Purchase now: Allen-Bradley 1756-A13 ControlLogix Chassis
Purchase now: Atlantechdrives provides you the 1756-A13, a heavy-duty, industrial-grade 13-slot chassis meticulously engineered by Rockwell Automation to serve as the physical and electrical backbone of the world-class ControlLogix 1756 programmable automation controller (PAC) platform. Far beyond being a simple mounting rack, the 1756-A13 houses a highly sophisticated, high-speed multi-layer printed circuit board (the backplane) that facilitates ultra-fast data transfer and regulated power distribution between the main CPU, EtherNet/IP communication bridges, and local I/O modules. The 13-slot form factor is the premier choice for medium-to-large industrial applications that require a significant density of local I/O or multiple network routing modules, providing a massive expansion capability over standard 7 or 10-slot racks. Constructed from rugged extruded aluminum, it delivers phenomenal structural rigidity and superior electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, making it the bedrock of reliable automation in automotive assembly lines, heavy steel mills, and sprawling pharmaceutical processing facilities.
Technical Specifications of the 1756-A13
The 1756-A13 features exactly 13 usable module slots, numbered from 0 to 12. The system power supply mounts on an independent extended rail on the far-left side of the chassis, ensuring it does not consume one of your valuable communication or I/O slots.
- Part Number: 1756-A13
- Platform: ControlLogix 1756 System
- Number of Available Slots: 13
- Mounting Type: Back-panel surface mount (horizontal orientation strictly required)
- Backplane Current Capacity (1.2V DC): 1.5 A
- Backplane Current Capacity (3.3V DC): 4 A
- Backplane Current Capacity (5.1V DC): 15 A
- Backplane Current Capacity (24V DC): 2.8 A
Expert Tips: Backplane Power Budgeting for 13 Slots
A catastrophic engineering mistake frequently made during the design phase of a 13-slot automation panel is failing to calculate the total backplane power consumption. Expert Tip: When you populate 13 slots with high-performance modules—such as a 1756-L85E processor, multiple 1756-EN3TR fiber network bridges, and power-hungry isolated analog output cards—they draw heavily from the 5.1V and 24V backplane traces. A standard power supply like the 1756-PB72 may not provide enough wattage to run a fully loaded 13-slot chassis. If you exceed the power supply’s amperage limit, it will instantly enter a thermal shutdown, crashing the entire PLC. Always utilize Rockwell’s Integrated Architecture Builder (IAB) software prior to purchasing to digitally build your rack and verify if you need to upgrade to a high-capacity power supply, such as the 1756-PA75 or 1756-PB75, to safely drive the 1756-A13.
Installation Advice: Thermal Convection and Clearance
Rockwell Automation strictly dictates that the 1756-A13 chassis must be mounted horizontally. The entire ControlLogix architecture relies entirely on passive thermal convection—heat naturally rising—to cool the delicate microprocessors inside the modules. Because the 13-slot chassis houses so many active heat-generating components side-by-side, maintaining proper cabinet clearance is mandatory. You must ensure a minimum of 6 inches (15.2 cm) of free air space above and below the chassis inside the control enclosure to allow the heat chimney effect to function. Furthermore, if your system leaves any of the 13 slots empty, you must absolutely install 1756-N2 blank slot filler modules to prevent the cooling air from escaping prematurely and to protect the gold backplane pins from conductive factory dust.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I mount the 1756-A13 inside a standard 19-inch IT server rack?
A: While the 13-slot chassis is wide, it is not inherently designed with 19-inch rack-mounting ears. It is engineered for back-panel surface mounting inside industrial NEMA-rated electrical enclosures. If 19-inch rack mounting is required, specialized third-party adapter brackets must be utilized.
Q: Does it matter which slot I put the processor (CPU) in?
A: From a hardware and backplane data perspective, no. ControlLogix processors and I/O modules can be placed in any of the 13 slots. However, standard engineering best practice dictates placing the main controller in Slot 0 (the far left slot) to standardize panel design across the factory.
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The 13-slot 1756-A13 rack provides extensive expansion capacity, often paired with the 1756-EN2T Ethernet bridge for remote I/O control.
