ABB CI855K01 3BSE018106R1 MB300 MasterBus Communication Interface Advant/AC800M

• Model: ABB CI855K01 3BSE018106R1
• Brand: ABB (Switzerland & Sweden)
• Series: AC 800M / System 800xA Comms Interface
• Core Function: MB300 (MasterBus 300) communication interface for distributed control systems
• Type: Communication Interface / Fieldbus Bridge
• Key Specs: MasterBus 300 protocol 10 Mbit/s data rate Hot-swappable

Key Technical Specifications

• Communication Protocol: MasterBus 300 (MB300) for legacy Advant systems.
• Transmission Speed: Up to 10 Mbit/s, ~200 datasets/sec.
• Role: Master interface on MB300 network.
• Line Redundancy: Supported; module redundancy not supported.
• Hot-Swap Capability: Yes, allows in-system replacement without shutdown.
• Max Modules on CEX Bus: Up to 12.
• Connector Type: RJ-45 (8-pin) via TP853 baseplate for MB300/Ethernet ports.
• Power Supply: 24 V DC via baseplate (~150 mA typical).
• Dimensions: 127.5 mm × 186 mm × 59 mm.
• Operating Temp: ~+5 °C to +55 °C.
• Protection Class: IP20 (cabinet internal).
• Mounting: TP853 baseplate DIN-rail.

 

Application Scenarios & Engineering Pain Points

In plants where ABB Advant OCS / Master systems coexist with newer AC 800M controllers, bridging the two protocols often becomes a stumbling block. The CI855K01 serves as that bridge: it implements the MasterBus 300 (MB300) protocol so legacy controllers (like Advant 410/450 or MasterPiece series) can talk to contemporary AC 800M nodes. Without this interface, you either rip out functional legacy gear or resort to gateways that add latency and complexity — neither is ideal when uptime matters.

A common challenge in brownfield upgrades is maintaining synchronized data models and alarm states across generations of controllers. CI855K01 tackles this by handling peer-to-peer communications and clock synchronization over MB300, reducing the integration burden on your engineering team.

Typical Applications

1. DCS/SIS Networking – Process Plants
   Connect AC 800M with older Advant OCS/Master networks during phased upgrades.
2. Power Generation Controls
   Integrate turbine and auxiliary racks running different ABB architectures.
3. Chemical & Petrochemical Automation
   Bridge legacy fieldbus segments to modern System 800xA data environments.
4. Manufacturing Automation Retrofit
   Maintain existing MB300 infrastructure while adding scalability via AC 800M.

Case Example: Brownfield DCS Migration

At a mid-size petrochemical facility, plant engineering wanted to migrate to AC 800M and System 800xA while keeping existing Advant field networks intact. Without a communication interface, re-wiring and re-engineering cost estimates approached six figures and months of downtime.

By deploying CI855K01 modules with TP853 baseplates, the engineering team enabled peer-to-peer MB300 comms between the old and new controllers. Data sets flowed transparently, time bases stayed aligned, and operators saw consistent process values regardless of controller generation. The retrofit was completed in under two weeks, saving weeks of outages and significant engineering effort.

 

Compatible Replacement Models

⚠️ Software/Hardware Compatible (Requires Engineering Validation)

• ABB CI856K01 3BSE026055R1 – S100 I/O Interface
  • Not a like-for-like MB300 bridge; serves S100 bus communications.
  • Useful when migrating entire I/O segments to S100 topology.
  • Work Effort: Modify engineering project and bus mapping.

⚠️ Alternative Gateway (Protocol Translation)

• Third-party MB300-Ethernet Gateways
  • Can link legacy MB300 segments to modern Ethernet networks.
  • Requires configuration and possibly protocol conversion logic.

❌ Not Drop-in Compatible

• Ethernet-only communication modules without MB300 support.
  • Do NOT support MasterBus 300 protocol → not suitable for bridging.
  • Will require major redesign of field networks and controller logic.

Note: There is no direct modern ABB replacement for MB300 interfaces if you must maintain MB300 protocol support. Keep spare CI855K01 units if your architecture depends on MB300 connectivity.

 

Troubleshooting Quick Reference

In my integration experience, 70 % of communication faults trace back to cabling or termination issues, not the interface card itself. Always confirm physical layer integrity before assuming module failure.