The VW3AP3720 is a communication module for the Altivar drive range, adding Modbus TCP and EtherNet/IP connectivity via two RJ45 ports at 10/100 Mbps. It supports daisy-chain topology, so you can link multiple drives on a single network drop without an external switch at each node — saves a port per drive on the plant-floor switch. An embedded HTTP web server is built in, giving you drive monitoring, parameter setting, pump-function diagnostics, Ethernet diagnostics, firmware upgrade, and energy monitoring through a browser — no commissioning software needed for basic checks. The module runs the CiA 402 and CIP AC Drive profiles, so it integrates natively with PLCs expecting standardized drive control over EtherNet/IP or Modbus TCP. IPv6 support is included for networks transitioning to the newer addressing scheme.
Deployment context and constraints
This module cannot be ordered alone — it must be combined with a standard Altivar enclosure. Plan for the enclosure as part of the BOM line; the module itself snaps into the drive's option slot. Three LEDs on the faceplate report Module Status, Network Status, and port activity (TX/RX for each RJ45). At a glance you can tell whether the drive is talking to the PLC or if the cable drop is dead — useful during commissioning and fault isolation. The web interface includes a customizable home page with widgets (ID, control, data table, diagnostic, charts) and a save/restore function for drive configuration. That means a field tech can clone settings from one drive to another without a laptop running the full software suite.