SLC 504 to Ethernet

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Thread Starter

Hassan Ajami

We have an DCS system that can communicate with PLCs via ethernet links.

The PLCs installed are SLC 504s which communicate via DH+ but not ethernet. Is there any card/module that will allow communication with the SLCs via ethernet?
 
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Pedro Miguel

I Have the same trouble but Ehernet have many protocols, there are expensive cards in the market, the other option is use the SLC505 with a port Ethernet built-in, but the protocol is AB Protocol.

My solution is to use the Serial port in order to use a programmable gateway to AB Ethernet that solution takes time but is very inexpensive (hundred dollars) compared to expensive cards (Thousand dollars).

With the experience in programming the serial/ethernet gateway devices you could integrate any device in your plant with the minimum cost.

Regards,

Pedro Miguel
 
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Gerald Beaudoin

There is an ENI module that you can hang on a SLC to enable EtherNet capabilities. Check with the AB rep... they can send you the blurb sheet on it or check out the Rockwell website.

Gerald Beaudoin
 
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Danny Jameson

Absolutely,

Ruggedcom makes a product that has either 4 - RS232 or RS485 ports, as well as a fully capable ethernet switch built in. You can even optionally have a modem built in for redundant back-up communications. This unit would allow you to connect up to 4 PLCs to Ethernet. For more information... visit...

http://www.ruggedcom.com/products.html#RS400
 
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Alan Hartwell

You didn't specify what Ethernet protocol you required. ProSoft Technology (http://www.psft.com) makes a couple of in-rack modules for the SLC. The MVI46-DFNT handles EtherNet/IP Client/Server communications. The MVI46-MNET handles Modbus TCP/IP communications.

In addition you might look into Allen-Bradley's 1761-NET-ENI ethernet interface. It bridges ethernet to the serial port of the SLC processor.
 
If the serial port is open, the 1761-NET-ENI will meet your needs. It is an Ethernet to DF1 conversion.

-mjv
 
Go to Prolinx gateways. They have a module and a stand-alone device. I suggest the stand-alone device. Use DF1 or DH+.
 
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Lynn at Alist

Our DigiOneIA-RP can easiy map the older CSP protocol to DF1 for the the SLC5/04's serial port/channel 0. Most vendors call this AB/Ethernet (which doesn't really exist). We also support COM port redirection.

So in RSLinx you'd either select:
1) DF1 Serial Devices to the Digi's virtual comm port
2) or 'Ethernet Devices' (not 'Ethernet/IP Devices')

In either case, the icon for your SLC should show up along with the IP address in the Digi. Web page is here:
http://www.digi.com/products/externaldeviceservers/digioneiarealport.jsp

Just keep in mind that RSLogix saves the "driver" within the PLC program, so if you downloaded your program last by RSLinx direct to the computer's COM1 with DF1, then the FIRST thing you must do after accessing the Digi+SLC5/04 is to do an upload and save. This changes the comm path to AB_ETH-Local (or whatever you called it).

Of course, there is also Rockwell's ENI module you can find at http://www.ab.com. It uses PCCC encapsulated in Ethernet/IP, and cannot appear as a virtual COM port.

By the way, CompactLogix users, RSLinx will happily use the virtual COM port function to access a DigiOneIA-RP direct by Ethernet to a Compact or ControlLogix DF1 port. ENI series A cannot do this.

best regards
- LynnL, www.digi.com
 
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Call your local AB distributor. there are several ways to do this, but you have to make sure it is compatable with your host computer. easiest solution is to just replace them with 5/05s, and if there is just 1 or 2, that might end up being cheapest.

you can also get a contrologix chassis with an ethernet card and a dh+ card in it that will allow communications, however as far as I know, this requires RSLinx on the other end, something that your host may not have.

Bob Peterson
 
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I know that AB offers their NET_ENI module which we connect to the DF1 port of the 504 for use with an OPC server from kepware. If Kepware is doing it on ethernet I'm sure you should be able to do it if the techical information is available.
 
H
Thanks for all the replies.

I should have provided more details in the first post.

The ethernet protocol should be the older CSP (AB Protocol). The Prosoft card only does the newer EIP so it won't work, I'm not sure what the AB 1761 card does.

We can't switch to 505s since the 504s are already there and programmed (18 of them). Would be too expensive to swap all of them out.
 
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Lynn at Alist

The DigiOneIA-RealPort happily maps CSP (ie: older Ethernet on TCP port 2222) to DF1. It also supports newer EIP, but to be honest the older CSP is more efficent for simple PCCC style comms. It is an external serial/Enet module - but your message sounds like you are expecting a SLC rack module.

What Master/Client software are you running that you are limited to the older CSP protocol? Or do you have older SLC5/05 & PLC5E that haven't had firmware updates?

best regards - LynnL www.digi.com, Snr Prin Engineer http://www.digi.com/products/externaldeviceservers/digioneiarealport.jsp for email address see: http://www.iatips.com/contact.html
 
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I should have provided more details in the first post.

The ethernet protocol should be the older CSP (AB Protocol). The Prosoft card only does the newer EIP so it won't work, I'm not sure what the AB 1761 card does.

We can't switch to 505s since the 504s are already there and programmed (18 of them). Would be too expensive to swap all of them out. Maybe your best bet si to buy a contrologix xhassis, but an enet and a dhrio card in it. that way you can bridge from the ethernet line to the dh+ line, assumming your host supports such a configuration. otherwise you may need to add a 5/05 and rack to the mix and use the 5/05, enet, and dhrio card to collect data from the other plcs and let the host talk just to the 5/05.

a lot depends on just what your host computer supports. some dcs systems do not support more complex arrangements.

Bob Peterson
 
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