53MC5000 Micro-DCI Controller
"A" to "B" Conversion

Effective February 1, 2009, the 53MC5000 Design Level A controller was removed from sale and replaced by the Design Level B controller.

The Design Level B main board supports both the Standard Resolution and High Resolution displays. When used in conjunction with the High Resolution display, the Design Level B main board provides an enhanced front-face configuration menu system feature and hot-swap display capability. These features are not available with the Design Level A. The Design Level B main board also features a run timer counter/real-time clock, regardless of the display type.

The Design Level B also eliminates the “PIC” (Personality Integrated Circuit) chip that determined the functionality of the controller, and instead uses a soft license. This makes it much easier to upgrade the functionality of the controller to include more loops or extended programmability by merely upgrading the license.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between Design Level A and Design Level B?

The Design Level B board:

• Eliminates the obsolete ASIC chip
• Provides a real-time clock
• Uses FLASH system memory, allowing you to download feature updates via RS-232 configuration port or RS-485 DataLink port
• Determines Software function via license instead of the Personality IC (PIC)
• Supports both the standard resolution and high resolution displays

2. Doesn’t “Design Level B” include a high-resolution display?

In the past we linked the Design Level B board with the high-resolution display for convenience and because of the advanced features available when paired with the display. However the board will support both types of displays and we have changed the price and spec sheets to reflect this.

3. Can I still buy spare/replacement main boards (686B608U0*) for Design Level A?

The last-time-buy supply of ASIC chips used on the Design Level A boards is exhausted and the Design Level A boards are no longer available. However, there is a corresponding Design Level B main board kit for each type of Design Level A main board (see the cross-reference table). The Micro-DCI spare parts list has been updated to reflect this.

4. When I buy a Design Level A replacement board that converts my Design Level A controller to a Design Level B controller do I automatically get the high-resolution display?

No. There are two forms of upgrade kits: one which includes the "B" main board only and a cable for connection to a Standard Resolution display, and one which includes the "B" main board and a high-resolution display.

5. Will the Design Level B main board work with the Standard Resolution (formerly “A2”) display?

YES. The Design Level B main board supports both types of displays (with the associated ribbon cable).

6. Can I get the Design Level B features just by substituting a Design Level B main board on my existing controller?

Using a Standard Resolution display, you can take advantage of all the Design Level B features except the new configuration menu system and display hot-swap (changing the display without powering down the controller). These are functions of the high-resolution display.

7. When I send my Design Level A controller in for repair will I get a Design Level B board back?

The Design Level A board will only be replaced with a Design Level B board if it is not repairable.  

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