Application Scenarios:A municipal water treatment plant operates several aging pump stations controlled by Allen-Bradley MicroLogix 1200 PLCs, which only have serial (RS-232/DF1) ports. The engineering team needs to integrate real-time pump status and flow data into a centralized SCADA system running over an EtherNet/IP plant network. Installing the 1769-NET-ENI at each station provides an elegant solution: the module connects directly to the MicroLogix serial port, translates the DF1 protocol to EtherNet/IP, and transmits the data over standard CAT5e cable. This allows operators to monitor and program the legacy PLCs remotely from the control room, eliminating the need for costly controller replacements and extending the lifecycle of the existing assets by over a decade.
Parameter:
| Main Parameters | Value/Description |
|---|---|
| Product Model | 1769-NET-ENI |
| Manufacturer | Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley) |
| Product Category | Communication Module / Protocol Gateway |
| Ethernet Port | 1 x RJ45, 10/100 Mbps, TCP/IP, EtherNet/IP |
| Serial Port | 1 x RS-232, DF1 Full/Half Duplex Protocol |
| Primary Function | DF1 Serial to EtherNet/IP Protocol Conversion |
| Power Supply | 24V DC (via Compact I/O bus or external) |
| Data Table Mapping | Yes (predefined data exchange between networks) |
| Configuration | Web Browser (HTTP) or BOOTP/DHCP Utility |
| Operating Temperature | 0 to 60 °C (32 to 140 °F) |
| Installation | DIN Rail or Panel Mount (Compact I/O form factor) |
| Compatible Controllers | MicroLogix 1000/1100/1200/1500, SLC 5/03/04/05 |
Technical Principles and Innovative Values:
- Innovation Point 1: Legacy System Lifecycle Extension. The 1769-NET-ENI employs a dual-stack protocol conversion architecture. Instead of simply tunneling serial data, it actively maps the DF1 protocol (used by legacy MicroLogix and SLC PLCs) to standard EtherNet/IP explicit messaging. This allows older controllers that lack native Ethernet ports to behave as modern network nodes, enabling integration with modern HMIs (like PanelView Plus) and upper-level SCADA systems without changing the existing PLC program logic.
- Innovation Point 2: Transparent Data Table Gateway. A key technical feature is its ability to map specific PLC data table files (e.g., N7:0 to N7:9) to pre-defined network addresses. This “Data Table” functionality acts as a configurable mailbox, allowing Ethernet devices to read and write specific PLC data blocks efficiently without requiring complex driver development on the host system, significantly simplifying integration efforts.
- Innovation Point 3: Tool-Free Web-Based Configuration. Unlike modules requiring dedicated software licenses, the 1769-NET-ENI features an embedded web server. Engineers can access its configuration page via any standard web browser by simply entering the module’s IP address. This eliminates the learning curve associated with proprietary configuration tools and allows for quick field setup and IP address management using utilities like BOOTP or DHCP.
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