Allen-Bradley 1336-BDB-SP38A 1336 PLUS VFD Upgrade

Product Overview

Allen-Bradley 1336-BDB-SP38A 1336 PLUS VFD Upgrade: Smooth Transition for Legacy AC Drive Systems

The Allen-Bradley 1336-BDB-SP38A is a factory-specification Base Drive Board engineered for the 1336 PLUS and 1336 PLUS II series of AC variable-frequency drives. As industrial facilities continue to operate aging 1336-series VFD installations across motor control centers, pump stations, conveyor lines, and compressor skids, the availability of a verified, drop-in-compatible replacement board becomes a critical procurement priority. TOPNLMS maintains ready stock of the 1336-BDB-SP38A to support both emergency breakdown recovery and planned preventive maintenance programs, with a 12-month warranty on every unit shipped.

The 1336 PLUS platform was one of Allen-Bradley’s most widely deployed AC drive families throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Thousands of units remain in active service in water treatment facilities, oil and gas compression stations, mining conveyors, steel mill auxiliary drives, and HVAC systems. When the base drive board fails — typically presenting as overcurrent faults, gate drive errors, or complete loss of output — the fastest path to restoring production is a direct board-level replacement rather than a full drive swap. The 1336-BDB-SP38A restores the drive to factory operating condition without requiring changes to the existing motor wiring, conduit routing, or control cabinet layout.

Compatibility Comparison Table

Seamless Upgrade Solutions

A successful 1336 PLUS drive restoration often involves more than the base drive board alone. During board-level replacement, maintenance engineers frequently inspect and conditionally replace adjacent components to ensure the drive returns to full reliability. The 1336-BDB-SP38A is commonly deployed alongside the 1336-MOD-L2E control board, which retains all drive parameters and manages the SCANport communication interface — preserving connectivity to existing DeviceNet or Remote I/O networks without any PLC program changes.

For drives integrated into Allen-Bradley PLC-5 or SLC 500 control architectures, the 1336 PLUS communicates via the 1336-GM1 SCANport adapter or through a 1203-GU6 DeviceNet communication module. Both remain fully functional after a base drive board swap, meaning the upstream ControlLogix or CompactLogix controller — and its associated 1756-series or 1769-series I/O modules — requires no logic modifications. The existing ladder logic drive control blocks continue to operate without alteration.

On the power side, the drive’s internal DC bus capacitor bank and the 1336-BDB-SP38A gate driver circuitry work in conjunction with the precharge resistor assembly and the input rectifier bridge. If the root cause of the board failure was a sustained overvoltage event, it is prudent to inspect the 1321-3R line reactor and the input fusing before energizing the replacement board. Similarly, the 1336-PB power board should be tested for DC bus integrity to confirm the replacement board is not exposed to a pre-existing fault condition.

For facilities managing a broader drive modernization program, the 1336-BDB-SP38A serves as a cost-effective bridge solution that extends the operational life of existing 1336 PLUS frames while a phased migration to the PowerFlex 700 or PowerFlex 755 platform is planned. This approach avoids the capital expenditure and installation downtime of a full drive replacement while maintaining production continuity. The PowerFlex 700 shares similar SCANport and EtherNet/IP communication capabilities, making the eventual migration straightforward from a controls architecture perspective.

In cabinet environments where multiple drives share a common bus or are mounted in a multi-drive MCC section, the 1336-BDB-SP38A replacement can be completed in a single maintenance window without disturbing adjacent drives, shared DC bus connections, or the common 1336-BRF braking resistor assembly. The board’s compact form factor and identical mounting footprint ensure that no cabinet re-engineering is required.

Retrofit Guidance FAQ

Q1: Does replacing the 1336-BDB-SP38A require reprogramming the drive or the PLC?
No. The 1336-BDB-SP38A is a base drive board replacement that does not affect the drive’s parameter memory, which resides on the control board or the connected HIM module. All drive parameters, speed references, acceleration/deceleration ramps, and fault configurations are preserved. The upstream PLC program — whether running on a PLC-5, SLC 500, or ControlLogix platform — requires no modification. Communication via SCANport, DeviceNet, or Remote I/O is restored immediately upon drive re-energization.

Q2: Is the 1336-BDB-SP38A compatible with both 1336 PLUS and 1336 PLUS II drives?
Yes. The SP38A board variant is designed to be compatible across the 1336 PLUS and 1336 PLUS II drive families within the applicable horsepower and voltage rating range. TOPNLMS recommends confirming the drive’s catalog number and firmware revision before ordering to ensure the correct board variant is selected. Our technical team can assist with cross-referencing your drive’s nameplate data.

Q3: What are the most common failure symptoms that indicate the 1336-BDB-SP38A needs replacement?
Typical fault indications include persistent F005 (Overcurrent), F012 (HW Overcurrent), F022 (Ground Fault), or gate driver fault codes that cannot be cleared by a standard fault reset. Physical inspection may reveal burnt gate resistors, damaged IGBT driver ICs, or discolored PCB traces. If the control board and power board test within specification but the drive fails to produce output voltage, the base drive board is the most likely failed component.

Q4: What is the lead time and shipping arrangement for the 1336-BDB-SP38A?
TOPNLMS maintains in-stock inventory of the 1336-BDB-SP38A at our Xiamen facility. Orders are processed and dispatched within 1–3 business days. International shipments are supported via DHL, FedEx, and UPS Express, with typical transit times of 3–7 business days to most destinations. Each unit undergoes functional testing and visual inspection prior to shipment. All units are covered by a 12-month warranty from the date of delivery.

Warranty Assurance

Every 1336-BDB-SP38A supplied by TOPNLMS is backed by a comprehensive 12-month warranty covering manufacturing defects, component failures, and functional non-conformance under normal operating conditions. Prior to dispatch, each board undergoes a multi-point inspection protocol that includes visual examination for physical damage, connector integrity verification, and where applicable, powered functional testing to confirm gate driver output signals and logic supply voltages are within specification.

In the event of a warranty claim, TOPNLMS provides a streamlined replacement process: customers submit a fault description and photographic evidence, and a replacement unit is dispatched within 3 business days of claim approval. Return shipping of the defective unit is coordinated by our after-sales team. Our technical support staff — reachable at [email protected] or +86 18359293191 — are available to assist with installation guidance, fault diagnosis, and compatibility verification throughout the warranty period and beyond.

TOPNLMS is committed to long-term supply continuity for legacy Allen-Bradley 1336-series components. We maintain forward stock planning for high-demand spare parts to ensure that customers operating aging 1336 PLUS installations can source critical replacement boards without extended lead times. Whether you require a single emergency replacement or a standing inventory of strategic spares, TOPNLMS provides the procurement reliability that industrial operations demand.

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