KONTRON CP306 36780 CompactPCI Memory Board

Product Details

CP306 36780 Product Description

The Kontron CP306-36780 is a high-reliability CompactPCI (cPCI) memory board engineered for deployment within the CP306 series control architecture. Designed to extend the memory capacity and processing headroom of embedded industrial computing platforms, this module integrates seamlessly into multi-slot 3U/6U CompactPCI backplanes, supporting deterministic data throughput, stable signal integrity, and long-term serviceability across demanding industrial environments. Whether deployed in a centralised control cabinet, a distributed I/O node, or a redundant SCADA front-end, the CP306-36780 delivers the memory bandwidth and architectural consistency that modern automation systems require.

The CP306-36780 is not a standalone component — it is a precision element within a layered automation architecture. In a typical CompactPCI-based control platform, the memory board operates in close coordination with the Kontron CP306 CPU board (system controller slot), which manages real-time task scheduling, interrupt handling, and OS-level memory allocation. The CP306-36780 expands the addressable memory pool available to the CPU, directly improving the performance of data-intensive applications such as historian buffering, alarm management, and multi-axis motion coordination.

At the communication layer, the CP306 architecture typically integrates fieldbus and industrial Ethernet gateway modules — such as PROFIBUS DP master/slave cards or PROFINET IO controller boards — mounted in adjacent cPCI peripheral slots. These communication modules rely on shared system memory for DMA transfers and protocol stack buffering; the CP306-36780 ensures that memory contention does not become a bottleneck in high-throughput fieldbus environments.

The I/O layer in a CP306-based system commonly includes digital and analogue I/O boards — for example, Kontron or third-party cPCI DIO modules and analogue input boards — that feed process signals into the CPU subsystem. Adequate memory capacity, as provided by the CP306-36780, ensures that I/O scan buffers, process image tables, and diagnostic logs can be maintained simultaneously without performance degradation.

For power layer integrity, the CP306 backplane is typically paired with a dedicated CompactPCI power supply module rated for the full slot load of the chassis. The CP306-36780 draws power exclusively from the backplane, imposing a minimal additional load and maintaining the overall power budget within safe margins for 24/7 industrial operation.

At the HMI layer, operator workstations running SCADA or HMI software — such as WinCC, iFIX, or InTouch — communicate with the CP306 CPU via OPC-UA or proprietary drivers. The memory expansion provided by the CP306-36780 supports larger tag databases, faster screen refresh cycles, and more concurrent client connections, directly improving operator situational awareness.

In redundant control architectures, a secondary CP306 chassis — mirroring the primary — may be deployed with an identical CP306-36780 memory configuration. Synchronisation modules or dual-port memory bridges maintain state consistency between primary and standby controllers, ensuring bumpless switchover in the event of a primary CPU fault. Consistent memory board specification across both chassis is essential for deterministic failover behaviour.

The execution layer — servo drives, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and motion controllers — receives setpoints and trajectory data from the CP306 CPU. With the CP306-36780 installed, the CPU can maintain larger motion profile buffers and execute more complex interpolation algorithms without risking buffer overflow or cycle-time violations.

At the protection and diagnostic layer, the CP306 platform supports IPMI-compatible board management, allowing remote monitoring of board temperature, voltage rails, and error counters. The CP306-36780 participates in this diagnostic fabric, with memory error events (ECC corrections, uncorrectable errors) reported to the system management controller for predictive maintenance alerting.

For long-term maintenance, NANKMOS maintains verified stock of the CP306-36780 alongside complementary CP306 series components, enabling like-for-like board replacement without chassis redesign. All units are dispatch-tested and covered under a 12-Month Warranty from the date of shipment.

Manufacturing & Discrete Automation: In automotive body-shop lines and electronics assembly systems, the CP306-36780 supports high-speed PLC scan cycles and robot coordination tasks within a CompactPCI-based machine controller. The expanded memory headroom accommodates large ladder logic programs, structured text routines, and real-time vision system data buffers.

Power Generation & Utilities: Substation automation and turbine control systems demand deterministic memory access for protection relay logic and event logging. The CP306-36780 provides the stable memory substrate required for IEC 61850-compliant SCADA front-end processors, ensuring that sequence-of-events (SOE) records are captured without data loss during fault conditions.

Petrochemical & Process Industries: In DCS-integrated control nodes for refinery units and chemical reactors, the CP306-36780 supports continuous historian data buffering and advanced process control (APC) algorithm execution. Its industrial temperature rating ensures reliable operation in control rooms adjacent to process areas with elevated ambient temperatures.

Water & Wastewater Treatment: SCADA-controlled pump stations and treatment plant controllers benefit from the CP306-36780's ability to maintain large process databases and support redundant communication stacks simultaneously, reducing the risk of data loss during network switchover events.

Mining & Metallurgy: Conveyor control systems, crusher automation, and smelter process controllers operating in high-vibration, high-dust environments rely on the rugged CompactPCI form factor. The CP306-36780's front-panel extraction design simplifies board replacement during scheduled maintenance windows without requiring full chassis shutdown.

Marine & Offshore: Vessel automation and offshore platform control systems require components certified for marine environmental conditions. The CP306-36780's wide temperature and humidity tolerance, combined with its compact cPCI form factor, makes it suitable for integration into marine-grade control cabinets where space and thermal management are critical constraints.

Q1: Is the CP306-36780 compatible with all CP306 series backplanes and CPU boards? The CP306-36780 is designed to the PICMG 2.0 CompactPCI standard and is compatible with CP306 series 3U and 6U backplanes. Compatibility with specific CPU boards depends on the memory interface supported by the system controller. We recommend confirming the target CPU board's memory slot specification before ordering. NANKMOS technical support can assist with compatibility verification prior to dispatch.

Q2: Can the CP306-36780 be installed in a live system, and does it support hot-swap? Hot-swap capability depends on the CompactPCI system controller and backplane supporting PICMG 2.1 hot-swap extensions. In systems where hot-swap is enabled, the CP306-36780 can be inserted or removed without powering down the chassis, provided the OS and driver stack support dynamic memory reconfiguration. For systems without hot-swap support, a controlled shutdown is required. NANKMOS supplies installation guidance documentation with each unit.

Q3: What does the 12-Month Warranty cover, and what is the lead time for replacement units? The 12-Month Warranty covers manufacturing defects, component failures under normal operating conditions, and early-life failures identified during the warranty period. It does not cover damage resulting from incorrect installation, overvoltage events, or environmental conditions exceeding the rated specification. NANKMOS maintains buffer stock of the CP306-36780 to support rapid replacement dispatch — typically within 3–5 business days for in-stock units. For warranty claims or advance replacement requests, contact [email protected] or call +86 18359268345.