[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/nyWTv.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/nyWTv.png)

First post! Please bear with me...

I am an electrical tech and EE student with no design experience. This is the first circuit I've been asked to design. I have been given the task to take the input from the existing circuit to switch the inputs of the PLC. The PLC has ground switching inputs with the "0" state being 18-30V. I need SW1 to provide a low to the PLC input when closed, and nominally 24V when open.

I ran a SPICE simulation of this circuit, and it appears as if it will work. However, I'd like to know if I am taking the right approach. There will be a total of 60 such circuits on a single PCB.

The darlington array is part of an octal IC so I could get my 24V 'off' state at the PLC. I am using an octal inverting buffer IC so that the input of the existing circuit is not inverted at the PLC. R6 is to pull up the voltage to 5V at the input of the inverter. I am using R2, R3, D2, D3 for input protection based off the information I read here:

<http://www.digikey.com/en/articles/techzone/2012/apr/protecting-inputs-in-digital-electronics>

I believe I was using the [SN74ALS540](http://www.ti.com/product/sn74als540) as the inverter. Is the external input protection necessary here? Since I am doing a board layout of 60 circuits, it would make my life much easier if I could omit it. I chose D1 as a schottky for the low forward voltage, so I am well below the V\_IL of the inverter. 

I appreciate any suggestions/constructive criticism.