Application Scenarios
In a food and beverage plant, a production line was experiencing frequent downtime due to a lack of local visibility into drive fault codes on a critical conveyor’s PowerFlex 755. Operators had to connect a laptop to troubleshoot, delaying recovery and increasing labour costs. The plant installed the Allen‑Bradley 20-HIM-A6 directly on the drive enclosure. The 20-HIM-A6’s intuitive, full‑numeric keypad allowed operators to read fault descriptions in plain text on the flashing LCD screen, reset the drive locally, and monitor custom drive parameters like motor current and torque—all without a computer. This reduced mean time to repair (MTTR) for drive faults by over 60%. For facilities managing large fleets of PowerFlex drives, the 20-HIM-A6 addresses the critical pain point of operator‑friendly, rapid local access to drive status and control, empowering floor staff to resolve issues swiftly and maintain production continuity.
Parameters
| Main Parameters | Value/Description |
|---|---|
| Product Model | 20-HIM-A6 |
| Manufacturer | Allen‑Bradley / Rockwell Automation |
| Product Category | Human Interface Module (HIM) / Communication Module |
| Display Type | Enhanced LCD with backlight, flashing screen for fault/alarm indication |
| Keypad Type | Full numeric keypad with integrated navigation keys |
| Communication Protocol | Drive Peripheral Interface (DPI) — data rate 125 / 500 Kbps |
| Power Supply | 12 VDC (powered by host drive) |
| Current Consumption | 140 mA |
| Protection Rating | NEMA Type 1 (indoor use, local mounting) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 to +50 °C (32 to 122 °F) |
| Storage Temperature | –40 to +85 °C (–40 to 185 °F) |
| Shock Resistance | 30 G, 11 ms pulse |
| Vibration Resistance | 2.5 G @ 5 Hz – 2 kHz |
Technical Principles and Innovative Values
Innovation Point 1: Full‑Numeric Keypad with Integrated Navigation for Superior Usability
The 20-HIM-A6 improves significantly over basic HIMs by featuring a full numeric keypad for direct parameter entry, combined with intuitive navigation keys. This design allows engineers to program drive parameters using either the “Individual Screen Entry Method” or the faster “Direct Numeric Entry Method,” dramatically speeding up commissioning and maintenance procedures compared to models relying solely on scrolling.
Innovation Point 2: Enhanced LCD with Flashing Screen for Instant Fault Awareness
The 20-HIM-A6 incorporates a highly readable LCD screen that can flash to provide immediate visual indication of a drive fault or alarm condition. This proactive alerting mechanism ensures that operators can detect and respond to abnormal conditions the moment they occur, even when they are not actively monitoring the screen, thereby reducing the risk of extended downtime or equipment damage.
Innovation Point 3: Extensive Compatibility Across the PowerFlex 7‑Class Ecosystem
The is designed for broad backward and forward compatibility. It provides full functionality with the latest PowerFlex 753 and 755 AC drives and is backward compatible (with limited functionality) with all PowerFlex 7‑Class drives, including the 70, 700, 7000 series, SMC Flex, and SMC‑50 soft starters. This means a facility can standardise on a single for programming and troubleshooting a diverse fleet of legacy and new Allen‑Bradley drives, simplifying spare parts management and operator training.
Innovation Point 4: Field Upgradeable Firmware via 1203‑USB Converter
The firmware can be upgraded in the field by using a 1203‑USB or 1203‑SSS converter with the DriveExplorer, DriveExecutive, or ControlFLASH utility. This capability ensures the can be updated to incorporate the latest features and compatibility improvements (e.g., FRN v1.006 required for certain SMC‑50 configurations) without requiring replacement, protecting the capital investment over the long term.