Arduino Opta Lite Micro PLC (Ethernet and USB-C ports)

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

DIN rail

DIN rail is a standard metal mounting rail used inside industrial electrical cabinets. When a product is DIN rail mountable, it can be clipped neatly alongside power supplies, relays and other automation hardware in a panel.

Flash memory

Flash memory is non-volatile memory that retains stored data even when power is removed, and can be erased and rewritten in blocks. It lets data such as firmware, settings or saved records persist across power cycles.

IDE

Short for Integrated Development Environment, a program used to write, run and manage code. It matters because some learners prefer a traditional coding workspace instead of a guided notebook-style lesson.

IoT

Short for Internet of Things, meaning physical devices that connect to networks or the internet to send data or be controlled remotely. It matters if you want projects such as connected sensors, remote controls or classroom data-logging activities.

Modbus RTU

Modbus RTU is a version of the Modbus protocol that runs over serial wiring, commonly RS485. When a product lists Modbus RTU, it can connect to industrial sensors, meters or drives that use serial Modbus rather than Ethernet.

Modbus TCP

Modbus TCP is a version of the Modbus protocol that runs over Ethernet networks. When a product lists Modbus TCP, it can connect to industrial systems that communicate over standard network cabling.

OTA

OTA means over-the-air updating, where a device's firmware is updated wirelessly rather than through a programming cable. This lets firmware be updated or maintained after a device is installed without a physical connection.

RAM

RAM (random-access memory) is fast, temporary memory a device uses for working data while it is running; in its common volatile form, its contents are lost when power is removed. Some devices offer a mode that applies settings to RAM only, which is handy for testing changes temporarily because they are not stored permanently and disappear at power-off.

RS485

RS485 is a robust differential serial communication standard often used in factories, farms and buildings where cables may be long or electrically noisy, and it can link many devices on a single pair of wires. When a product lists RS485, it can communicate with industrial sensors, meters and control equipment over longer distances than typical hobby serial wiring.

USB-C

USB-C is a small, reversible USB connector that can carry power, data and, on some devices, video over a single cable. The same connector can range from charging only to high-speed data, so the functions a given port actually supports vary.