OEM Allen-Bradley 1336-GM5-A Board for Drive Modernization and Integration

Technical Specifications

Main Features and Advantages

The Allen-Bradley 1336-GM5-A​ delivers significant advantages through seamless DeviceNet integration. A primary feature is its support for the full suite of DeviceNet communication modes, including Polled I/O for deterministic, cyclic data exchange; Change-of-State (COS) for event-driven, bandwidth-efficient updates; and Explicit Messaging for parameter access and configuration. This flexibility allows system designers to optimize network traffic and performance. The module acts as a true network gateway, providing bi-directional mapping of a comprehensive set of drive parameters (both control and feedback) to and from the DeviceNet object model. This means that from a ControlLogix PLC, a programmer can directly read the drive’s output frequency as a REAL data type and write a speed reference with the same ease as accessing a local tag, greatly simplifying control program development.A key advantage is the drastic reduction in control wiring. By installing the 1336-GM5-A, the need for numerous discrete wires for start, stop, forward, reverse, and fault reset, as well as analog wires for speed reference and analog feedback, is eliminated. Only a single, shielded, twisted-pair DeviceNet cable is required to daisy-chain multiple drives and other devices, leading to substantial savings in design time, cable, conduit, and cabinet terminal space. The module provides robust diagnostic capabilities through its status LEDs and detailed fault reporting via the network, enabling rapid troubleshooting from a central location. Its optical isolation protects the drive’s sensitive electronics from noise and faults on the network. Furthermore, the Allen-Bradley 1336-GM5-A​ is designed for straightforward configuration. The node address and baud rate are set via intuitive DIP switches on the board, and once connected, the drive’s parameters can be scanned and configured using industry-standard tools like RSNetWorx for DeviceNet. This combination of connectivity, flexibility, and ease of use makes the 1336-GM5-A​ an invaluable tool for modernizing control strategies and enhancing the intelligence of motor control centers.

Application Field

The Allen-Bradley 1336-GM5-A​ communication board is applied in virtually any industrial facility that utilizes a DeviceNet control network and Allen-Bradley 1336 series AC drives. Its purpose is to enable centralized, networked control and monitoring of motor-driven processes. In automotive manufacturing plants, the 1336-GM5-A​ is used to network drives controlling conveyor systems, robotic transfer lines, paint booth fans, and pump stations, allowing a central PLC to synchronize the entire production process. In material handling and distribution warehouses, it integrates drives for sortation conveyors, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), and palletizers onto a single control network, enabling efficient coordination and real-time performance monitoring.Within the food and beverage industry, drives with the Allen-Bradley 1336-GM5-A​ module control mixers, pumps, fillers, and packaging machines. Network integration allows for recipe-based control where speed profiles for different products can be downloaded from a supervisory system, and production data (like total run time or motor load) can be collected for operational analytics. In water/wastewater treatment, the board networks drives for large centrifugal pumps, aerators, and blowers, enabling pump sequencing, flow control, and remote diagnostics from a central SCADA station. The Allen-Bradley 1336-GM5-A​ is also critical in industries like metals, mining, and plastics, where it facilitates the complex speed and torque coordination required between multiple drives in a process line (e.g., a web handling line or a continuous caster). In retrofit and modernization projects, adding a 1336-GM5-A​ to an existing 1336 drive is a cost-effective strategy to integrate legacy equipment into a new PlantPAx DCS or a modern Logix-based control system without replacing the entire drive, protecting capital investment and minimizing disruption.