Q: How do I connect my ANC-100e with Kepware KepserverEX HMI on Ethernet to PLC-5 and SLC 5/04s on Allen-Bradley Data Highway Plus?

A: The ANC-100e can easily connect your Kepserver on Ethernet to communicate with all nodes on your Allen-Bradley DH+ Network including multiple PLC-5s and SLC 5/04s.

Please note that you don’t require Rslogix500 for the ANC100E to work with Kepserver. There is no limitation from the Ethernet side on number of nodes connected and number of PLC-5s and SLC 5/04 nodes on DH+. Please note that communications may slow pending on amount of communications required.

All message instructions (read/write) must come from Ethernet side and be sent to the DH+ nodes.

Here is a quick step by step list of setup details. The full application include KEPServerEX screen shots for easier understanding of ANC-100e setup. https://automation-networks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ANC120e-ANC100e-KEPWare-Ethernet-IP-to-DH-app-note-2-1.pdf

1. ANC-120e Driver is installed (Only if using ANC-120e, USB to DH+ PLC Programming Cable – 1784-U2DHP alternative)
2. Network adapter is correctly configured to access ANC-120e or ANC-100e
3. ANC-120e is connected to the computer and DH+ network or ANC-100e is connected to the same Ethernet network or directly to your computer, and to the DH+ network.
4. Open “KEPServerEX”
5. Right Click on the empty space on the left side of the window to create a new channel
6. 3.Name the new channel as you prefer (Channel2 in this example) and click “Next”From the “Device driver” dropdown list select “Allen-Bradley ControlLogix Ethernet” and click “Next”
7. From the “Network Adapter:” dropdown list select the ANC-120e or the Network adapter connected to the same Ethernet network than ANC-100e and click “Next”Use the default settings for “Write Optimizations” options and click “Next”
8. Use the default settings for “Non- Normalized Float Handling” and click “Next”
9. Click “Next
10. Review the “Summary” and click “Finish
11. Click on the new Channel to select it and then click on “Click to add a device”
12. Under “Device Name”, enter a name meaningful for you and click “Next”
13. 12From the “Device Model:” dropdown list, select “DH+ Gateway: SLC 5/04” and click “Next”
14. Under “Device ID”, enter the following path: adapter>, 1, 1. A. Target_DH+_Node_number Please notice that there are “,” and .” in the path When you are finished with the path, click “Next”Use default values for “Scan Mode” and click “Next”
15. Use defaults values for “Timing” and click “Next”
16. Use defaults values for “Auto-Demotion” and click “Next”
17. 16Use default values for “Database Creation” and click “Next“
18. Use default values for “ENI DF1/DH+/CN Gtwy Communications Parameters” and click “Next“
19. Use default values for “SLC Slot Configuration” and click “Next”
20. Read the “Summary” and click “Finish”
21. Click on the recently created device under our channel to select it and then click on “Click to add a static tag”
22. Enter a meaningful name for the tag in the “Name:” field
23. Enter a known address of your PLC in the “Address:” field (N7:0 for our example)Select the corresponding “Data type:” from the dropdown list and click “OK”
24. With this, you can test the connection to your PLC on DH+ using the Quick OPC Client
25. In our example, N7:0 is known to hold the value 1616 Use Tools -> OPC Quick Client
26. Find your tag in the list of items and confirm that you get the correct value.

Don’t hesitate to contactus@automation-networks.com to review your technical details and give you the best advice on how to setup your application.

Automation Networks

8300 FM 1960 West, Suite 450

Houston TX 77070 Tel (832) 998-8359 / Toll-Free (866) 217-6942

Email: contactus@automation-networks.com https://automation-networks.com

Q: What is the significant difference between Automation Networks ANC-100e and Prosoft AN-X2-AB-DHRIO Ethernet/IP to DH+ Converter?

A: Price:  The ANC-100e list price is $1,495 USD vs the Prosoft AN-X2-AB-DHRIO which is almost double the cost.

The ANC-100e has many of the same Ethernet to DH+ features of the AN-X2-AB-DHRIO excluding AB RIO functionalty.

The ANC-100e is much easier to setup and provides these significant features:

*Pocket-sized convenience.

*High performance, Industrial Rated Ethernet DH+ Converter.  

*Ease of Configuration via Web Interface

*DH+ Auto Polarity Detection

*DH+ Auto Baud Rate Detection.

The ANC-100e provides all these AN-X2-AB-DHRIO published features too:

*This operating mode acts as a bridge between an EtherNet/IP and a Data Highway Plus network.

*Programming terminals, and/or processors on an EtherNet/IP network can access legacy processors on a DH+ network

*Download to a PLC5 or SLC through RSLinx

*Configures through web browser

*Supports all DH+ baud rates (57.6, 115.2, and 230.4 K baud)

*Support for DH+ to EtherNet/IP PanelViews upgrades on PLC5 or SLC networks

ANC-100e Video review:

Here is the ANC-100e 2018 theautomationblog.com 20 minute video review showing the simplicity of setting up the ANC-100e for Ethernet to DH+ communications.

https://theautomationblog.com/data-highway-plus-to-ethernet/

All Automation Networks ANC Converters offer a 30 day trial, no restocking charge with lifetime warranty.

In 2023, the ANC-100e is readily available for overnight shipping in large volumes if required.