Guide to PROFINET Communication Between Parker AC20 and Siemens S7-1200 PLC

In modern industrial machine systems, controlling variable frequency drives through industrial communication networks can significantly reduce the number of signal wires while allowing the PLC to monitor and control multiple drive parameters.

One highly practical solution is to use a Parker AC20 with PROFINET communication to a Siemens S7-1200 PLC.

AC20 profinet PLC S7-1200 Siemens

With this configuration, the PLC can send control commands and speed references to the AC20, while simultaneously receiving information such as the Status Word, actual speed, motor current, Digital Input/Output status, and other parameters depending on the configured data mapping.

The actual image above shows an electrical control cabinet equipped with multiple Parker AC20 drives, integrated with a Siemens PLC and a centralized control system.

1. Parker AC20 – S7-1200 Communication Diagram

The basic configuration is:

Siemens S7-1200 → PROFINET → Parker AC20 → Motor

Where:

  • S7-1200: PROFINET Controller.
  • Parker AC20: PROFINET IO Device.
  • GSDML: Device description file used by TIA Portal to identify and configure the AC20.
  • Ethernet cable: PROFINET network connection between the PLC and AC20.

Parker provides a GSDML file that allows the AC20 to be added to the Hardware Catalog in TIA Portal. After importing the GSDML file, the AC20 can be added to the Network View and assigned to the PLC’s PROFINET network.

Network AC20 profinet PLC

2. Preparation Before Configuration

To establish PROFINET communication between the Parker AC20 and Siemens S7-1200, the following equipment and software should be prepared.

PLC Side

  • Siemens S7-1200 PLC with a PROFINET interface.
  • TIA Portal.
  • Ethernet/PROFINET cable.

Parker AC20 Side

  • Parker AC20 drive.
  • Firmware compatible with the PROFINET configuration.
  • Appropriate PROFINET interface/version.
  • Parker AC20 GSDML file.

3. Installing the Parker AC20 GSDML File in TIA Portal

This is the first step when configuring the AC20 in a Siemens PLC system.

In TIA Portal, go to:

Options → Manage general station description files (GSD)

Then:

  1. Select the folder containing the Parker AC20 GSDML file.
  2. Select the correct GSDML file.
  3. Click Install.
  4. Wait for TIA Portal to complete the installation process.

4. Adding the Siemens S7-1200 PLC to the Project

Create a new project in TIA Portal.

Go to:

Devices & Networks → Add new device

Select:

SIMATIC S7-1200

Then select the exact CPU model being used.

For example:

CPU 1212C / CPU 1214C / CPU 1215C

The appropriate model depends on the actual PLC installed in the system.

Next, configure the PLC’s PROFINET interface, including:

  • IP Address
  • Subnet Mask
  • PROFINET Interface

For example:

PLC S7-1200
IP: 192.168.1.10
Subnet: 255.255.255.0

5. Adding the Parker AC20 to the Network View

After the GSDML file has been installed:

Go to the Hardware Catalog and locate the Parker AC20 PROFINET device.

Drag the AC20 into the Network View.

Then connect the PLC’s PROFINET interface to the AC20 PROFINET interface.

Network AC20 profinet PLC

If the system includes multiple AC20 drives:

                 PROFINET
                    │
              ┌─────┴─────┐
              │ S7-1200   │
              └─────┬─────┘
                    │
       ┌────────────┼────────────┐
       │            │            │
     AC20 #1      AC20 #2      AC20 #3
       │            │            │
     Motor        Motor        Motor

This configuration is particularly suitable for machines with multiple motors that need to be controlled centrally.

6. Setting the PROFINET Device Name and IP Address

This is a very important step.

Each AC20 must have:

  • A unique IP Address
  • A unique PROFINET Device Name

For example:

Device IP Address Device Name
S7-1200 192.168.1.10 PLC_S71200
AC20 #1 192.168.1.20 AC20_01
AC20 #2 192.168.1.21 AC20_02
AC20 #3 192.168.1.22 AC20_03

Device Names and IP addresses must not be duplicated within the same network.

After configuring the hardware, perform Assign device name for each AC20 so that the PLC can correctly identify the corresponding PROFINET device.

7. Configuring Process Data Mapping

This is the most important part when programming AC20 PROFINET communication.

It is not enough to simply make sure that the PLC can detect the AC20. You need to clearly determine:

What data does the PLC send to the AC20?

and

What data does the AC20 return to the PLC?

The Parker AC20 allows parameters to be included in the process data mapping. The GSDML file provides the corresponding modules that can be selected during PLC configuration.

A typical speed-control configuration may include:

PLC → AC20

  • Control Word
  • Speed Reference
  • Other control commands as required

AC20 → PLC

  • Status Word
  • Speed Feedback
  • Analog Input
  • Analog Output
  • Digital Input
  • Digital Output
  • Other parameter values

8. Control Word and Speed Reference

For a PLC-controlled drive system, two main groups of data are typically required:

Control Word

The PLC uses the Control Word to send commands such as:

  • Enable
  • Run
  • Stop
  • Reset
  • Forward/Reverse
  • Other control states

Speed Reference

The PLC sends the speed reference value to the AC20.

