support newer LOGO! base modules (such as LOGO! 8 and the LOGO! CMR variants), and fix bugs. With an active license you can update at no cost.

1. Launch the installed LOGO! Soft Comfort.
2. Open Help → Update Center.
3. Sign in with your Siemens Support account if prompted.
4. Confirm the URL bar displays https://www.siemens.com/logo-update before entering credentials.
5. Select the latest release and follow the wizard.

If the update center fails (typically because the existing license predates V6), Siemens still hosts prior generation installers in the support database. Search for your base module order number on the Siemens Industry Online Support portal to retrieve the matching engineering documentation, including the manual referenced in this guide.

Additional Learning Resources

Beyond the printed manual, Siemens offers web-based self-paced training that covers the editor, every standard function block, and several practical application examples. The free WBT (web-based training) is available through SITRAIN and is the fastest way to become productive with the LOGO! family. Application examples (door interlock, staircase timer, tank level, traffic light) ship as ready-to-open .lsc files and are an excellent starting template for first projects.

For the canonical reference document, consult the official SIMATIC LOGO! manual published on the Siemens Industry Online Support portal. It covers installation, wiring, the complete function block catalogue, fault diagnosis, and technical specifications. Always cross-check the manual edition against your hardware generation (0BA5, 0BA6, 0BA7, 0BA8) since pinout and feature sets differ between generations.