Description:
The Allen-Bradley 20-HIM-A3 is a Human Interface Module (HIM) — also described as a drive operator interface or full numeric keypad programmer — designed by Rockwell Automation as the standard programming and monitoring device for the PowerFlex Architecture Class AC drive family. Featuring a backlit LCD display paired with a full numeric keypad, the 20-HIM-A3 plugs directly into the drive-mounted DPI port or operates as a hand-held tool, giving engineers and technicians direct parameter access, real-time monitoring and fault diagnostics without a laptop or programming software.
Application Scenarios:
Picture a packaging plant running a mixed fleet of PowerFlex 70 and PowerFlex 700S drives across its conveying, filling and wrapper sections — dozens of drives distributed along the line, each needing periodic parameter adjustment as products and film formats change. Sending a laptop to every drive is impractical on a moving line, and using only the integrated display on each drive means stepping through parameter menus without numeric entry. By equipping the maintenance team with a single portable 20-HIM-A3, the drive-standardization practice becomes simple: the technician unplugs the HIM from one drive, carries it to the next, plugs it into the drive’s DPI port and keys in the new speed, accel time or ramp profile directly using the numeric keypad. This is exactly the role the 20-HIM-A3 was engineered for — turning the drive parameter layer from a laptop-bound task into a quick, portable keypad operation, addressing the classic pain points of slow drive commissioning, inconsistent parameter entry across a fleet and lack of fault visibility at the machine level.
Parameter:
| Main Parameters | Value/Description |
|---|---|
| Product Model | 20-HIM-A3 |
| Manufacturer | Allen-Bradley / Rockwell Automation |
| Product Category | Human Interface Module (HIM) — Full Numeric Keypad with LCD Display |
| Compatible Drives | PowerFlex 70, 700, 700H, 700S, 700L; SMC-Flex via DPI port 5 |
| Display | Backlit LCD, alphanumeric operator interface |
| Keypad Type | Full numeric keypad (0–9 plus programming, navigation and enter keys) |
| Supply Voltage | 12 VDC (sourced from drive DPI port) |
| Supply Current | 140 mA |
| Communication Interface | DPI (Drive Peripheral Interface) serial port |
| Mounting Options | Local (drive-mounted, removable) or hand-held portable |
| Protection Rating | IP20 (NEMA Type 1) |
| Weight | ≈ 0.20 lb (≈ 0.09 kg) |
| Available Series | Series A, Series B (firmware 5.004), Series C |
| Lifecycle Status | Discontinued by Rockwell as of 31 October 2023; still available through authorized surplus and refurbishment channels |
