Bihl+Wiedemann BWU1569 AS-Interface 3.0 Gateway – Obsolete AS-i Spare Part

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

Bihl+Wiedemann BWU1569 AS-Interface 3.0 Gateway – Obsolete AS-i Spare Part

RFQ support for obsolete parts: Send the model number, required quantity and destination so DriveKNMS can confirm sourcing options before quotation.

Solving the Discontinued Hardware Crisis

The BWU1569 was designed for environments where standard plastic-housing gateways are not acceptable — food processing lines, washdown zones, and pharmaceutical clean rooms where stainless steel enclosures are a regulatory or hygiene requirement. This combination of AS-i 3.0 protocol support and stainless steel construction made the BWU1569 a highly specific component. There is no universal drop-in substitute available from current production catalogs that satisfies both requirements simultaneously without additional engineering work.

How to extend your automation asset life by 5–10 years through strategic spare parts management:

Condition & Reliability Assurance

Sourcing discontinued hardware from the secondary market carries legitimate risk. DriveKNMS applies a structured five-step inspection protocol to every BWU1569 unit before it is offered for sale.

Step 1 – Electrolytic Capacitor Assessment: Capacitor aging is the primary failure mode in gateway electronics stored beyond five years. Each unit undergoes ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) measurement on all electrolytic capacitors. Units with out-of-specification readings are rejected.

Step 2 – Firmware Version Verification: The installed firmware version is documented and cross-referenced against known compatibility requirements for AS-i 3.0 slave addressing. Units with corrupted or unverifiable firmware are not offered as functional replacements.

Step 3 – Pin and Connector Corrosion Inspection: All field wiring terminals and bus connectors are inspected under magnification for oxidation, mechanical deformation, and contact resistance. Corroded contacts are a common cause of intermittent communication faults that are difficult to diagnose in the field.

Step 4 – Power-On Functional Test: Each unit is powered and verified to complete its initialization sequence and present correct status indicators before packaging.

Step 5 – Condition Grading and Documentation: Each unit is assigned a condition grade (New Surplus, Refurbished, or Tested Used) with supporting documentation provided to the buyer. No unit is shipped without a declared condition grade.

Key Features for System Maintenance

The BWU1569 is a direct physical and electrical replacement for the original installed unit. No AS-i slave re-addressing is required when replacing a failed unit with one carrying the same firmware version. No PLC program modifications are necessary. The replacement procedure is limited to physical installation and wiring reconnection — the same task a maintenance technician performs for any field device swap.

How do I confirm the unit is genuine and not counterfeit?
All units sourced by DriveKNMS are inspected for manufacturer markings, label authenticity, and PCB construction consistency. Condition documentation and, where available, original packaging are provided with each shipment. Buyers are encouraged to request pre-shipment photos.