The ProSoft MVI56-GSC, also cataloged as the MVI56-GEC Generic ASCII Ethernet Communications Interface Module, serves as the primary MVI56 interface module utilized to execute bidirectional raw ASCII data transfers over Ethernet networks across Allen-Bradley ControlLogix platforms.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model | MVI56-GEC |
| Brand | ProSoft Technology |
| Origin | United States |
| Weight | 0.28 kg (0.62 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 4.3 cm x 14.7 cm x 8.9 cm (1.7 in x 5.8 in x 3.5 in) |
| Operating Temp | 0 deg C to 60 deg C (32 deg F to 140 deg F) |
| Power Consumption | Backplane powered, 800 mA @ 5 VDC |
| Backplane Isolation | 500 V optical isolation |
| Operational Shock | 30 g |
| Chassis Placement | Local or Remote rack |
| Ethernet Port | 1 x 10/100 Base-T RJ45 interface |
| Configuration Port | 1 x RS-232 serial configuration port (CFG, RJ45) |
| Baud Rate Range | 110 baud to 115,200 bps |
| Data Transfer Type | Ladder Logic block transfers |
The module interfaces with the ControlLogix processor across the 1756 backplane using scheduled block transfers governed by the controller's asynchronous ladder logic runtime. By isolating raw ASCII TCP/IP encapsulation tasks onto an independent onboard communication processor, the unit preserves the master PLC CPU processing bandwidth.
The 500 V optical isolation protection layer guards internal backplane logic components from field-side electrical transients encountered on the 10/100 Base-T network infrastructure. Serial character streams are buffered locally, preventing data overflow and packet degradation under peak network data rates.
Q: Does the MVI56-GEC module support Remove and Insert Under Power (RIUP) operations? A: Yes. The module electrical interface satisfies standard 1756 chassis bus specifications, allowing hot-swap module replacement while the backplane is energized. Extraction will immediately terminate active Ethernet sockets and halt asynchronous logic data transfers.
Q: Can the RS-232 configuration port (CFG) be used for runtime ASCII communication? A: No. The dedicated RJ45 RS-232 serial port is strictly limited to terminal diagnostics, system configuration setup, and firmware flashing via the ProSoft Configuration Builder software utility.
Q: What is the impact on data packet integrity if the ladder logic scan time is slower than the incoming network data velocity? A: The module contains internal FIFO ring buffers to store incoming ASCII character streams. If the backplane block transfer rate fails to pull data rapidly enough, the local buffer prevents character drops until its capacity is exceeded, at which point an overrun error bit is set in the module status block.
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