Allen-Bradley 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN Industrial Network Interface for 1336 Plus II Systems

Allen-Bradley 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN: Industrial Data Link for Smart Factory Connectivity

The Allen-Bradley 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN is a high-performance industrial network interface module engineered for the 1336 Plus II AC drive series. Designed to bridge the gap between field-level drive control and upper-level automation systems, this unit delivers seamless Ethernet/IP communication across the full industrial data chain — from signal acquisition at the sensor layer through protocol conversion, real-time network transmission, SCADA visualization, and remote diagnostics. In modern smart factory environments where data transparency and system interoperability are non-negotiable, the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN serves as a critical connectivity node that eliminates data silos and enables continuous, bidirectional data flow between the drive and the broader control architecture.

Whether deployed in high-cycle conveyor systems, pump stations, compressor banks, or precision motion control applications, this module ensures that every operational parameter — motor speed, torque reference, fault codes, energy consumption, and drive status — is accessible in real time to any authorized system on the network. Its compatibility with Rockwell Automation’s ControlLogix and CompactLogix PLC platforms, combined with native EtherNet/IP support, makes it a natural fit for facilities already standardized on the Rockwell ecosystem.

Compatibility & Integration Notes

Connected Automation Data Flow

In a fully integrated smart factory deployment, the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN sits at the intersection of the drive layer and the control network, enabling a continuous and structured data flow that spans every tier of the automation hierarchy. At the field level, process sensors — including pressure transmitters, flow meters, and temperature probes — feed real-time signals into the 1336 Plus II drive. The 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN then encapsulates this data into EtherNet/IP packets and transmits it upstream to the control layer.

At the PLC layer, a Rockwell Automation ControlLogix L7x or CompactLogix 5380 controller receives drive status, speed feedback, and fault diagnostics via the EtherNet/IP network. The controller executes closed-loop logic — adjusting speed references, enabling or disabling drive outputs, and triggering alarm routines — all within deterministic scan cycle times. For distributed I/O architectures, Allen-Bradley Point I/O or FLEX I/O remote I/O modules extend the network reach to remote panel locations, with the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN maintaining consistent communication integrity across the segment.

At the supervisory layer, a Rockwell FactoryTalk View SE SCADA system or a third-party HMI platform — such as a Weintek or Siemens TP series panel — subscribes to the drive’s live data tags via the EtherNet/IP network. Operators can monitor motor load, running frequency, output current, and accumulated run hours from a centralized dashboard. Alarm events generated by the 1336 Plus II drive — including overcurrent trips, undervoltage faults, and communication loss — are immediately surfaced on the SCADA display and logged to the historian for trend analysis.

For facilities operating multi-drive systems, the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN supports network topologies that include linear, ring, and star configurations, allowing multiple 1336 Plus II drives to coexist on the same EtherNet/IP segment alongside other network devices such as Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 525 or PowerFlex 755 variable frequency drives, Stratix 5700 managed industrial Ethernet switches, and 1783-ETAP EtherNet/IP tap modules. This architecture ensures that the addition of new drives or control nodes does not disrupt existing network traffic or introduce latency into time-sensitive control loops.

At the edge and enterprise layers, an Allen-Bradley Logix 5000 edge gateway or a third-party industrial IoT gateway aggregates drive data from multiple EtherNet/IP nodes and forwards it to MES or ERP platforms via OPC-UA or MQTT. This closes the loop between the physical production floor and the digital enterprise, enabling energy management, predictive maintenance scheduling, and production KPI reporting — all driven by live data originating from the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN communication interface.

Solving Data Isolation in Industrial Sites

One of the most persistent challenges in legacy industrial environments is the fragmentation of communication protocols across different generations of equipment. Older drives, PLCs, and field devices may rely on proprietary serial protocols — RS-232, RS-485, DeviceNet, or DH+ — that cannot natively communicate with modern EtherNet/IP-based control systems. The result is data isolation: critical drive parameters remain trapped at the field level, invisible to SCADA operators, maintenance engineers, and production managers who need that data to make informed decisions.

The 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN directly addresses this challenge by providing a standardized EtherNet/IP interface for the 1336 Plus II drive family, enabling these drives to participate fully in a modern, unified network architecture. Rather than replacing functional drive hardware prematurely, facilities can extend the operational life of existing 1336 Plus II installations while simultaneously gaining the network visibility and remote access capabilities that modern smart factory operations demand.

Remote diagnostics is another area where the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN delivers measurable value. Maintenance teams can access drive fault logs, parameter histories, and real-time operating data from any networked workstation — eliminating the need for on-site panel access during routine checks or fault investigations. This capability is particularly valuable in hazardous or hard-to-reach installation environments, where physical access to the drive panel is time-consuming or safety-restricted.

For facilities pursuing production line transparency and OEE improvement, the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN enables the continuous collection of drive-level data that feeds into overall equipment effectiveness calculations. By correlating drive run time, fault frequency, and energy consumption with production output data from the MES layer, engineers can identify bottlenecks, optimize maintenance intervals, and reduce unplanned downtime — all without deploying additional hardware or modifying existing drive configurations.

System scalability is built into the EtherNet/IP architecture supported by the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN. As production capacity grows and new drive nodes are added to the network, the existing communication infrastructure scales horizontally without requiring protocol gateways or media converters. This reduces integration complexity and lowers the total cost of network expansion over the facility’s operational lifetime.

Industrial Connectivity FAQ

Q1: What is the communication latency of the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN on an EtherNet/IP network?
The 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN supports cyclic I/O messaging with configurable Requested Packet Intervals (RPI), typically set between 10 ms and 100 ms depending on the application requirements. For most drive monitoring and control applications, an RPI of 20–50 ms provides a balance between network bandwidth utilization and control responsiveness. Time-critical applications should be evaluated against the overall network topology and switch configuration to ensure deterministic performance.

Q2: Is the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN compatible with third-party SCADA and HMI systems?
Yes. Because the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN uses the open EtherNet/IP protocol, it is compatible with any SCADA or HMI platform that supports EtherNet/IP or OPC-DA/UA connectivity. This includes Wonderware InTouch, Ignition by Inductive Automation, Siemens WinCC, and a wide range of panel-mount HMI devices. An OPC server or EtherNet/IP driver is required on the SCADA host to establish the data connection.

Q3: How does the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN handle network interruptions or communication loss?
The 1336 Plus II drive with the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN interface includes configurable communication loss fault behavior. Operators can define whether the drive should coast to stop, ramp to stop, continue at the last commanded speed, or trigger a specific fault response upon detection of a network timeout. This ensures that communication interruptions do not result in uncontrolled process shutdowns or equipment damage.

Q4: What warranty and pre-shipment testing does the 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN include?
Every 1336F-BRF100-AE-EN unit supplied by ZYPLC is covered by a warranty terms confirmed during quotation from the date of shipment. Prior to dispatch, each unit undergoes functional verification including communication interface testing, parameter integrity checks, and network connectivity validation. Units are sourced from verified supply channels and are available from stock for shipment arranged after confirmation. For volume orders or project-specific requirements, contact our technical sales team for lead time confirmation and application support.