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EDWartens UK

Free course · DCS

ABB Ability System 800xA DCS

ABB's DCS in metals, cement, paper and power plants worldwide: what 800xA is, Select I/O and xStream engineering, Control Builder's control diagram editor with function blocks, structured text, SFC and PID, the 800xA training sessions, and the cyber security reference architecture.

See the modules

Free to learn. Verifiable certificate £19 when you pass the final exam (optional, VAT included).

Level
Intermediate
Modules
7
Video
10 hours
Price
Free

Outcome

What you will be able to do

Explain System 800xA and its place, describe Select I/O and xStream engineering, build control diagrams in Control Builder with function blocks, structures, SFC, structured text and PID, follow the 800xA training sessions on structure, operation and engineering, and explain ABB's cyber security reference architecture and Modbus connectivity.

  • Explain a DCS and where 800xA fits against PLC and SCADA
  • Describe Select I/O, xStream engineering and Edgenius
  • Build control diagrams with function blocks, structures, SFC, ST and PID in Control Builder
  • Understand the 800xA workplace: aspects, objects, structures, Plant Explorer
  • Add a loop from Control Builder to an operator graphic
  • Explain the cyber security reference architecture and Modbus connectivity

Software

Compact Control Builder and System 800xA are licensed ABB software with no public trial. Every practice task has a paper route, and the videos show each step on a real system

Hardware

None. Follow by watching and re-drawing.

Syllabus

7 modules

Each module has video lessons, notes and a short quiz. The final exam closes the course.

  1. 1What System 800xA Is8 lessons
  2. 2Select I/O and xStream Engineering3 lessons
  3. 3Control Builder: Control Diagram Editor8 lessons
  4. 4Servers, Workplaces and Plant Explorer3 lessons
  5. 5Engineering a Loop: Graphics, Alarms and History3 lessonsLab
  6. 6Cyber Security and Connectivity2 lessons
  7. 7Final Assessment1 lesson

How it works

How this course works

  1. Watch the video lessonsOne module at a time, at your own pace.
  2. Take the module quizA short quiz at the end of each module shows what stuck.
  3. Keep your notesWrite in My notes beside each module and ask the trainer if you are stuck.
  4. Practise in the labOptionalTry a task from the module in the EDWartens Lab, in your browser.
  5. Sit the final examPass it once you have been through the modules.
  6. Certificate, if you want oneOptionalPaid, and only after you pass. Anyone can check it online.

EDWartens Lab

Practise this in the EDWartens Lab

Run a tank and pump process in the Lab, read the trends and check alarms the way an operator screen would show them.

Works alongside ABB Ability System 800xA DCS. The Lab is process control practice in your browser: no install, no hardware, free to use. Sign in as a learner and it opens with your account.

Open the free lab See the Lab
Process control: Tune a real process loop.

Levels to try with this course

Optional. Skip it whenever you like: it never blocks your progress or your certificate.

Why practise in a lab

Technical work is judged on what you can do: wiring, commissioning, finding a fault. Doing a task yourself teaches more than watching it a second time, and a lab lets you try it safely before you meet real equipment. It does not replace working on real hardware.

  • Practise safely, so a mistake costs nothing.
  • The lab checks your work like a site test, so you know when it is right.
  • Free, in your browser, with nothing to install.

Certificate

An optional certificate when you pass

Learning is free. Pass the final exam and you can have a certificate for £19, including VAT, with a number employers can check online. It records that you completed a free online course; it is not a regulated qualification or a CPD certificate.

  • Your name, the course, its study time and your final exam score
  • A unique certificate number and a QR code to its verification page
  • Issued by Wartens Ltd; add it to your LinkedIn profile in one click
  • Pay now or after you pass: it is issued the moment you pass the final

How the certificate works

Sample certificate for ABB Ability System 800xA DCS

Credits

Who made the lessons

The video lessons belong to their creators. EDWartens wrote the study plan, notes, quizzes and the final exam.

Questions

About this course

Is this a full 800xA engineering course?
It is a foundation: architecture, Control Builder diagrams and recorded training sessions. Deep 800xA engineering needs ABB training on a licensed system.
Is Control Builder free?
No. Compact Control Builder and 800xA are licensed ABB software with no public download, so every practice task can be done on paper while you follow the videos. If your workplace or college has a licence, use it with the soft controller for the control diagram exercises.
Why pair this with the AC500 course?
Both use Control Builder-style engineering, so the AC500 course is a practical warm-up.
Is the course really free?
Yes. Every module, practice task and assessment. You create an account so your progress is saved and the assessments can be marked. The certificate is the only paid item, and only if you want it.
What certificate do I get, and is it a ABB qualification?
An EDWartens Certificate of Completion, issued when you pass the final assessment, with a verification code anyone can check. It is not a ABB credential and is never described as one.
Who made the video lessons?
The creators named in the Credits block at the foot of this page, on their own YouTube channels. EDWartens did not make the videos and the creators are not affiliated with EDWartens. What EDWartens wrote is the study plan, the notes, the practice tasks and the assessments.
How long does the course take?
Plan on about 10 hours in all, including the video lessons, notes and practice tasks. It is self-paced, so you work through the seven modules at your own speed.

The Professional Module is five live days of Siemens PLC, HMI and SCADA with an instructor, then a resume session and a CPD certificate.

See the Professional Module