Description
The Woodhead (Brad/Molex Applicom) PCI4000 is an intelligent industrial network interface and communication card designed for PC-based control architectures. It features an onboard processor and is engineered to connect industrial computers directly to multi-port serial communications or Profibus fieldbus networks, offloading protocol processing from the host PC.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
| Manufacturer | Woodhead / Molex (Applicom technology) |
| Product Type | Industrial Network Interface Card (NIC) / Serial & Fieldbus Comm Board |
| Part Number (MPN) | PCI4000 |
| Form Factor | 5V, single-slot, short PCI card |
| Onboard Processor | Intel 80386EX (30 MHz) |
| Memory | 4 Mbytes |
| Communication Ports | Up to 4 mixed asynchronous serial or Profibus ports (accessed via a high-density 37-pin D-sub connector and remote splitter breakout box like the BX4010/BX4010R) |
| Electrical Interfaces | RS-485 / RS-422 (Optional configurations via daughter cards for RS-232 or 20mA Current Loop) |
| Baud Rate | 50 bps to 38,400 bps (standard serial variants) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +70 °C (32 °F to 158 °F) |
| Power Consumption | Approx. 4 W |
Supply Terms & Commercial Details
- Availability: Sourced primarily through industrial automation surplus channels, legacy hardware distributors, and specialized computer-card brokers (as many Applicom PCI cards are long-term legacy products).
- Lead Time: In-stock surplus hardware typically ships within 1 to 3 business days.
- Warranty: 12-month standard supplier replacement or repair warranty covering functional hardware defects.
- Condition: Typically available as Used/Tested Surplus, Factory Refurbished, or limited New Old Stock (NOS).
- Pricing Note: Price varies depending on market availability and inclusion of matching remote splitter boxes or breakout cables. Contact your vendor for a firm quote.
Engineering & Integration Guidance
When installing or replacing a PCI4000 card within an industrial PC or rackmount workstation, observe the following parameters:
- PCI Slot Compatibility: The card requires a standard legacy 5V PCI expansion slot. Verify motherboard compatibility, as newer modern motherboards only feature 3.3V PCI-Express (PCIe) slots.
- Onboard Processor Advantage: Because the card utilizes an onboard Intel processor and dual-port RAM database structure, it handles real-time polling locally. This eliminates data bottlenecks and prevents host PC operating system freezes from disrupting time-critical industrial polling.
- Breakout Wiring: Field devices connect to the card’s single 37-pin male D-sub port via an interface cable routed to an external remote serial splitter box (such as the BX4010 panel), breaking out the signals into individual isolated ports.
- ESD Precautions: Always use a grounded antistatic wrist strap and handle the board strictly by its metal bracket or edges to protect sensitive electronic traces and chips from electrostatic discharge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary function of the PCI4000?
The PCI4000 allows an industrial computer (IPC) to communicate reliably with industrial PLCs, variable frequency drives, and instrumentation networks (via serial protocols or Profibus) while keeping network overhead off the host CPU.
Does the card require specific driver software?
Yes. Applicom network interface cards require dedicated driver suites and configuration software to map the embedded database (DPRAM) parameters and configure communication protocols for SCADA, HMI, or custom PC control packages.
Can the PCI4000 act as a gateway?
Yes, the architecture supports gateway configurations, allowing data bridging between mixed serial configurations or connected Profibus lines depending on the loaded software protocols
