ABB CI855-1 module – a bridge for industrial communication, come and argue if you don’t agree!

Description

The CI855-1 is a highly reliable and versatile communication interface module manufactured by ABB for its System 800xA and Symphony™ Plus distributed control systems (DCS). This module serves as a critical integration gateway, specifically engineered to provide a robust PROFIBUS DP-V1 slave interface. Its primary function is to enable seamless, bidirectional data exchange between an external PROFIBUS DP master (such as a primary PLC or a third-party DCS) and the entire ABB S800 I/O station where it is installed. The CI855-1 effectively allows the powerful ABB S800 I/O system to function as a decentralized peripheral subsystem on a larger PROFIBUS network, making its extensive I/O data accessible to a higher-level control system.

Designed for interoperability and system expansion, the CI855-1 module is a strategic component for modernizing automation architectures and integrating multi-vendor environments. It provides a cost-effective solution for adding ABB’s high-fidelity I/O processing capabilities to an existing PROFIBUS-based infrastructure without requiring a complete control system overhaul. The value of the CI855-1 lies in its ability to break down communication silos, enhance data visibility across different platforms, and leverage the extensive installed base of PROFIBUS networks. By acting as a slave device, the CI855-1 ensures that the rich data from ABB’s analog and digital modules can be utilized by any PROFIBUS DP master, facilitating plant-wide control and optimization strategies.

CI855-1 ABB

Technical Specifications

Main Features and Advantages

The primary advantage of the CI855-1 is its role as a seamless integration bridge. It provides a certified and native PROFIBUS DP-V1 slave interface, ensuring maximum compatibility and reliable performance when connecting an ABB S800 I/O station to any PROFIBUS DP master system. Its support for the extended DP-V1 protocol enables not only standard cyclic data exchange but also acyclic communication, allowing the master to access detailed diagnostic information and parameters from the CI855-1 module itself and the I/O modules behind it. This advanced functionality is crucial for comprehensive system monitoring and advanced asset management.

Simplified configuration and robust design: The module’s PROFIBUS address is easily set via intuitive rotary switches on its front panel, eliminating the need for complex software tools during physical setup. The mapping of the S800 I/O data into the PROFIBUS process image is efficiently handled within ABB’s Control Builder engineering environment, ensuring a logical and error-free configuration. The CI855-1 is designed for industrial ruggedness, featuring high levels of electrical isolation to protect against ground loops and transient voltage spikes on the network. This robust construction, combined with a wide operating temperature range and hazardous area certifications, guarantees stable and noise-immune communication in the most demanding electrical environments, making the CI855-1 a dependable node in any PROFIBUS network.

Application Field

The CI855-1 is deployed in a wide range of industries where integrating ABB’s high-performance S800 I/O into an existing or third-party PROFIBUS DP network is required. A common application is in large-scale manufacturing facilities, such as automotive plants, where a primary PLC (e.g., Siemens SIMATIC) acts as the central PROFIBUS master and the CI855-1 is used to connect ABB-driven process cells, robotic workstations, or quality control stations as intelligent slave subsystems. In the power generation sector, it is used to integrate balance-of-plant systems controlled by ABB S800 I/O, such as water treatment or fuel handling, into a main plant-wide PROFIBUS network managed by a different DCS vendor.

Within oil and gas and chemical processing, the CI855-1 is often employed to bring skid-mounted packages—which are pre-equipped with an ABB S800 I/O system for local control—into the overarching facility’s PROFIBUS infrastructure. This allows the main control room to monitor and supervise the skid’s operation without needing to replace its local controller. The module is also used in water and wastewater treatment plants to integrate remote I/O panels into a centralized SCADA system. Essentially, the CI855-1 is the ideal solution for any project that requires the proven I/O capabilities of the ABB S800 system to be seamlessly and reliably presented as a slave device on a standard PROFIBUS DP network.

CI855-1 ABB

Related Products

TU811 3BSE013240R1 / TU812 3BSE013241R1: Standard S800 I/O unit bases used to mount and connect the CI855-1 module.

S800 I/O Modules (e.g., AI810, DI810, AO810, DO810): The various analog and digital I/O modules whose data is made available through the CI855-1 slave interface.

AC 800M Controller: While the CI855-1 operates independently, it is often used in systems that also feature these controllers for higher-level control.

SD821 3BSE018105R1: A power supply module for the S800 I/O rack.

Profibus Network Components: Includes cables, connectors, and repeaters required to establish the physical Profibus network.

CI854K01: A PROFIBUS DP Master communication interface module for the opposite network role.

Control Builder: The engineering software used to configure the I/O mapping for the CI855-1 module.