Allen-Bradley 20-HIM-A6 PowerFlex Enhanced HIM Keypad with LCD

A full-keypad HIM for PowerFlex 7-Class drives

The Allen-Bradley 20-HIM-A6 is the enhanced NEMA Type 1 human interface module for PowerFlex 7-Class drives. It has an LCD screen and a full numeric keypad so parameters can be configured, monitored and named without a computer.

It is normally installed in the HIM bezel of the drive, and its remote-mount sibling for harsher locations is the 20-HIM-C6S, which has a NEMA Type 4X/12 rating.

Technical specifications

Features and compatible drives

Compared with the basic 20-HIM-A3 and 20-HIM-A5, the A6 adds integrated navigation, a changed menu structure, custom names for drives and peripherals, dynamic soft keys, customisable process screens and a flashing LCD for faults and alarms.

The manual lists PowerFlex 753, 755, 755TL, 755TR and 755TM products, as well as PowerFlex 70, 700, 700H, 700S, 700L, 700AFE, Digital DC and 7000 drives and SMC Flex and SMC-50 controllers. It does not list the PowerFlex 520-series drives, so check the drive before ordering.

Reading the catalog number

20-HIM is the PowerFlex HIM family. The manual lists 20-HIM-A6 as the NEMA Type 1 HIM and 20-HIM-C6S as the remote-mount NEMA Type 4X/12 HIM, and describes both as the enhanced pair. The basic HIMs it compares them with are the 20-HIM-A3, A5, C3S and C5S.

The HIM draws 140 mA at 12V DC from the host drive and communicates over DPI at 125 or 500 kbps. The manual also describes a diagnostic item list and an event queue stored in the HIM, which help service staff review faults, and it warns that machine motion can occur when the HIM is used to start, stop or jog a drive.

If a HIM will not be installed straight away, the manual advises storing it in an area where it is not exposed to a corrosive atmosphere.

Why plants keep a 20-HIM-A6 on hand

A drive without a working keypad can still run, but diagnosing it becomes slow. When a PowerFlex 700 or 755 trips at night, a technician with a HIM can read the fault code, check the fault queue, look at output current and DC bus voltage and change a parameter in minutes, without hunting for a laptop, software licence and the right cable. For this reason many maintenance teams keep at least one spare HIM per site, and the A6 is a common choice because its full numeric keypad makes parameter entry quick.

Typical tasks performed with the HIM

• Initial start-up: entering motor nameplate data, speed references and acceleration and deceleration times.
• Monitoring: displaying speed, current, voltage and custom process values on configurable screens.
• Fault handling: reading active faults and alarms, which the flashing LCD highlights, and resetting after the cause has been fixed.
• Naming: assigning meaningful names to drives and peripherals so that operators know which pump or fan they are looking at.
• Parameter copy: depending on drive and firmware, uploading and downloading parameter sets between drives of the same type.

Installing and connecting the module

The 20-HIM-A6 communicates over the Drive Peripheral Interface (DPI) and takes its power, 140 mA at 12 V DC, from the host drive, so no separate supply is needed. In the standard arrangement it sits in the bezel of the drive cover. For mounting on a cabinet door, Rockwell offers remote-mount kits and cables; where the door faces washdown, dust or outdoor exposure, the NEMA Type 4X/12 20-HIM-C6S is the more appropriate part.

Handling and firmware

• Remove and fit the HIM according to the drive manual; check whether the drive allows hot removal without a fault.
• Keep HIM firmware compatible with the drive families on site; Rockwell publishes firmware updates and release notes.
• Store spares in their packaging, within the stated storage temperature of -40 to 85 °C, and away from moisture.

Considerations for Oman and the GCC

PowerFlex 7-Class drives are installed in many oil and gas, water, mining and manufacturing facilities across the region, and some of these drives have been in service for many years. The HIM is the part most exposed to handling, sunlight through panel windows and dust. Its operating range of 0 to 50 °C means a HIM fitted on a drive in an uncooled outdoor kiosk can be pushed beyond its limit in summer; keep drives in conditioned rooms or shaded, ventilated enclosures.

Information for your request

• Catalog number 20-HIM-A6, or 20-HIM-C6S for remote door mounting.
• Drive models and series on which it will be used.
• Any remote-mount kit or cable length needed.
• Quantity and delivery location.

Size, environment and documents

The module is 116 mm high, 70 mm wide and 16 mm deep and weighs 91 g. Operating temperature is 0 to 50 °C. It supports seven languages as shipped, and field firmware updates can add others. Do not install it where the atmosphere contains corrosive gas or dust.

The 20HIM-UM001 user manual is the source of these data. For a quotation send the 20-HIM-A6 reference, the drive model and the quantity. Confirm the exact catalog number before ordering. See AC Drives and PowerFlex 755 AC drive for related items.