ALLEN BRADLEY 20-HIM-A3 Power Flex Serie C 20HIMA3

20-HIM-A3 | PowerFlex Human Interface Module — LCD / Full Numeric Keypad / IP66 / SMART Start / CopyCat / Jog / Drive-Mount or Handheld

What the 20-HIM-A3 Does on a PowerFlex Drive

The 20-HIM-A3 is the human interface module — the keypad and display unit — for the PowerFlex series of AC drives. Without a HIM, a PowerFlex drive has no local operator interface. The HIM provides the means to read drive status, adjust parameters, start and stop the drive manually, and respond to fault messages — all from the drive face or from a handheld position.

Two mounting configurations are supported:

Drive-mounted: The HIM attaches directly to the drive's front face. A panel bezel kit converts the drive-mounted HIM into a panel-flush installation. Drive mounting is the standard configuration on most machine installations.

Handheld: The HIM can be held as a portable device and connected to the drive via a cable. This allows one HIM to service multiple drives during commissioning or troubleshooting, without a dedicated HIM installed on each drive.

Key Specifications

SMART Start — Simplified Initial Configuration

SMART Start is a guided startup menu that walks through the essential parameters needed for basic drive operation. Instead of navigating the full parameter database from scratch, SMART Start presents the minimum required settings in sequence — motor nameplate data, control mode, speed reference source, and protection settings. The result is a drive ready for initial test run with minimum keystrokes.

For technicians commissioning multiple drives on a system, SMART Start reduces the per-drive setup time compared to manual parameter navigation.

CopyCat — Parameter Backup and Replication

CopyCat saves the complete parameter set of a connected drive into the HIM's internal memory. The stored set can then be written to a replacement drive or to additional drives of the same type — replicating the entire configuration without re-entering each parameter individually.

In practice: a drive fails and is replaced with a spare. Connect the HIM carrying the original drive's parameter set, select Upload from CopyCat, and the replacement drive is configured to match the original. The process takes minutes rather than hours.

For production environments with multiple identical drives — conveyors, pumps, fans — CopyCat provides a single-step configuration tool that ensures every drive in a group runs with the same parameters.

IP66 — Keypad Sealed for Industrial Environments

IP66 covers two protection levels: dust-tight (no ingress under any conditions) and jet-proof (withstands powerful water jets from any direction). For a drive HIM mounted on the face of a machine in a production environment, IP66 covers daily cleaning with high-pressure washdown equipment, dust accumulation on metal cutting machines, and general water splash in food and beverage or pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Application Scenarios

Drive commissioning: During a new installation, the engineer connects the 20-HIM-A3 in handheld mode to each drive in turn. SMART Start guides through motor data entry and control setup for each drive on the line. One HIM services all drives without requiring a laptop or software connection.

Parameter backup before replacement: A PowerFlex 700 drive is scheduled for replacement. Before shutdown, the HIM is used to CopyCat the existing drive's full parameter set. After installing the replacement, the saved parameters are uploaded in minutes.

Fault investigation: A drive trips on a fault during production. The operator reads the fault code on the HIM display, compares it with the fault list, and resets if safe to do so — without waiting for a maintenance laptop or programming software.

FAQ

Q1: Is the 20-HIM-A3 compatible with PowerFlex 753 or 755 drives?

No. The 20-HIM-A3 is designed for the PowerFlex 7-Class drives (PowerFlex 70, 700, 700H, 700S, and 700L) and is not compatible with PowerFlex 750-Series drives (753 and 755). For PowerFlex 753 and 755, the enhanced 20-HIM-A6 module is required. Installing a 20-HIM-A3 on a 750-Series drive will not provide full functionality.

Q2: Can the 20-HIM-A3 be removed from a running drive without causing a fault?

Yes, with the correct procedure. Using the ALT key sequence before physically removing the HIM sends a disconnect notification to the drive, preventing a drive fault from occurring during removal. If the HIM is the last or only controlling device for the drive, removal while running will cause a fault — confirm the drive has an alternative control source (terminal block, DPI network) before hot-removing the HIM.

Q3: How many drives can be serviced with one 20-HIM-A3 using CopyCat?

There is no technical limit to the number of drives that can be configured from one CopyCat-stored parameter set. The same stored parameters can be uploaded to any number of compatible drives of the same model and control type. Each upload takes a few minutes. For large fleets of identical drives, one 20-HIM-A3 can provision all of them from a single parameter set backup.

Q4: What does the Jog mode function do?

Jog mode runs the connected drive at a preset jog speed while the Jog key is held down, stopping immediately when the key is released. This is used during machine setup and commissioning to manually advance mechanisms — conveyors, cutting units, winding systems — step by step without writing a programme or wiring a separate jog pushbutton circuit.

Q5: What is the difference between the 20-HIM-A3 and 20-HIM-A5?

Both are drive-mounted or handheld HIMs for the same PowerFlex 7-Class drive family with the same IP66 rating. The 20-HIM-A3 has a full numeric operator interface keypad — it can be used to start, stop, and jog the drive as well as programme it. The 20-HIM-A5 has a programmer-only keypad — it is for parameter access only and does not provide direct Start/Stop/Jog control of the drive.