3HAC031683-001 is the standard 10-metre FlexPendant connection cable for the ABB IRC5 robot system — the SxTPU3 cable that links the DSQC 679 FlexPendant (3HAC028357-001) to the IRC5 robot controller.
With a total length of 10,138 mm and a weight of 1.08 kg, this cable carries all communication, safety, and power signals between the teach pendant and the controller. It features a metal terminal with a 15-pin network interface on the controller side and an 11-pin FPC interface on the pendant side, with a distinctive red insulating jacket for easy identification in industrial environments.
The teach pendant cable is statistically the first IRC5 component to fail in active robot cells — ahead of electronic boards — due to constant flexing, being stepped on, and connector wear. Atlantech Drives supplies the 3HAC031683-001 with an estimated lead time of 1–2 weeks. Request your quote for worldwide shipping and 12-month warranty.
What Is the 3HAC031683-001?
The 3HAC031683-001 is the ABB-designated SxTPU3 connection cable for the IRC5 FlexPendant ecosystem. It is a purpose-built industrial cable — not a generic network cable — engineered specifically for the signal and power requirements of the DSQC 679 teach pendant communication protocol.
The cable carries multiple signal types simultaneously: real-time control data between the FlexPendant and the IRC5 main computer, the safety circuit signals from the three-position enabling device and emergency stop button, and the pendant power supply. A degraded cable can corrupt any of these signals selectively, producing faults that appear to originate in the pendant or the controller when the cable itself is the cause.
Understanding this is critical for diagnostics: intermittent emergency stop errors, erratic touchscreen behaviour, or communication dropouts during robot movement are the classic symptoms of a failing 3HAC031683-001 cable — particularly at the connector entry points where flexing stress is highest.
Key Technical Specifications
- Part Number: 3HAC031683-001
- ABB Designation: SxTPU3 Cable 10 m
- Function: FlexPendant connection cable for ABB IRC5 controllers
- Length: 10,138 mm (approximately 10 metres)
- Weight: 1.08 kg
- Jacket Colour: Red (industrial identification standard)
- Controller-side Connector: Metal terminal, 15-pin network interface
- Pendant-side Connector: 11-pin FPC interface
- Compatible Pendant: DSQC 679 (3HAC028357-001) and all IRC5 FlexPendants
- Compatible Controllers: IRC5, IRC5C (Compact)
- Country of Origin: China (CN)
- Minimum Order Quantity: 1 unit
3HAC031683-001 vs. Related ABB FlexPendant Cables — Series Comparison
| Part Number | ABB Designation | Length | Weight | Compatible Pendant | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3HAC031683-001 | SxTPU3 Cable 10m | 10,138 mm | 1.08 kg | DSQC 679 / IRC5 | Standard IRC5 installation |
| 3HAC031683-002 | SxTPU3 Cable 15m | ~15,000 mm | — | DSQC 679 / IRC5 | Extended reach installations |
| 3HAC047724-001 | FlexPendant Retractable Cable | Variable | — | IRC5 / OmniCore | Installations requiring retraction |
Data sourced from official ABB manufacturer documentation. Contact Atlantech Drives to verify current availability of specific models.
Common Configuration Mistakes to Avoid
The most frequent installation error with the 3HAC031683-001 is routing the cable through areas with forklift or AGV traffic without protective conduit. The red jacket is oil-resistant and industrially rated, but it is not crush-resistant. A single forklift pass over an unprotected pendant cable is sufficient to break internal conductors while leaving the jacket visually intact — the result is intermittent faults that are extremely difficult to diagnose without cable substitution.
Never coil excess cable tightly around a fixed point or secure it with cable ties at sharp angles. The minimum bend radius of the 3HAC031683-001 is critical at the connector entry points: forcing the cable into tight bends directly behind either connector fatigues the internal conductors at their most vulnerable point and is the primary cause of premature cable failure in robot cells with limited panel clearance.
When connecting the pendant cable to the IRC5 controller, align the connector keying carefully before inserting — the same precaution applies as for the DSQC 679 FlexPendant connector itself. Forcing a misaligned connector bends the pins inside the controller port, causing damage that requires replacement of the controller’s pendant interface board rather than just the cable.
3HAC031683-001 as a Replacement — What to Check Before Ordering
The 3HAC031683-001 is the direct replacement for any worn, damaged, or electrically degraded FlexPendant cable in a standard IRC5 or IRC5C Compact installation. Before ordering, confirm the cable length required for your installation — the 10-metre 3HAC031683-001 covers most standard IRC5 single-cabinet installations, but dual-cabinet or remotely mounted controller configurations may require the 15-metre variant (3HAC031683-002).
To confirm the cable is the source of a fault rather than the DSQC 679 pendant or the controller: substitute a known-good cable and test. If the fault disappears immediately, the 3HAC031683-001 is confirmed as the failed component. No RobotWare configuration changes are required after cable replacement — the IRC5 system does not track cable identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can the 3HAC031683-001 cable cause intermittent emergency stop errors even if it looks undamaged externally?
A: Yes — this is one of the most common misdiagnoses in IRC5 maintenance. Internal conductor fractures from repeated flexing produce intermittent open-circuit conditions in the safety signal path. The red jacket may show no visible damage while the internal wires are partially broken. If the IRC5 generates unexplained emergency stop events that correlate with pendant cable movement or robot motion, substitute the 3HAC031683-001 with a known-good cable as the first diagnostic step before investigating the pendant or controller.
Q: Is the 3HAC031683-001 compatible with the ABB OmniCore controller?
A: No. The OmniCore controller uses a different FlexPendant interface and a different cable standard. The 3HAC031683-001 is exclusively compatible with the IRC5 and IRC5C controller families. Verify the controller generation before ordering to avoid compatibility issues.
Q: What is the difference between the 3HAC031683-001 and the 3HAC031683-002?
A: Both are SxTPU3 FlexPendant cables for the same IRC5 and DSQC 679 ecosystem. The only difference is length: the 3HAC031683-001 is 10 metres and the 3HAC031683-002 is 15 metres. Choose based on the physical distance between the IRC5 controller and the pendant operator position in your installation.
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