Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Product Model | BCU06-ETH C3 |
| Order Code | 1SAP140100R1170 |
| Manufacturer | ABB |
| Product Type | PLC Central Processing Unit (CPU) |
| Product Family | AC500 (BCU06-ETH series) |
| Processor | 32-bit, 12 μs typical Boolean instruction time |
| User Program Memory | 256 KB Flash (some sources cite 512 KB) |
| Data Memory | 128 KB SRAM with retention |
| Ethernet Interface | 1 × RJ45, 10/100 Mbps, auto-MDIX, Modbus TCP |
| Serial Interfaces | 2 × RS232/RS485 switchable (Modbus RTU / ASCII / CS31) |
| Onboard I/O | 4 DI, 2 DO, 1 AI |
| Local Expansion | Up to 10 S500 I/O modules |
| Fieldbus | FBP (FieldBus Plug) slave interface |
| Storage Expansion | SD card slot (ABB MC502 card), program backup and firmware |
| Programming Standard | IEC 61131-3 (LD, FBD, IL, ST, SFC, CFC) |
| Engineering Software | ABB Automation Builder / PS501 (CODESYS-based) |
| Supply Voltage | 24 VDC (±10%) |
| Protection Rating | IP20 |
| Operating Temperature | +5 °C to +55 °C (typical) |
| Storage Temperature | -40 °C to +70 °C |
| Mounting | DIN rail |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | Approx. 119 × 186 × 135 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 0.45 – 1.2 kg |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete — successor recommended: PM590-ETH |
Main Features and Advantages
Ethernet and serial communications are built in, not bolted on. The BCU06-ETH C3 carries a native 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port supporting Modbus TCP, plus two independently configurable RS232/RS485 interfaces. In a typical mixed-vendor installation, one serial port can communicate with a Modbus RTU variable frequency drive while the other handles an ASCII weight indicator or flow meter — all without external protocol gateways or converters. This integration reduces panel space, wiring complexity, and the number of devices that can fail independently. For an OEM building dozens of identical machines, the elimination of a dedicated communications card and its associated license can materially improve both unit cost and delivery time.
Local diagnostics without a laptop. The integrated LCD display and RUN / DIAG / CFG / VAL keys allow a technician to inspect I/O status, read error codes, and modify basic parameters directly at the cabinet. In distributed installations such as pump stations and remote skids, this local access reduces mean time to diagnosis from hours — accounting for travel and laptop setup — to minutes at the panel. The BCU06-ETH C3 effectively turns the controller into its own first-line diagnostic tool, which is particularly valuable where on-site controls expertise is limited.
SD card program recovery simplifies CPU replacement. The BCU06-ETH C3 supports program storage and restoration via an SD card slot using the ABB MC502 card. When a CPU fails, the replacement procedure reduces to inserting the pre-loaded card into the new module and powering up, rather than locating the correct project file and performing a download from engineering software. For facilities without a resident controls engineer, this capability turns a potentially hour-long recovery into a straightforward hardware swap.
S500 I/O expansion and FBP fieldbus flexibility. The local bus supports up to ten S500 I/O modules, covering digital and analog signals, temperature measurement, high-speed counting, and additional communication. The FBP (FieldBus Plug) interface accepts plug-in bus modules for Profibus-DP, DeviceNet, CANopen, and other fieldbus protocols, allowing the BCU06-ETH C3 to function as a compact master controller in mixed-protocol installations.
IEC 61131-3 compliance shortens the engineering learning curve. Programming in LD, FBD, IL, ST, SFC, and CFC through ABB Automation Builder (formerly PS501) means that engineers already familiar with CODESYS-based environments can be productive immediately. The same development tool covers the full AC500 range, so application code written for the can be migrated or scaled to higher-performance CPUs without a language change.