A typical control logic can be illustrated as follows:

PLC
 │
 ├── Control Word ────────► AC20
 │
 └── Speed Reference ─────► AC20
                              │
                              ▼
                            Motor

When the AC20 is running, feedback data is transmitted back to the PLC:

AC20
 │
 ├── Status Word ─────────► PLC
 │
 └── Speed Feedback ──────► PLC

The PLC can then monitor whether the drive is:

  • Ready
  • Running
  • Stopped
  • In Fault
  • In Warning
  • At the commanded speed

9. Data Mapping in TIA Portal

After adding the AC20 to the Network View, the Device View will display the data modules defined by the GSDML file.

These modules correspond to the process data exchanged between the PLC and AC20.

For example:

AC20
Output → PLC Input
-------------------------
Status Word
Speed Feedback
Analog Input
Digital Input

PLC Output → AC20 Input
-------------------------
Control Word
Speed Reference
Command

The actual I/O addresses are assigned by TIA Portal.

For example, as an illustration:

Note: The addresses shown above are for illustration purposes only. The actual I/O addresses depend on the user’s hardware configuration and address assignment.

10. Programming the Siemens S7-1200 PLC

After completing the Hardware Configuration and data Mapping, these I/O areas can be used in the PLC program.

A basic control logic can be structured as follows:

Start Command
      │
      ▼
Control Word
      │
      ▼
   Parker AC20
      │
      ▼
Status Word
      │
      ▼
PLC checks drive status

At the same time:

Speed Setpoint
      │
      ▼
PLC Output
      │
      ▼
Parker AC20
      │
      ▼
Motor Speed

For an actual application, it is recommended not to place the entire drive control logic directly in OB1. Instead, dedicated DB/FB blocks should be created for each AC20.

For example:

DB_AC20_01
 ├── ControlWord
 ├── SpeedReference
 ├── StatusWord
 ├── SpeedFeedback
 ├── Current
 ├── Fault
 └── Ready

If the system has four drives:

FB_AC20
 ├── AC20_01
 ├── AC20_02
 ├── AC20_03
 └── AC20_04

This program structure makes the system much easier to maintain, troubleshoot, and modify when a drive needs to be replaced.

11. Checking PROFINET Communication

After downloading the program to the S7-1200, check the following items:

In TIA Portal

  • PLC is Online.
  • AC20 is Online.
  • No BF/Bus Fault is present.
  • The Device Name is correct.
  • The IP Address is correct.
  • The I/O modules show no errors.

On the AC20

Check the PROFINET communication status, including:

  • Link
  • Network Status
  • Module Status
  • Communication Status

The AC20 PROFINET interface provides network and connection status indicators that can be used to help troubleshoot and verify the communication system.

12. Common Issues When the AC20 Cannot Communicate with the S7-1200

Issue 1: The PLC Cannot Detect the AC20

Check the following:

  • Is the GSDML file installed correctly?
  • Has the AC20 been added to the Hardware Configuration?
  • Is the Device Name correct?
  • Is the IP Address configured within the correct subnet?

Issue 2: Ethernet Link Is Active but the PLC Reports a PROFINET Error

Having an Ethernet Link does not necessarily mean that PROFINET communication is running correctly.

Check the:

Device Name

This is one of the common causes of problems during PROFINET commissioning.

Issue 3: The AC20 Is Online but the Speed Reference Has No Effect

In this case, check:

  • Process Data Mapping.
  • Control Word.
  • Speed Reference.
  • Run Command Source.
  • Speed Reference Source.
  • Fieldbus/PROFINET configuration parameters.
  • Whether the drive is configured to accept commands from the fieldbus.

Issue 4: The PLC Can Read Status Data but Cannot Control the AC20

This is an important case to pay attention to.

PROFINET communication may already be OK, while the AC20 control configuration has not been switched to use the fieldbus as the command source.

In other words:

Communication OK does not necessarily mean Drive Control OK.

The following items should be checked separately:

Communication → Command Source → Reference Source → Process Data Mapping

as well as the relevant parameters required by the AC20 application.

13. Conclusion

Connecting the Parker AC20 to a Siemens S7-1200 via PROFINET is not simply a matter of connecting an Ethernet cable between the PLC and the drive.

A complete system configuration requires:

GSDML → Hardware Configuration → IP/Device Name → PROFINET Network → Process Data Mapping → Control Word → Speed Reference → Status Feedback → Commissioning

When properly configured, the S7-1200 PLC can control and monitor the Parker AC20 through PROFINET, significantly reducing conventional hardwired control signals and providing a convenient foundation for future system expansion.

This approach is particularly beneficial for systems with multiple Parker AC20 drives, allowing centralized control, drive status monitoring, and fault management directly from the PLC.