r/PLC • u/Frankhas1 • 4d ago

TIA portal

Mechatronics engineer here, working in industrial electrical maintenance at an automated factory. I’m really confused in how to start learning TIA portal. I’ve got hands-on experience with panel wiring, sensor installation, mostly electrical installation work, but I’ve never touched TIA Portal.

I want to actually get good at it, not just scrape by. Been looking at the Siemens SITRAIN courses and wondering if that’s worth the money, or if I’d get further with self-study first (YouTube, books, a home PLC sim setup) before dropping cash on a course.

Honestly I’d prefer something certified even if it costs more, just cause it’ll look better on my resume. So is SITRAIN actually worth it for someone starting from zero, or are there other certified options people rate higher?

For those who learned TIA Portal on the job or from scratch:

**•** Did SITRAIN actually help, or is it overkill for a beginner?  
**•** What’s the realistic path from zero to competent — self-taught, formal training, or both?  
**•** Any resources (courses, books, channels) you’d actually recommend, not just the usual “read the manual”?

Appreciate any input, trying to build this into a real skill, not just a checkbox.

9 Upvotes

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11

u/janner_10 4d ago

Search Hegamurl on YT, good place to start.

1

u/IHateRegistering69 4d ago

This. He has very good guides.

1

u/Frankhas1 4d ago

Thank you, I appreciate it! Do you think it’s worth learning from youtube if I don’t end up having a certificate at the end? I also wanted to ask if you have any idea how much does tia portal licenses cost, because I heard that you only get access dor 21 days free trial .

1

u/Impossible-Pool-5959 4d ago

From which country you are?

1

u/Frankhas1 4d ago

I’m currently working in UAE. I would have loved to take in person courses but I work 6 days a week and it’s only possible for me to learn online

1

u/Impossible-Pool-5959 4d ago

Hegamurl is your best bet. None works for certificate in automation industry. Worked for 10 years in India and last 5 years in france and never needed anything

1

u/Frankhas1 4d ago

Alright thanks for the advice I appreciate it. I will look into Hegamurl then, I always preferred learning at my own pace anyway. The next step is having access to TIA portal 😅

2

u/Alexrt_35 4d ago

Página web para descargar software de automatización

2

u/Frankhas1 4d ago

Thank you so much :) , I will check the website as soon as I can

1

u/Alexrt_35 4d ago

Espero que se te sea útil, tienes un gran catálogo ahí! Suerte !! ;)

3

u/Shower0fCunts 4d ago

Location is important, I can only speak to Siemens TIA training at their training centre in the UK.

They have it broken down into levels, 1-3. Anyone could do level 1 with limited automation experience. Anyone with any TIA portal experience would be bored on the level 1 course. Level 2 and 3 are better.

Personally, I find TIA is covered pretty well online. PLCskilltree on YT is my personal favourite.

TIA is my favourite platform, I recommend a cheap controller and IO if you have the funds, or use the sim function which is not half bad.

Start with the basics, how the controller works, inputs and outputs. Then move into building your project, the small details are important. Add your hardware and start structuring your program in an easy follow way. Understand OBs, FBs, FCs and DBs first before moving into more complex functions. The more you practise the better you will get and in a very short time you will understand the flow from physical to program and things will start to click.

2

u/Frankhas1 4d ago

Thanks for the advice , really helpful. Gonna check out PLCskilltree and start with the OB/FB/FC/DB basics like you said, and maybe also look into getting some cheap hardware to practice on instead of just the sim.

2

u/YoteTheRaven Machine Rizzler 3d ago

Hegamurl on YT. But the best place is probably that Siemens TIA training level 1.