ProSoft Technology 3300 Series Modules

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

ProSoft Technology 3300 Series: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The ProSoft Technology 3300 Series represents one of the most widely deployed families of in-rack communication interface modules for Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and SLC 500 platforms. Installed across global heavy industry sectors — including petrochemical refineries, nuclear power auxiliary systems, offshore platforms, and continuous-process chemical plants — the 3300 Series provides deterministic, protocol-specific communication bridging between legacy fieldbus networks and modern PLC backplanes. Its modular, slot-based architecture allows engineers to retrofit communication capability into existing control cabinets without replacing the host controller, a critical factor in facilities where downtime costs exceed six figures per hour.

The Evolution of 3300 Series Architecture

The 3300 Series was introduced as ProSoft Technology's answer to the growing demand for multi-protocol interoperability in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when industrial facilities were operating heterogeneous networks — Modbus RTU/ASCII, Modbus Plus, PROFIBUS DP, DeviceNet, ControlNet, and DH+ — simultaneously within a single plant. Early 3300 modules used a dual-port memory architecture with a shared RAM interface to the ControlLogix backplane, communicating via the RSLogix 5000 MSG instruction. This design remained consistent across the product family, enabling a common configuration methodology regardless of the target protocol.

As fieldbus standards matured and Ethernet-based protocols (EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus TCP) gained dominance through the 2010s, the 3300 Series entered a maintenance phase. ProSoft Technology shifted new development to the MVI56E and PLX Series platforms, which offer web-based configuration, enhanced diagnostics, and dual Ethernet ports. The 3300 Series is now classified as a mature/end-of-active-development product line. However, given the 20–30 year operational lifecycles typical in nuclear, refining, and chemical infrastructure, demand for 3300 Series spare parts and replacement modules remains structurally persistent. DriveKNMS maintains dedicated inventory and sourcing channels for this series to support long-term maintenance contracts.

3300 Series Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent verified, commonly deployed modules within the ProSoft Technology 3300 Series. Modules are classified by functional category.

Communication Adapters — Modbus & Legacy Serial

• 3300-MBP: Modbus Plus master/slave communication module for ControlLogix backplane.
• 3300-MCM: Modbus RTU/ASCII master/slave multi-channel serial communication module.
• 3300-MNET: Modbus TCP/IP client/server Ethernet communication module.
• 3300-MNETR: Modbus TCP/IP with redundant Ethernet port support for fault-tolerant networks.
• 3300-DFNT: DF1 protocol Ethernet pass-through module for Allen-Bradley legacy device integration.
• 3300-DH485: Data Highway 485 (DH-485) master/slave interface for SLC-class device networks.

PROFIBUS & DeviceNet I/O Adapters

• 3300-PDPMV1: PROFIBUS DP-V1 master module supporting acyclic messaging and GSD-based slave configuration.
• 3300-PDPS: PROFIBUS DP slave module, presents ControlLogix data as a PROFIBUS DP slave device.
• 3300-DNP: DeviceNet master/slave scanner module for ControlLogix, supports explicit and I/O messaging.
• 3300-DNPS: DeviceNet slave-only adapter for embedding ControlLogix into a DeviceNet master network.

Industrial Ethernet & EtherNet/IP

• 3300-ENBT: EtherNet/IP bridge module providing ControlLogix backplane access over standard 10/100 Ethernet.
• 3300-PNIO: PROFINET IO controller/device module for integration with PROFINET-based field devices.

Specialty Protocol & Process Control

• 3300-IEC61850: IEC 61850 GOOSE and MMS communication module for substation automation applications.
• 3300-DNP3: DNP3 master/slave module for SCADA and utility automation over serial or Ethernet.
• 3300-ASCII: ASCII serial communication module for custom protocol implementation via ladder logic.
• 3300-BSAP: Bristol BSAP master protocol module for integration with legacy Bristol Babcock RTUs.
• 3300-HART: HART pass-through module enabling HART device parameter access via ControlLogix MSG instructions.

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete 3300 Series Parts

The 3300 Series has not received active firmware development since approximately 2015–2018 depending on the specific module variant. Several SKUs — including the 3300-MBP, 3300-PDPMV1, and 3300-BSAP — are no longer manufactured and are available exclusively through secondary market channels. DriveKNMS operates a dedicated procurement desk for obsolete ProSoft Technology modules, sourcing from decommissioned plant inventories, authorized distributor overstock, and tested pull units from controlled shutdowns.

All sourced 3300 Series modules are subject to full functional verification before dispatch. DriveKNMS provides documentation of test results upon request, and can supply modules with original ProSoft Technology firmware versions to ensure compatibility with existing RSLogix 5000 Add-On Instructions (AOIs) and configuration files already deployed in the field. For facilities operating under IEC 61511 or ISA-84 functional safety frameworks, DriveKNMS can provide traceability documentation to support management of change (MOC) procedures.

Quality Control for the 3300 Series Range

The 3300 Series modules use a dual-port RAM backplane interface and an onboard processor running ProSoft Technology's proprietary firmware stack. Quality verification for these modules requires protocol-specific test environments that replicate the target fieldbus network. DriveKNMS employs the following test procedures for 3300 Series modules:

• Backplane Communication Test: Module is installed in a live ControlLogix chassis running RSLogix 5000. Module identity, firmware revision, and I/O data table population are verified via RSLinx Classic.
• Protocol Loop Test: For serial modules (3300-MBP, 3300-MCM, 3300-DH485), a loopback test is performed using a protocol analyzer to confirm correct frame construction, baud rate negotiation, and error recovery behavior.
• Ethernet Connectivity Test: For Ethernet-capable modules (3300-MNET, 3300-ENBT, 3300-PNIO), IP assignment, ping response, and live data exchange with a test master/slave device are confirmed.
• Thermal Burn-In: Modules are operated continuously for a minimum of 24 hours at rated operating temperature to screen for latent component failures.
• Firmware Version Verification: Firmware revision is recorded and matched against the customer's existing deployment version where specified, to prevent incompatibility with existing AOI configurations.

For procurement inquiries, technical compatibility questions, or bulk spare parts requirements for the ProSoft Technology 3300 Series:

• Email: [email protected]
• WhatsApp: +86 18359293191
• Web: driveknms.com