Allen Bradley 1784-PCMK Type II Communication Card

Configured for multi-protocol serial communication in industrial computing and PLC platforms, the Allen Bradley 1784-PCMK (1784-PCMK Communication Card) provides direct physical and electrical execution of Data Highway Plus (DH+), DH485, and Remote I/O network connectivity.

Hardware Specifications

Profinet / EtherNet/IP Deterministic Networks

The 1784-PCMK module facilitates physical layer connectivity between host computing devices and legacy Allen Bradley PLC-5 or SLC network architectures. Backplane bus communication velocity is dictated by the PCMCIA bus interface and the specific protocol timing requirements of the selected network. Deterministic performance is maintained through hardware-level timing control managed by the card's internal processor. Firmware flash compatibility is required to ensure alignment with the driver versions installed on the host operating system. Users must manage I/O density scaling based on the network load constraints associated with the DH+ or Remote I/O protocol limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the 1784-PCMK support hot-insertion into a PCMCIA slot?

A: While the PCMCIA standard allows for hot-insertion, the card is electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitive. Always ensure the host device and card are properly grounded before insertion to prevent damage to the interface circuitry.

Q: Which cables are required to interface the card with a DH+ or Remote I/O network?

A: The card requires the 1784-PCM2/B or 1784-PCM4/B interface cables. These cables provide the necessary electrical impedance matching and connector transition from the card's proprietary interface to the standard industrial network trunks.

Field Installation Guidelines

1. ESD Precautions: Utilize a grounded wrist strap when handling the card. Avoid touching the connector pins or the circuit board components directly.
2. Installation: Insert the card into an available Type II PCMCIA slot on the host device. Ensure the card is fully seated to guarantee connection of all data bus pins.
3. Cable Attachment: Secure the appropriate 1784-PCM interface cable to the card. Ensure the connector locking mechanism is engaged to prevent accidental disconnection.
4. Driver Configuration: Verify that the host system recognizes the card and that the correct communication drivers are initialized. Configure the software port settings to match the target network protocol (DH+, DH485, or Remote I/O).
5. Environment: Ensure the installation environment meets Pollution Degree 2 and Overvoltage Category II requirements to prevent premature hardware degradation.