ABB AC500

Scalable and versatile, the ABB AC500 products are available in safety, high-performance, and compact-eCo versions. These are designed to support industrial automation at various levels, including basic tasks and complex motion control, even in harsh, demanding industrial environments.

At PLCS-Automation, we offer a comprehensive inventory of ABB AC500 products for industrial automation.

Product Features and Capabilities

The ABB AC500 products offer the following features:

• Modularity and Scalability: Offers various CPU performance classes and can be tailored to small, medium, and high-end applications.
• Extensive Connectivity and Easy Integration: Supports a wide range of industrial communication protocols, including OPC UA, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus, CANopen, and IEC 61850.
• Condition Monitoring: Includes modules that offer continuous condition monitoring of assets, enable predictive maintenance, and reduce downtime.
• High Availability (Redundancy): Supports high availability setups for critical operations with redundant CPUs and communication, for continuous operation and minimised system failure risk.
• Cybersecurity: Protects from cyber threats with built-in security features, such as access control, encrypted communication, and user rights management.
• Hot-Swappable I/O Modules: Offers hot-swaps to replace modules while the system is running, for maintenance without stopping the entire operation.
• Integrated Functional Safety: Certified up to SIL 3/PL e (AC500-S) for implementing complex safety applications that protect people, machinery, and processes.
• Extreme Environment Resistance: Engineered for reliable operation in harsh conditions (AC500-XC), like extreme temperatures, high humidity, vibration, and corrosive gases.

ABB AC500 and Other Products Available

The most popular ABB AC500 series products that we offer include:

• ABB AC500 PLCs: Available in both standard, compact (eCo), and safety (AC500-S) variants, this highly scalable PLC platform supports a wide range of automation tasks.
• ABB AC500-XC PLCs: Designed for harsh or extreme industrial conditions, these offer reliable operations in a wide temperature range of -40 °C and +70°C, and in the presence of humidity, dust, corrosive gases, high altitudes, and vibrations.
• ABB AC500-S PLCs: High-performance, safety-certified PLCs designed to handle complex tasks while protecting people and equipment.
• ABB Bus Terminal Units: Designed to offer simplified wiring, hot-swaps, and fast replacement that reduces downtime and improves device reliability.
• ABB Softwares and Licenses: Includes Automation Builder, MTCP Modbus, Solar Tracker Software, Water Library, Motion Control Library, and others for comprehensive industrial automation.
• ABB Condition Monitoring Module: Offers early-stage problem detection, real-time data analysis, and proactive maintenance for connected devices like motors, drives, and electrical systems.
• ABB Digital and Analog I/O Module: Based on their design, these can handle analog signals, digital signals, or both for integrating field devices to the control systems.
• ABB I/O Terminal Unit: Makes the automation setup more scalable by serving as the interface between I/O modules and expansion modules.
• ABB Encoder and PWM Module: Offers precise motion control and enables high-performance automation.
• ABB Communication Module: Supports a wide range of industrial communication protocols and allows the ABB AC500 PLC CPUs to connect to various networks and devices.
• ABB Machine Controller Kit: Designed for high-performance automation, this is a pre-packaged bundle of hardware and software components meant for the AC500 PLC platform.

Applications and Industries

The top industrial applications of the ABB AC500 products are:

• Water and Wastewater Treatment: Energy-efficient operation and optimised pump control for water supply and treatment systems.
• Renewable Energy: Control and safety for wind turbines, solar plants, and hydrogen stations for renewable energy generation.
• Process Automation: Safe and streamlined monitoring and control for oil and gas, power generation, chemicals, steel, and other sectors.
• Building Automation: Central control and integration for HVAC, lighting, and other building functions.
• Infrastructure: Efficient automation and monitoring for tunnels, transportation systems, and data centers.
• Machine Automation: Precise control for machinery in packaging, textiles, and other high-speed manufacturing.
• Material Handling: Automation solutions for conveyors, cranes, and other machinery in warehouses and distribution centers.

Browse Our Collection of ABB AC500 Products

Ready to implement reliable and efficient industrial automation? Check out the ABB AC500 products that align with your industrial requirements and architecture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Programming Languages Does the AC500 Support?

The ABB AC500 supports all programming languages defined by the IEC 61131-3 standard. This includes Ladder Logic, Structured Text, Continuous Function Charts, Sequential Function Charts, and Instruction List.

What Are the Communication Protocols Supported by the ABB AC500 Products?

The AC500 devices offer comprehensive communication options through plug-in modules and integrated interfaces. These support industry-standard protocols like OPC UA, MQTT, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, CANopen, and Profibus.

Is It Possible to test the PLC program to Check Its Suitability Without the Actual Hardware?

The Automation Builder suite of ABB AC500 offers a “Virtual Commissioning Platform” add-on application. This allows testing and simulation of software programs using virtual devices, which are independent of the physical hardware.

How Does the ABB AC500 Handle High Availability or Redundancy?

The AC500 High Availability system features “hot-standby” redundancy. This offers redundant CPUs and communication that are always running and continuously synchronising data to enable automatic, very fast switch-over in case of a primary CPU failure.