Description
MEMORYCA: Product Overview
The module serves as an auxiliary storage component within ABB automation systems, positioned as an expandable memory unit for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and distributed control systems (DCS). It is designed to supplement the internal storage of host controllers, addressing the need for additional capacity to store large user programs, parameter sets, and historical process data. In a typical system architecture, it interfaces directly with the controller’s memory slot or via a dedicated adapter, functioning as a plug-and-play storage extension.
Core functionality focuses on reliable data retention and retrieval. It stores program logic (e.g., ladder diagrams, function blocks), device configuration files, and logged process variables (e.g., temperature, pressure trends) in non-volatile flash memory, ensuring no data loss during unexpected power interruptions. The module supports read/write operations at industrial-grade speeds, compatible with the controller’s runtime environment for seamless online updates.
It belongs to ABB’s Automation Storage Solutions series, a platform emphasizing compatibility with ABB’s AC500 PLCs and 800xA DCS. Benefits of this series include standardized form factors for easy integration, extended endurance (write/erase cycles), and adherence to industrial environmental standards, reducing the risk of storage-related failures in critical applications.
ABB MEMORYCA
MEMORYCA: Technical Specifications
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Model Number: MEMORYCA
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Manufacturer: ABB Ltd.
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Product Type: Industrial Memory Module
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Memory Type: Flash (NAND)
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Capacity: 512MB
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Interface: SD card (SDHC compliant)
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Compatibility: ABB AC500 PLCs (PM5xx, PM57x series), 800xA DCS auxiliary slots
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Operating Temperature: -40°C to +85°C
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Storage Temperature: -55°C to +105°C
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Data Retention: 10 years (at 25°C, typical)
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Write Endurance: 100,000 cycles (minimum)
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Dimensions: 32mm (W) x 24mm (H) x 2.1mm (D)
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Weight: ~2g
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Certifications: CE, UL (cULus Listed), RoHS
Core Features & Customer Value
The non-volatile flash memory ensures critical data persistence without reliance on battery backups, a key advantage for remote or unmanned installations like offshore platforms or water treatment plants. Engineers can confidently store long-term historical data or backup programs, knowing it will survive power cycles or battery depletion.
The 512MB capacity accommodates extensive user logic and configuration files, reducing the need for frequent data archiving in applications with complex control strategies, such as steel mill process control or batch chemical manufacturing. This minimizes downtime associated with storage management.
Wide operating temperature range (-40°C to +85°C) allows deployment in harsh environments, from freezer warehouses to desert-based solar farms, without performance degradation. For maintenance teams, the plug-and-play design enables quick replacement if needed, with no software reconfiguration required post-installation.
Compatibility with ABB AC500 PLCs and 800xA DCS ensures seamless integration, leveraging existing system architectures. This avoids costly upgrades to controllers solely for storage expansion, preserving capital expenditure.
ABB MEMORYCA
Typical Applications
In steel rolling mills, the module stores the complex sequence programs for tandem mill stands, retaining setup parameters for different steel grades. This ensures consistent restart behavior after power outages, minimizing scrap.
For municipal water treatment plants, it logs historical data from remote sensors (pH, turbidity) in ABB 800xA DCS, providing a local archive before data is transmitted to the central SCADA. This redundancy protects against communication failures.
In oil and gas upstream facilities, it backs up wellhead control logic in ABB AC500 PLCs, safeguarding against corruption during firmware updates. The rugged form factor withstands vibration in drilling rigs or pumpjack controllers.
