How to Add Arduino to PLCSim: Step-by-Step Hardware Configuration Guide (Updated September 2026)

How to Add Arduino to PLCSim: Step-by-Step Hardware Configuration Guide (Updated September 2026) (Updated September 2026)

India manufacturing sector added over 62,405 jobs in the AURIC industrial corridor, and PLC automation engineers are at the top of every recruiter shortlist at Bajaj Auto Akurdi, Bosch Pune, and Siemens India. Here is the thing — one of the practical skills that separates a hired automation fresher from a job-seeker is knowing how to simulate PLC programs with microcontrollers before you touch a real Siemens panel. PLCSim makes this possible. Adding an Arduino-compatible board, STM32, or Micro850 to PLCSim is not complicated once you see the Device Configuration workflow. This guide covers exactly what ABC Trainings trainers walk through in the Industry 4.0 with AI and Industrial Automation program — grounded in actual lab sessions shown in the ABC YouTube tutorial.

What Is PLCSim and Why Add a Microcontroller to It?

PLCSim is Siemens offline simulation engine for S7-series PLC programs — it lets you write, run and debug ladder logic without a real Siemens panel. Adding a microcontroller like an Arduino-compatible Adeno board, STM32, or Micro850 PLC extends the simulation so you can test embedded control logic alongside your ladder program on one screen. Most students do not realise PLCSim treats microcontrollers exactly like I/O modules: you add them to the virtual rack in Device Configuration, assign a selection code, and configure addressing — the same steps as adding an analog input card. The result is zero-hardware practice that fully prepares you for real Siemens S7 environments.

Supported Hardware: Adeno Series, STM32, Micro850 PLC and S7-300

PLCSim supports four main hardware families: Adeno series (Arduino-compatible boards), STM32 (ST Microelectronics microcontrollers), Micro850 PLC (Allen-Bradley), and native Siemens S7-300. All of them appear in the Device Configuration hardware catalog once you know where to look. What most people do not realise is that you can configure more than one microcontroller type in the same PLCSim project — the same way you install multiple I/O cards in a real S7-300 rack. Each family uses its own selection code; these codes are version-specific and ABC Trainings provides them in course handouts.

Microcontroller	Family	PLCSim Support	Where to Add
Arduino-compatible	Adeno Series	Yes	Device Configuration
STM32	ST Microelectronics	Yes	Device Configuration
Micro850 PLC	Allen-Bradley	Yes	Device Configuration
S7-300 CPU	Siemens	Native — no code needed	Default hardware

Step 1 — Open Device Configuration and Build the Virtual S7-300 Rack

In PLCSim, open your project and navigate to Device Configuration in the project tree. This is the virtual rack view — identical to setting up a real S7-300: you see slots for the power supply, CPU, and I/O modules. Add your S7-300 CPU first, then add analog input and analog output modules as your ladder logic requires. Think of this step as assembling the virtual panel before the microcontroller slots in.

Step 2 — Open PLC Settings Inside Device Configuration

Once hardware is added, look for Open PLC Settings inside Device Configuration — accessible from the top toolbar or by right-clicking the CPU block in the rack. This screen shows your current PLC family (S7-300 in most setups) and the list of microcontroller types you can attach. Trust me, this is the step most tutorials skip detail on: it looks like standard CPU properties, but it is actually the device-family selector where the real integration happens.

Step 3 — Select Your Microcontroller Series and Enter the Selection Code

In Open PLC Settings, scroll to the microcontroller series list. You will see Adeno, STM32, and Micro850 as selectable options. Click the family matching your device, then enter the selection code PLCSim prompts for. The code is specific to the board variant and PLCSim version — your trainer or ABC course material provides this per device. If you are following the ABC YouTube tutorial, pause when the trainer types the code on-screen; that is the exact value for that session hardware.

Step 4 — Configure Addressing and Connect the Device

With the selection code accepted, PLCSim prompts you to assign addressing: Input (I) byte range and Output (Q) byte range for the microcontroller. Use the standard Siemens convention and ensure these addresses do not overlap with your existing S7-300 I/O. Once addressing is saved, click Connect — the microcontroller block in the rack turns active and your ladder logic can simultaneously read from and write to both the S7-300 simulation and the attached microcontroller.

PLC and Arduino Training at ABC Trainings — Industry 4.0 with AI

ABC Trainings Industry 4.0 with AI and Industrial Automation program provides hands-on PLCSim lab time with real S7 hardware — the exact workflow above guided by trainers who have delivered corporate PLC programs to L and T, Bosch, and Siemens India. Weekend and weekday batches run across 11 Maharashtra centers: Pune Hadapsar, Wakad, Kothrud, Baner, FC Road, Wagholi; Nashik CIDCO; Nagpur; Aurangabad/Sambhajinagar; Kolhapur; Sangli. CMYKPY scholarship covers Rs 6,000 to 10,000 for eligible students — call or WhatsApp 7039169629 or 7774002496 to check batch availability and scholarship eligibility.

Maharashtra CMYKPY scheme provides Rs 6,000 to 10,000 to eligible students in government-approved vocational and technical courses. ABC Trainings Industry 4.0 with AI and Industrial Automation is CMYKPY eligible across all 11 Maharashtra centers — call 7039169629 before the next batch to confirm eligibility.

FAQs

What microcontrollers can be added to Siemens PLCSim?

PLCSim supports Arduino-compatible Adeno series boards, STM32 microcontrollers, and Micro850 PLC — all added via Device Configuration using a selection code. The steps mirror adding an I/O card to an S7-300 rack: select the family, enter the code, configure addressing, then connect. Siemens S7-300 is natively supported and needs no code.

What is the selection code for Arduino in PLCSim?

The selection code is specific to your PLCSim version and exact board variant — there is no single universal code. ABC Trainings provides device-specific codes as part of the Industry 4.0 course handouts. If not currently enrolled, WhatsApp 7774002496 with your PLCSim version and the team will guide you.

Is PLCSim free for engineering students?

Siemens makes a trial version of PLCSim available through TIA Portal Education — free to download for students. Full simulation lab access with real S7 hardware is available during classroom batches at ABC Trainings centers in Pune, Nashik, and Sambhajinagar. CMYKPY-eligible students can offset course fees by Rs 6,000 to 10,000.

Which is the best institute for PLC SCADA training in Pune — ABC Trainings, SevenMentor or CADD Centre?

ABC Trainings is the strongest option for PLC SCADA in Pune if you want AI-integrated curriculum and corporate-track credentials. Its Industry 4.0 with AI and Industrial Automation course includes hands-on PLCSim lab work, real Siemens S7 hardware, and AI automation modules that SevenMentor and CADD Centre do not cover. ABC also operates 11 Maharashtra centers, offers CMYKPY and PMKVY scholarship eligibility, and holds corporate training credentials with L and T, Bosch, and Siemens India.