Description

The 20-COMM-D​ is an original Allen-Bradley (Rockwell Automation) PowerFlex DeviceNet communication adapter. It is an embedded DPI (Drive Peripheral Interface)-to-DeviceNet bridge that plugs directly into the communication slot of PowerFlex 7-Class adjustable frequency drives, converting the drive’s internal DPI data stream into a standard DeviceNet fieldbus protocol.As a mature, field-proven accessory within the PowerFlex architecture, the 20-COMM-D​ lets controls engineers monitor drive health, read/write parameters, and execute real-time control commands over a DeviceNet network — eliminating hard-wired I/O and dramatically simplifying integration. With three front-panel status LEDs, rotary node-address and data-rate switches, and support for both explicit and implicit messaging, the 20-COMM-D​ is the definitive DeviceNet connectivity solution for PowerFlex 70, 700, 700H, 700S, 700L, 750-series and PowerFlex DC drives.

Application Scenarios

In an automotive assembly plant in the U.S. Midwest, a fleet of 42 PowerFlex 70 and PowerFlex 753 drives on conveyor, lift-gate and indexing-table applications had originally been hard-wired to a PLC-5 controller using hundreds of discrete I/O points. Every drive fault meant a manual inspection of terminal strips and relay logic. The plant’s automation team standardized on the 20-COMM-D​ for all drives equipped with a DPI slot. After commissioning, every drive appeared as a DeviceNet node with full parameter visibility from the ControlLogix platform. The maintenance team could now read a drive’s fault history, adjust acceleration profiles, and even restart a stalled motor — all from the SCADA screen. Within the first year, drive-related troubleshooting time dropped by an estimated 65%, and the plant eliminated more than 380 discrete wiring points across the fleet.Stories like this are repeated in water/wastewater pump stations, material handling systems, food & beverage packaging lines, and brownfield modernization projects worldwide. Wherever a 20-COMM-D​ is inserted into a PowerFlex drive, the operation gains a digital window into motor performance that simply did not exist before.

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