Hi all,

This is my first post. Thanks in advance for helping me out.

I am a user of both PLC (Ladder diagram) and PIC (PIC Basic PRO) using Keyence, IDEC PLC 24VDC and PIC16F877A. I am working on a machine process display project that monitors the process of a machine and displays the current process and errors using an LCD display. I plan to use PIC16F877A to monitor the inputs and outputs of my PLC, process the signals and display the current process at the LCD display.

By doing that, I need to tap the 24VDC signals from PLC into PIC 5VDC. The problem is how can I convert 24VDC signal into 5VDC ? I am researching on optocouplers and zener diodes. Is there any simple and effective way of doing that? Any ideas are much appreciated.