ABB FENA-21 Two-Port Ethernet Adapter Module

Two-port Ethernet adapter for ABB drives

FENA-21 is a plug-in Ethernet adapter module for ABB low-voltage drives. One module speaks three industrial Ethernet protocols, Modbus/TCP, EtherNet/IP and PROFINET IO, and it has two RJ-45 ports so the drives on a machine can be daisy-chained instead of each needing a switch port. Its siblings FENA-01 and FENA-11 have a single port.

The user manual (3AUA0000093568, rev. E) lists these compatible drives: ACS355, ACS380, ACSM1, ACS480, ACH580, ACQ580, ACS530, ACS560, ACS580, ACS850, ACS860, ACQ810, ACS880 and ACS880-M04, with a note to check the drive’s release note for some. A PROFIBUS counterpart is the ABB FPBA-01 adapter, and the wider selection is under Industrial Communications.

Technical specifications

Network features and protocol notes

With EtherNet/IP the module acts as a server supporting ODVA AC/DC drive, ABB drives and Transparent profiles, with explicit and implicit messaging, and the FENA-21 supports Device Level Ring. With PROFINET IO it acts as an I/O device supporting PROFIdrive, ABB Drives and Transparent 16-bit and 32-bit profiles, and supports Media Redundancy Protocol. With Modbus/TCP it acts as a server for ABB drives and Transparent profiles, and also supports Modbus over UDP.

Service ports used by the module include 502 for Modbus/TCP, 44818 and 2222 for EtherNet/IP, 34962 to 34964 for PROFINET, 80 for the web server and 24576 (UDP) for ABB’s auto-discovery protocol. Open only those your selected protocol needs. ABB’s manual also describes configuration web pages from which Ethernet services can be enabled or disabled.

Installing and ordering the FENA-21

The module installs in an option slot on the drive control unit, and the package contains the adapter and its manual. Fit it with the drive de-energised and secure it with a Torx TX10 screwdriver, then set the communication parameters in the drive according to its firmware manual. In daisy-chain wiring, the second port X2 connects to the next module, and the chain length is limited to 50 nodes.

ABB’s page for the product states that it remains available for sale while new feature development has ended and only critical updates are provided. For a new design, check whether a current-generation adapter is preferred by your drive firmware before ordering.

Network planning checks

Decide on the protocol first and confirm it with the PLC or SCADA team, because the drive parameters, the controller configuration file and the network design all follow from that choice. Next, sketch the topology. A daisy chain through the X1 and X2 ports saves switch ports and cabling along a line of drives, but if one drive in a simple chain is powered down for maintenance, the drives beyond it may lose communication. Where the process cannot tolerate that, consider a star layout or a ring using DLR with EtherNet/IP or MRP with PROFINET IO, as listed in the table, with switches or controllers that support the same redundancy method.

Plan IP addresses or device names for every drive before site work starts, and record them on the drawings. Check that all cable runs stay within the 100 m segment length, and choose shielded cable where drive power cables run nearby.

Commissioning the FENA-21

With the module fitted and the drive powered, set the fieldbus parameters in the drive as described in its firmware manual, then confirm communication from the controller side. The HOST, MODULE and NETWORK LEDs give a first indication of the module state, and the user manual explains how to read them. Test start, stop, speed reference and status words one drive at a time, and check what the drive does when communication is lost, so that the fault action suits the process.

Disable any Ethernet services that the selected protocol does not need, and keep the drive network separated from office networks by the site’s firewall or segmentation rules. Save the drive parameter set and the controller project once communication is proven.

Installation conditions in Oman and the GCC

The FENA-21 is an IP20 module inside the drive, so its environment is the drive cabinet. In Omani plants, pump stations and utility buildings, cabinet temperatures can climb high in summer, and electronics such as communication modules are sensitive to sustained heat. Keep cabinet cooling and filters in good condition, and avoid routing network cables directly across hot heatsinks or resistors.

Fine dust can work its way into RJ-45 sockets and cause intermittent contact. Use cables with intact latches and strain relief, cap unused ports where practical, and keep cabinet doors closed. In humid coastal sites, condensation on connectors after cool nights is a common source of communication errors, so check that cabinet heating or ventilation prevents moisture from forming.

Maintenance and fault finding

During routine inspections, check that network cables are firmly seated, not kinked and clear of moving parts. When communication faults appear, note which drives are affected and their position in the chain, since this often points to a particular cable, connector or switch. Keep a spare patch cable and a record of each module’s settings, so a replacement can be configured quickly.

Documents and quotation

The linked ABB user manual covers installation, protocol set-up for the three networks, diagnostics and technical data. Seven Star LLC supplies the FENA-21 on request from Muscat; send the drive type and the network protocol with your RFQ.

Confirm before ordering: that your drive and firmware version support FENA-21, the protocol and PLC type, and whether you need the plus-coded module factory-fitted or a loose kit.