AB SLC 5/03 and AB 1770 KF3 Interface Module

1) Yes, your new PC will need a real serial port; I don't think that the KF3 will work with a USB-to-serial converter(but I might be wrong)

2) The KF3 uses the RS-232 DF1 driver in RSLinx; open RSLinx on your current PC and write down the DF1 driver configuration settings so you can re-create it on the new machine

3) Yes, the KF3 has volatile and non-volitile memory; using the instructions in your user's manual (http://literature.rockwellautomation.com/idc/groups/literature/documents/um/1770-um018_-en-p.pdf), do a save parameters before you take everything apart, just to be safe

4) Once you get the new PC installed and everything connected, Install your RSLogix500/RSLinx software on the new machine; set-up the DF1 driver per the settings you recorded in step 2. You should be ready to upload/download/go online

The KF3 will work with a usb to serial converter. You shouldn't lose any information in the KF3. The set-up is not that difficult. All the parameters are listed on the bottom of the KF3 module. Scroll through parameters and write them down. (not a bad idea to have this information anyway)

Another note: I believe the KF3 module has been discontinued by Allen-Bradley.

thanks for taking the time to reply
i have been put in charge of up-grading the system,
i had done one AB SLC 500 course,
and they did not cover hardware very well

with the PC continually freezing,
I do think it is a computer issue,
however, when this happens,
the manual controls on the gates are locked as well

the program is such that the manual controls are primary,
and should not lock with the software crashing
could there possible be a problem with the PLC itself?

i was thinking of up-grading to the SLC 5/05,
and go with a brand new system, up-grade to CiTect 6, new PC and new PLC

bill4261 - you are correct,
the KF3 modules are no longer available

The distributor had actually told me that now serial connections are just as fast as the DH-485, and it isnt a big deal to just use that instead. Is that correct? I can just stop using the KF3 altogether?

However, if the current PLC writes to DH-485 addressing, will I then need something with similar i/o, say a 1784-PKTX, and then this connecting to a PCI slot in my PC?