How to Replace Your 1336 PLUS Drive with a PowerFlex 750 (Allen-Bradley Upgrade Guide)

Modernizing Legacy 1336 PLUS, PLUS II, and Impact Drives (Allen-Bradley Upgrade Guide)

If your facility still relies on Allen-Bradley 1336 PLUS drives, you're running on borrowed time. These legacy units are obsolete, hard to replace, and prone to failure, putting your uptime at serious risk.

In 2025, modernization isn’t optional. Parts are scarce, repairs take longer, and unplanned downtime costs more than ever.

This guide helps maintenance managers, controls engineers, and technicians successfully migrate from the 1336 PLUS platform to the PowerFlex 750.

👉 For full wiring diagrams and step-by-step instructions, download the official 1336 PLUS to PowerFlex 750 conversion manual here.

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Why Migrate from the 1336 PLUS?

The Allen-Bradley 1336 PLUS series was reliable, but here’s why you should upgrade to the PowerFlex 750 series:

• It’s been discontinued for nearly two decades.

• Factory support is limited or unavailable.

• Replacement parts are harder to source.

• Power components age and degrade.

• HIMs and software tools lack forward compatibility.

Benefits of Modernization:

• Minimize unplanned downtime

• Improve drive performance, diagnostics, and efficiency

• Gain compatibility with modern PLCs and EtherNet/IP

• Access advanced safety and control features

• Future-proof your system with scalable architecture

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Preparing for Migration

Before removing any drive, it's essential to document everything—from parameters to wiring and communication protocols. A failed drive risks losing parameters, forcing your team to guess.

Skillsets Required for a Smooth Migration:

• An electrician or technician who can accurately trace and document wire terminations

• A programmer or engineer familiar with AC drive configuration and parameter management

• A controls expert who understands PLC communication and legacy network protocols (if the drive is networked)

Multiple team members often need to collaborate to document everything before decommissioning a 1336 PLUS.

1. The Parameter Set: Your Drive’s Configuration Blueprint

Every 1336 PLUS drive depends on a defined parameter list to control its operation. Losing this information means you'll have to rebuild from scratch, which can cause major delays.

How to Preserve It:

• Use the HIM (Human Interface Module) to manually record parameters

• Or use Drive Executive (from DriveTools SP suite) to upload the configuration

• Optionally use Drive Observer to monitor and trend drive performance before failure

Drive Executive is the go-to tool for parameter management, while Drive Observer enables short-term trending and diagnostics before removal.

What Happens If You Don’t Save the Parameters?

• If power is lost and the HIM goes dark, you can’t retrieve anything

• Your team will need to guess, reverse-engineer, or rebuild logic under pressure

• This often results in stressful reprogramming sessions and extended downtime

 

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2. Physical Wiring: Power, I/O, and Control

Modernizing isn’t just about swapping drives—it’s about reconfiguring how they’re wired.

Document and Preserve:

• Three-phase power terminals

• Digital I/O wiring (start, stop, jog, enable, etc.)

• Analog inputs/outputs (speed reference or feedback to PLC)

• Legacy network connections (e.g., Remote I/O with PLC-5 or SLC 500)

✅ Label all wires
✅ Photograph terminal blocks
✅ Back up schematics, drawings, and notes

Even small wiring differences between 1336 and PowerFlex drives can cause costly errors if not caught before reinstallation.

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3. Communication Protocols & HIM Compatibility

You cannot transfer settings between HIMs due to different communication protocols and speeds—even if the connectors look the same.

These differences prevent direct transfer of parameter sets or HIMs between platforms.

To interface with the PowerFlex 750, use:

• 1203-USB cable

• RSLinx, Connected Components Workbench (CCW), or Studio 5000

4. Application Logic and I/O Mapping

Don't assume a one-to-one terminal match, even if the drive application is simple. You must remap I/O logic to the new drive’s terminal assignments and parameters.

• Understand how the PLC controls the drive

• Check whether you use 2-wire or 3-wire control

• Adjust analog references and feedback logic

• Update control parameters in the PowerFlex 750 to reflect new terminal maps

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5. Real-World Migration Scenario: 1336 PLUS → PowerFlex 755

This guide focuses on the PowerFlex 750 series, with the 755 model highlighted in our real-world example for advanced applications.

Scenario:

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Common Migration Mistakes to Avoid

Mistakes during modernization can result in downtime, damage, or operational issues. Avoid these common pitfalls:

1. Failing to back up 1336 parameters before removing the drive

2. Reusing wiring without verifying terminal changes

3. Skipping input remapping, causing unexpected behavior

4. Ignoring safety features, especially STO requirements

5. Assuming plug-and-play network compatibility

6. Using the wrong HIM or cable

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PowerFlex 750 Overview: What You’re Upgrading To

The PowerFlex 750 series is an advanced modern drive platform with robust control, safety features, and flexible I/O options to scale your system needs. Understanding its models and key features will help you select the right unit for your application.

Two Models to Choose From:

• PowerFlex 753: Ideal for standard applications like fans, pumps, and conveyors.

• PowerFlex 755: Best for advanced control tasks that require precise torque, positioning, feedback, and customizable I/O.

Key Features:

• V/Hz, Sensorless Vector, and Closed-Loop Vector control

• Built-in Safe Torque Off (STO) for enhanced safety

• Modular I/O and option card support for flexible customization

• Premier Integration with Logix controllers, making setup seamless

Programming:

• Configure using HIM, Studio 5000, or Connected Components Workbench (CCW)

• Logical parameter groupings simplify setup

• Pre-built drive AOPs streamline integration with Logix controllers

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How Industrial Automation Co. Can Help

At Industrial Automation Co., we specialize in helping you move quickly and confidently during drive failures or upgrades.

✅ Help you choose the right PowerFlex 750 drive
✅ Quickly locate and ship drives from our supplier network
✅ Deliver emergency replacements when a legacy unit fails

We don’t offer migration kits or parameter templates, but we can help you:

• Avoid common pitfalls

• Find the exact drive you need

• Navigate technical challenges with clarity

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📘 Step-by-Step Conversion Manual: Download Now

Need Help?

Let’s make your drive modernization smooth, fast, and error-free.

📞 Contact us today to find the right PowerFlex 750 for your application or get expert help during a legacy drive failure.