Purchase now: Allen Bradley 1747-C13 DH-485 Cable
Purchase now: Atlantechdrives provides you the 1747-C13, a highly specialized and critical network communication cable designed for the Allen Bradley SLC 500 automation family. Measuring 3 meters (10 feet) in length, this cable is factory-terminated with RJ45 connectors on both ends. It is exclusively engineered to carry the proprietary Allen Bradley DH-485 (Data Highway 485) communication protocol. The primary function of the 1747-C13 is to connect an SLC 500 processor (such as the SLC 5/01, 5/02, or the RJ45 port on the 5/03) to a 1747-AIC (Isolated Link Coupler), integrating the PLC into a larger, multi-drop factory network. It is also used to connect older PanelView HMIs to the DH-485 network.
Technical Specifications of the 1747-C13
Industrial networking requires physical resilience that commercial IT cables cannot provide. The 1747-C13 is constructed using high-quality shielded twisted-pair cabling specifically designed to mitigate the electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by VFDs, large motors, and induction heaters on the factory floor.
- Part Number: 1747-C13
- Component Type: Network Communication Cable
- Protocol: DH-485 (Data Highway 485)
- Connectors: RJ45 to RJ45 (8-pin modular)
- Length: 3.0 Meters (10.0 Feet)
- Compatibility: SLC 5/01, 5/02, 5/03 (CH1), 1747-AIC Link Couplers
- Shielding: Industrial grade foil/braid shield
Expert Installation Advice: The Ethernet Destruction Hazard
The biggest and most expensive mistake an engineer can make with the 1747-C13 is assuming it is an Ethernet cable. Expert Tip: Although the 1747-C13 uses standard RJ45 connectors, IT IS NOT AN ETHERNET CABLE. The Allen Bradley DH-485 protocol carries 24V DC power on specific pins to power external devices like the 1747-AIC coupler. If you mistakenly plug the 1747-C13 into a standard Ethernet switch, a laptop’s LAN port, or the Ethernet port of an SLC 5/05, the 24V DC will instantly travel into the low-voltage network interface card (NIC) and permanently destroy the port, frying your laptop or PLC. Always use bright red electrical tape or clear labels to mark DH-485 ports and cables to prevent catastrophic IT mix-ups on the factory floor.
Maintenance and Network Architecture
The DH-485 network is a daisy-chained, token-passing network architecture. When maintaining systems using the 1747-C13, it is critical to ensure that the cables are securely clipped in. Unlike modern Ethernet which is a star topology, if a 1747-C13 cable is unplugged from an AIC coupler in the middle of a daisy chain, the entire network downstream will lose communication. Always route this cable away from high-voltage AC lines. If communication is intermittent, the internal shielding of the cable may have degraded from excessive bending; replacing it with a new 1747-C13 is the fastest troubleshooting step.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I use a standard store-bought Cat5e patch cable instead of the 1747-C13?
A: No. While a standard Cat5e cable will physically fit into the RJ45 jacks, it lacks the proper industrial shielding required for the DH-485 token-passing protocol. Using a commercial patch cable will result in severe network noise, dropped packets, and nodes randomly falling off the network.
Q: Does this cable require terminating resistors?
A: The cable itself does not contain resistors. Terminating resistors for the DH-485 network are typically handled at the end nodes of the network loop, often wired into the terminals of the 1747-AIC link couplers.
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This DH-485 cable is the primary interface for connecting your SLC 5/01 CPU to an HMI or programming port.
