ML-1400 going silver

I just had a conversation with my Rockwell account manager last week. He has informed me that the ML-1400 controllers will go silver next year. I was told that the replacement is the Micro 800 line. We have 26 processors. some are on small stand alone machines and most are on air handlers.The three communications channels are a must for interfacing with some of the building systems(Air Compressors ect.) I have been upgrading air handlers and was going to add another 50 or so processors to finish the air handler upgrades. We use 1756 ControlLogix
hardware and PF755 drives on most large systems. Chiller Plant, Towers and scrap processing systems and the air handler drives.The ML1400 are scattered throughout the plant and used for controlling chill coils,reheat and humidification. I believe my options are: buy 50 more ML1400's and a large amount of spares or cut my losses and move away from Rockwell for the small controllers.I would have liked to had a 20 year lifecycle out of these controllers.
"RANT ON" To add insult to injury I was informed yesterday that if our tech connect contract expires there will be a reinstatement fee. We use the contract mainly for firmware and software upgrades. As a loyal Rockwell customer for many years I find this VERY distasteful.I work for the government and it sometimes takes weeks to get a purchase order issued.In the past I would just send documentation that I had submitted the purchase request and that was sufficient. Not any more.. "RANT OFF"

Thoughts?

On the AB website 'lifecycle status' the Micrologix 1400 (1766-) all show 'active'. It would go to 'active' mature' for a long time before hitting 'end of life' or 'discontinued'. You might want to sign up for email notification of lifecycle transitions.

You may even want to consider a different line. A suggestion would be the Do-more line from AutomationDirect. It has free software. The newer BRX format may be a good fit to replace the 1400.

I would take a look at the Automation Direct line.
The new BRX controller looks like a good fit for you.
https://www.automationdirect.com/do-more/brx/index
Here is a link for the communications part of the manual:
https://cdn.automationdirect.com/static/manuals/brxuserm/ch13.pdf

Regards,

Any reason you are shying away from the micro800? You can add a 2080-SERIALISOL (up to 5) to get two (up to 6) RS232/485 ports and an ethernet port. Whilst many have a disdain for these controllers, they still carry the AB logo.

I agree though, as you will be rewriting the software anyway to migrate from Logix 500, it would be a good time to consider other manufacturers of PLC.

The MicroLogix 1000 and MicroLogix 1500 are discontinued. The ML1400 and the ML1100 are going to be relevant for many years to come. These both have built in Ethernet and online editing.

swimmy67 said:

The MicroLogix 1000 and MicroLogix 1500 are discontinued. The ML1400 and the ML1100 are going to be relevant for many years to come. These both have built in Ethernet and online editing.

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I concur. I just spoke with our supplier in house Rockwell Automation Specialist and he says that the next one to go would be the 1200, then the 1100 but there is no timeline on any of them yet. He said the last one to go bye-bye will be the 1400 and that it is still an active product as are the 1100 and 1200. So these three Micrologix models are going to be available new from Rockwell for many years to come.

I stand corrected.

Direct from AB product manager: "The ML-1400 will go silver within 5 years, or possibly sooner depending on component availability".
Expect it to be discontinued within 2 years after going silver.
I remember the SLC ASB module disappearing sooner than thought because of component availability.

What's everyone thinking for replacing the microLogix then?
Micro800, CompactLogix, or someone else?

AustralIan said:

What's everyone thinking for replacing the microLogix then?
Micro800, CompactLogix, or someone else?

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Micro 800 or L16 here, depending on which side of the size scale the control needs are closer to.

+1 for Micro800...free software for it also.

I'll be retired before the ML1400 bites the dust!

Nice little piece of hardware tho.

I sure hope it's around longer than that. I still spec 1400s for simple projects. Can't come close on price on with a compactlogix - especially if you need high speed counters and high speed outputs, which are standard on the 24vdc 1400s.

yeah I like the 1400. Most people dont like the micro800 line so I feel if AB gets rid of the micrologix like it will drive customers to other alternatives instead of paying the premium price for the compactlogix line.

The Micro800 series is fine if your systems have all moved to 24VDC.
If you have to work with 110VAC then you get into having just not quite enough I/O or way too many. It jumps from 14 Inputs to ~28 for the Ethernet ready 800s. Not to mention a fairly large area needed in the panel to install.

From what I was told by our Rockwell guy is that the Micro800 series was geared toward OEMs. They had actually worked with OEMs to develop the design. Hence why you need the USB adapter to get online with the 810. A requested extra step to keep anyone from just walking up and plugging into it. Or that is what I was told...

If I were worried about a ML1XXX becoming extinct, and cost was primary concern, then the Automation Direct PLCs would be my go to brand.

AustralIan said:

What's everyone thinking for replacing the microLogix then?
Micro800, CompactLogix, or someone else?

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I like the Productivity 2000 line from AD, the software is way better than CCW. you can't do online edits with the free version of CCW and the data types have to be changed back and forth all the time in CCW. I would love to use CompactLogix if the $oftware and hardware was a bit cheaper.