The 1336 Plus II: A Legacy Drive That Still Delivers in Modern Automation

The 1336 Plus II is Allen-Bradley’s flagship Adjustable Frequency AC Drive. It has made a lasting impact in industrial automation. It is available in power ratings from 0.37 kW or 0.5 HP to 448 kW or 600 HP, catering to a wide variety of speed control requirements. Even though it is a legacy drive, it continues to deliver exceptional performance per modern automation systems’ standards.

Versatility Across Industries

Given its comprehensive range of features, the 1336 Plus II is suitable for all industries. It can integrate with other Allen-Bradley products, such as SMC and SMP power, the 1305 drive, 1336 IMPACT, and 1336 FORCE field-oriented control drives. This extensive commonality helps with system design, component integration, and operator training.

Protective Features

The 1336 Plus II has a range of protective features to safeguard and optimize the operation. These features include protection for undervoltage, overvoltage, drive overcurrent, overtemperature, external signal issues, drive output short, ground fault, encoder loss, six drive alarms, and a fault reset input. These features maximize the drive’s reliability and continuously monitor for potential issues.

Real-time Preventive Maintenance and Diagnostics

The 1336 Plus II reports the fault and status conditions via the Human Interface Module (HIM) or the SCANport Communications Port, depending on the drive’s configuration. The drive begins to look for the potential fault from the moment it’s powered up and alerts the operators early through plain-language diagnostic messages. This allows personnel to take corrective action before a fault occurs.

For preventive maintenance in real time, the drive output current and control conditions can be selectively monitored. Alarms are set for different conditions, such as current limits, bus voltage fluctuations, motor overloads, or drive overloads. These alarms are triggered before anything escalates to fault levels. The drive also has fault reset inputs and multiple alarm features.

Operational Features

There are advanced operational features such as the sensorless vector control, selectable V/Hz mode, and multilingual selection in the 1336 Plus II. The drive also includes special functions like Auto Economizer, Process PI Controller, and traverse functions. Programmable features such as Dual Accel/Decel Profiles, Three Skip Frequencies, DC Injection Braking, Dynamic Braking, Slip Compensation, Negative Slip Compensation, S Curve Accel/Decel Profile, Line Loss Restart Mode, Proactive Current Limit, Last Four Event Fault Memory, Flying Start, and Seven Preset Speeds are also available.

These features not only contribute to a better operational efficiency but also allow for significant energy savings in applications where motor load varies over time. The Auto Economizer, for example, reduces energy consumption by adjusting the output voltage based on the motor’s current draw in low-load situations.

Packaging and Design

The 1336 Plus II has a compact, space-saving design that saves expensive panel space. It features a planer construction that eliminates internal cables and connectors for better reliability. The drive’s laminar bus design reduces internal inductance, minimizing snubber losses and improving the IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) performance.

Moreover, thermal dissipation management prevents hotspots. The drive complies with the NEMA and European standards, meaning its design is acceptable globally. The drive is available in (NEMA Type 4 & 12) configurations, with a “heat sink through the back” design.

Advanced Electrical and Communication Features

The 1336 Plus II features third-generation IGBTs, which have reduced switching and conduction losses. They also contribute to quieter motor operation, and can be used on complete lines from 0.37 or 0.5 HP to 448 kW or 600 HP. The drive has multiple sensors for dynamic current control, which helps produce exceptional torque for sensorless vector control. Other than that, there is proactive current limit control, which reduces trips. Isolated Power and Logic removes noise for a more stable operation. A DC cooling fan in various ratings eliminates the need for a transformer and voltage tapping.  The internal logic supply draws directly from the DC bus. Hence, there is no need for separate control power wiring. This enhances ride-through capability.

The drive can start motors with low inductance. It is C-UL listed, which means it meets safety standards for the U.S. and Canada. It also complies with international standards, such as EN (European Norms), IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), VDE (German Electrical Standards), and other global standards.

The drive’s design accommodates onboard communications for all ratings. The communication options include RS232/422/485 (DFI Protocol—DH485 Protocol—Customer Specific Protocol), DeviceNet (DeviceNet to SCANport module), Flex I/O (Flex I/O to SCANport module), SLC (SLC to SCANport module), and Remote I/O (single-drop remote I/O to Allen-Bradley PLCs and SLC 500, supporting full block transfer and link mode discrete transfer).

Sensorless Vector Motor Control

The 1336 Plus II employs sensorless vector control, which has superior low-speed torque and acceleration performance. It has a 120:1 constant torque speed range and can deliver up to 250% breakaway/acceleration torque. Precise programming based on the actual motor nameplate can further enhance performance, torque, and speed regulation under varying loads.

Process PI Control

The Process PL control handles simple process control tasks by adjusting the drive’s output based on feedback. This feature is ideal for applications that require constant adjustments to maintain a setpoint, such as pumps or fans. There are proportional and integral gain settings for smooth and precise motor control.

Advanced Protection Features

The drive has features that protect against common operational issues, such as motor overloads and power interruptions. Motor  protection provides separate overload protection. The drive has the ability to ride through short power interruptions, which ensures that there is minimal disruption in case of a line loss. The 1336 Plus II also offers a flying start feature, which helps restart the motor at its current speed and direction after a power loss.

Braking Capabilities

The 1336 Plus II comes equipped with multiple braking options. These include DC injection braking and extended hold braking, which are ideal for applications that require quick stopping times or holding torque between operations. The adjustable braking levels and times make motor control versatile.

Conclusion

The 1336 Plus II drive offers comprehensive features, from advanced motor control to real-time diagnostics, making it suitable for various modern industries. Whether upgrading the existing system or integrating new ones, the 1336 Plus II provides the performance, protection, and control essential for achieving optimal productivity in today’s industrial landscape.

Choosing the right drive can be stressful, especially if you are running a legacy system. That’s why we are committed to making this process as easy as possible. Our group of experts is ready to lead the way and help you get the perfect drive for your system! Give us a call today, and we can take your automation solution to the next level. We also have a handy 1336 PLUS II selection guide here!