Parker AC890 is an AC Drive series used in many industrial machine systems requiring high-performance control of speed, torque, position, programming, and PLC communication. The AC890 is now obsolete, but in practice, many machines are still operating reliably with this Drive series.

When an AC890 fails or a company needs to proactively prepare replacement equipment, one option worth considering is to retrofit the system to a Parker AC20 or Parker AC30. The selection should not be based solely on the Drive power rating; the entire machine control architecture, program, I/O, motor, and communication system should be evaluated.

1. Parker AC890 Obsolete – What Should Existing Systems Do?

The fact that the Parker AC890 is obsolete does not mean that machines currently using the AC890 must be replaced immediately.

If the existing Drive is still operating reliably, the system can continue to be operated and maintained. However, when issues arise such as:

AC890 power section or control board failure.
Difficulty finding the correct AC890 model for replacement.
The need to upgrade the control system.
The need to modify or expand PLC–Drive communication.
The need to proactively secure equipment for long-term maintenance.

then retrofitting to a Parker Drive platform that is more widely used and available is an option that should be considered.

The two Drive series most commonly considered for this approach are Parker AC20 and Parker AC30.

2. Parker AC20 – A Suitable Retrofit Solution for Many AC890 Systems

Parker AC20 can support many of the control functions commonly used in AC890-based systems.

Through DSELite, users can configure parameters and develop control programs using Function Blocks according to the requirements of each machine.

The control functions that can be recreated include:

Speed control.
Torque control.
PID control.
Winder control.
Direction control.
RUN/STOP and Enable.
Analog/Digital signal processing.
Interlock logic.
Feedback signal processing.

Therefore, when retrofitting an AC890 system to an AC20, it should not be understood simply as replacing the Drive with one of the same power rating. The actual program and control functions of the AC890 should be analyzed in order to develop a corresponding configuration on the AC20.

3. Parker AC30 – A Powerful and Flexible Programming Platform for AC890 Replacement

While AC890 and AC20 use DSELite for configuration and Function Block programming, the AC30 provides a more powerful and flexible programming platform with PDQ – Parker Drive Quicktool.

This is one of the key points to consider when selecting the AC30 for AC890 retrofit applications.

With PDQ, users can develop control programs using Function Blocks and combine multiple function blocks to create dedicated control logic for each type of machine.

The AC30 supports a programming environment based on IEC 61131-3, allowing flexible control programs to be developed rather than being limited to basic Drive parameter configuration.

Some of the function groups available on the AC30 include:

Control logic.
Timers and Counters.
Mathematical operations.
Analog signal processing.
Digital Inputs/Outputs.
PID control.
Speed control.
Winder control.
Signal processing.
Function Blocks for machine-specific applications.

This programming capability makes the AC30 a highly flexible platform for retrofitting AC890 systems that use dedicated control programs or require additional functionality fo

4. AC20 and AC30 – Expanded Communication Capabilities

One of the most important aspects of an AC890 retrofit is the communication system between the Drive and PLC.

The Drive cannot simply be replaced while ignoring the existing communication architecture. The PLC, communication protocol, device address, data areas, and the way the PLC exchanges commands with the Drive must all be checked.

Depending on the system configuration, communication standards may include:

PROFINET
PROFIBUS
RS485 / Modbus
EtherNet/IP
Other industrial communication protocols

In particular, when migrating from an AC890 to an AC20 or AC30, the control data and feedback data mapping must be reconfigured to match the new Drive.

For example:

PLC → RUN/STOP → Direction → Speed Reference → AC Drive

and in the reverse direction:

AC Drive → Actual Speed → Status → Warning → Fault → PLC

Accurate checking and data mapping help ensure that the retrofitted system continues to follow the machine’s original operating logic.

5. DSELite and PDQ – Programming Platforms for AC20 and AC30

The selection approach can be summarized as follows:

Item	Parker AC20	Parker AC30
Software	DSELite	PDQ / PDD
Function Blocks	More than AC890	Highly flexible
Application programming	DSELite	IEC 61131-3
Custom control logic	Yes	High expandability
Communication	Multiple protocols	Multiple protocols
AC890 retrofit	Suitable for many systems	Suitable for simple to advanced systems

6. What Needs to Be Checked When Retrofitting AC890 to AC20 or AC30?

To select the appropriate equipment, the existing AC890 system should be surveyed before carrying out the retrofit.

Drive Specifications

AC890 model.
Power rating.
Rated current.
Voltage.
Control mode.
Installed options/modules.

Motor

Motor power rating.
Rated current.
Voltage.
Speed.
Encoder or feedback signal, if applicable.

Control System

PLC currently in use.
Digital Inputs/Outputs.
Analog Inputs/Outputs.
Enable, Run, and Direction signals.
Warning and fault signals.

Program

Function Blocks.
Control logic.
Interlocks.
PID.
Speed Reference.
Actual Speed.
Machine-specific functions.

Communication

PROFINET.
PROFIBUS.
RS485/Modbus.
EtherNet/IP.
Device address.
PLC–Drive data mapping.

7. Not Just Replacing the Drive – The Control System Must Also Be Retrofitted Accordingly

An AC890 retrofit to AC20 or AC30 should be carried out based on the actual architecture of the machine.

Some systems may only require the Drive to be replaced and the control program to be adjusted.

However, other machines may require:

Survey → Drive replacement → I/O wiring → Programming → Communication configuration → Commissioning.

In many cases, the existing PLC, motor, sensors, and other equipment can still be retained if they meet the technical requirements.

This allows the retrofit to focus on the components that actually need to be changed while minimizing the impact on the existing machine structure.

8. Parker Vietnam Provides AC890 Retrofit Solutions with AC20 and AC30

For machines currently using Parker AC890, preparing a replacement plan before the Drive experiences a failure allows businesses to take a more proactive approach to maintenance and system upgrades.

Parker Vietnam provides support for:

Surveying the existing AC890 system.
Checking the Drive model and specifications.
Selecting the appropriate Parker AC20 or AC30.
Designing and retrofitting the electrical cabinet.
DSELite / PDQ programming.
Developing Function Blocks.
Configuring PROFINET, PROFIBUS, RS485/Modbus, and other suitable communication methods.
PLC–Drive integration.
System commissioning and handover.

If your machine is currently using a Parker AC890, consider evaluating a retrofit solution to AC20 or AC30 while the system is still operating reliably.

Parker Vietnam – Retrofit and upgrade solutions for industrial drive and automation systems.

🌐 Website: parkervietnam.com
📞 Hotline/WhatsApp: +84 908353714
📧 Email: info@kythuatviet.vn