Product Details

The ProSoft MVI56E-GSC/GSCXT is a single-slot enhanced generic ASCII serial communication module designed for Rockwell 1756 ControlLogix chassis. It provides two independent configurable serial ports to connect ControlLogix PAC with instruments and devices that transmit custom ASCII strings or raw byte streams, which is ideal for equipment with proprietary serial protocols that standard protocol modules cannot support. The two ports support RS232, RS422 and RS485 interfaces, with adjustable baud rate from 110 to 115200 baud, configurable parity, data bits and stop bits. Each port can send and receive data packets up to 4096 bytes, and the internal register database supports up to 5000 16-bit registers for flexible data mapping between serial devices and controller tags. The MVI56E-GSC is for standard industrial environments, while MVI56E-GSCXT is the ruggedized version with conformal coating and wider temperature range, built for harsh and corrosive field conditions. It is equipped with a 10/100Mbps Ethernet port supporting CIPconnect and built-in web server, users can finish remote configuration, real-time diagnosis and firmware upgrade through EtherNet/IP or ControlNet network. Data exchange between the module and ControlLogix processor runs asynchronously over the backplane, so the serial data parsing and transmission process will not occupy the controller scan time and affect the main control logic. Add-on instructions and sample ladder logic are supplied for seamless integration inside Studio 5000 or RSLogix 5000, and ProSoft Configuration Builder software is used for port parameter setting and serial data monitoring.

This module can be installed in local or remote 1756 ControlLogix chassis and draws 800mA at 5VDC from the backplane. It supports hot-swappable operation for maintenance without shutting down the whole rack. A 4-character scrolling LED display on the front panel shows plain-text status and fault prompts for fast on-site inspection and troubleshooting. It supports backward compatibility with the older MVI56-GSC, so users can replace the old module directly without rewriting the original control program. The MVI56E-GSC works at 0°C to 60°C, and MVI56E-GSCXT supports -25°C to 70°C. Both versions adopt industrial EMC protection against surge and electrostatic interference, and meet shock and vibration specifications for industrial field applications. It supports configuration file backup and remote firmware upgrade to reduce on-site maintenance workload.

This generic ASCII serial module is widely used in industrial equipment with custom ASCII protocols, weighing instruments, barcode readers, legacy third-party sensors, building automation equipment and extreme environment automation transformation projects. It adds flexible serial interface capability to ControlLogix without custom programming development or extra independent protocol converters. As a discontinued legacy communication module, the MVI56E-GSC/GSCXT is mainly supplied as spare replacement parts for running automation systems. It maintains stable ASCII serial data transmission, preserves the original serial field devices and wiring, and reduces the cost of special protocol integration.