The Allen-Bradley 74101-169-84 is a PCB Gate Drive Board with a 460 Volt AC voltage. This module can be found in Allen-Bradley’s spare part catalog, designated with an alternative part number, 1336-BDB-SP45D.  This Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is a 1336-BDB spare part type (Gate Drive PCBs spare part section). It is manufactured as a spare part for adjustable frequency AC drives and can be used exclusively with the 1336 PLUS, PLUS II, FORCE, IMPACT, and REGEN series of Allen Bradley’s adjustable frequency AC drive collection. The 74101-169-84 module fits well with a G frame size and it is rated at 400 Horsepower.

The 74101-169-84 printed circuit board gate driver is a complex block that represents the crossing point between a power switch and a controller of an adjustable frequency AC drive. This block’s purpose is to provide isolation of high voltage power switch circuit and a low voltage controller. It also has the task of current-handling and peak-voltage protection, both predefined to sustain the motor's load requirements. Generally speaking, this 1336-BDB type gate driver consists of a level shifter and an amplifier grouped together in one device.

Today's three-phase motors are more and more driven by adjustable frequency AC drives, which provide premium electronic motor control.  They offer better speed changing control, punctual positioning, flexible torque control, and are all powered up with a great efficiency. For all these tasks, an AC drive needs PCB gate driver, such as the 74101-169-84, to provide the control circuit with the ability to rapidly switch the current flow to the motor's coils on and off. It must perform this task with smallest possible switching time and without conduction period losses in the electronic switch itself.