WIRELESS COMMUNICATION ADAPTER FOR A PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER AND PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME

A wireless communication adapter is for a programmable logic controller including a local wired communication port, such as an expansion port. The wireless communication adapter includes a first wireless communication port structured to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of remote wireless sensors and a plurality of remote wireless output devices. A second wired communication port is structured to communicate with the expansion port of the programmable logic controller. A processor cooperates with the first wireless communication port and the second wired communication port. The processor, the first wireless communication port and the second wired communication port are structured to communicate a plurality of inputs from the remote wireless sensors to the expansion port of the programmable logic controller and a plurality of outputs from the expansion port of the programmable logic controller to the remote wireless output devices.