ABB Implementation

Foundation Fieldbus for ABB

All-digital, two-way communication protocol for process automation with distributed control in field devices.

Type: FieldbusSpeed: 31.25 kbps (H1)Released: 1996Organization: FieldComm Group

31.25 kbps

Bandwidth

32 per segment (H1)

Max Nodes

1900m (no repeaters)

Max Distance

Yes

Real-Time

Protocol Overview

All-digital, two-way communication protocol for process automation with distributed control in field devices.

When to Use Foundation Fieldbus

Choose Foundation Fieldbus for complex process plants where distributed control in field devices offers advantages, or greenfield process installations.

Technical Specifications

Physical Layer

Physical Layer: IEC 61158-2 (H1), Ethernet (HSE)
Cable Type: IEC 61158-2 twisted pair
Topology: Bus, Tree, Star
Power Over Cable: Yes

Data Layer

Data Link: Link Active Scheduler (LAS)
Encoding: Manchester
Error Detection: CRC-16
Frame Size: 256 bytes

Performance

Scan Time: Determined by LAS (typically 100ms)
Deterministic: Yes
Real-Time: Yes

Certification

Certification Required: Yes
License Cost: FieldComm Group membership and device testing
Version: H1 / HSE

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

✓Distributed control in field (no PLC needed)
✓Intrinsically safe
✓Supports function blocks in devices
✓Power and communication on same wire
✓True process automation architecture
✓Extensive diagnostics
✓Interoperable devices

Disadvantages

✗Complex configuration and engineering
✗Slow speed (31.25 kbps)
✗Expensive devices
✗Steep learning curve
✗Less common than alternatives
✗Competing with PROFIBUS PA and HART

Common Use Cases & Applications

Process plant automation

Oil and gas production

Chemical processing

Pharmaceutical manufacturing

Refining operations

Complex process control

Industry Adoption

Adoption LevelMedium

Market Share10-15% of process automation

Geographic PresenceWorldwide

Primary Industries

Oil & GasChemicalPharmaceuticalRefining

Supported Message Types

Scheduled

Unscheduled

Alarms

Trends

Supported PLC Brands

Emerson

ABB

Yokogawa

Honeywell

Endress+Hauser

Siemens

Quick Links

Alternative Protocols

PROFIBUS PA
HART
Ethernet-APL

Related Standards

IEC 61131-3
International standard for programmable logic controller programming languages. Defines 5 programmin...
IEC 61131 Series
Complete series of international standards for programmable logic controllers covering hardware, sof...