The Allen-Bradley PLC-5 is the rack-based controller built from 1785 processors and 1771 chassis, I/O modules, power supplies and field wiring arms. It ran whole plants for decades, and many of those systems are still in service. This page lists what Rockwell Automation itself says about each common catalog number – nothing from distributor lists – so you can plan spares and a migration with the manufacturer's facts in hand.
Key takeaways
- Rockwell says its PLC-5 controllers are discontinued, and every 1785 and 1771 catalog number in the tables below shows Discontinued on its own Rockwell product page.
- The dates run from July 2016 to December 31, 2025 – the 1771-IB input module was one of the last to go.
- Rockwell no longer has a product page for many older numbers, such as the 1785-L40B and the 1771-A1B to A4B chassis; we list only what we could read on Rockwell's site.
- Rockwell's path is ControlLogix, with tools to convert the program and 1771 wiring conversion systems that keep the field wiring on the swing arm.
What Rockwell's own pages say
Rockwell's PLC-5 migration page is direct about the controllers: they
“had a long run, but they are now discontinued”
– Rockwell Automation, PLC-5 to ControlLogix Migration (Rockwell Automation page), checked September 29, 2026
We opened Rockwell's product page for each catalog number in the tables below on September 29, 2026. The 1785-L80B, 1785-L80E and 1785-L80C15 processors show Discontinued as of July 31, 2017, and the 1785-ENET Ethernet interface module as of May 18, 2017. The 1771 dates are spread from 2016 to 2025: the 1771-OAD on December 31, 2016, most power supplies on March 31, 2021, the 1771-OA on September 29, 2023 and the 1771-IB on December 31, 2025.
For most of these parts Rockwell's page gives an engineering replacement category but names no replacement catalog number; for the 1771-IB, 1771-OFE1, 1771-OFE2 and 1771-WH it says there is no planned Rockwell replacement. Many other PLC-5 numbers – the 1785-L20B, L40B and L60B processors and the 1771 chassis among them – returned “Page Not Found” on Rockwell's site, so they are not in the tables. Our lifecycle status guide explains what each status means.
Status by catalog number
As shown on each catalog number's Rockwell product page on September 29, 2026. Each catalog number links to a search of our stock.
PLC-5 processors & memory
| Catalog number | Product | Status | Discontinued date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1785-L80B | PLC-5 Processor | Discontinued | July 31, 2017 | Rockwell |
1785-L80E | PLC-5 Ethernet Processor | Discontinued | July 31, 2017 | Rockwell |
1785-L80C15 | PLC-5 ControlNet 1.5 Processor | Discontinued | July 31, 2017 | Rockwell |
1785-ME16 | PLC-5 16K Words Memory Module | Discontinued | September 30, 2021 | Rockwell |
Communication & adapters
| Catalog number | Product | Status | Discontinued date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1785-ENET | PLC-5 Ethernet Interface Module | Discontinued | May 18, 2017 | Rockwell |
1771-ASB | 1771 Remote I/O Adaptor Module | Discontinued | December 31, 2017 | Rockwell |
1771 digital I/O
| Catalog number | Product | Status | Discontinued date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1771-IAD | 1771 16 Point Digital Input Module | Discontinued | March 10, 2020 | Rockwell |
1771-IBD | 1771 16 Point Digital Input Module | Discontinued | March 10, 2020 | Rockwell |
1771-IB | 1771 8 Point Digital Input Module | Discontinued | December 31, 2025 | Rockwell |
1771-IQ16 | 1771 16 Point Digital Input Module | Discontinued | March 10, 2020 | Rockwell |
1771-IGD | 1771 16 Point Digital Input Module | Discontinued | December 31, 2020 | Rockwell |
1771-OAD | 1771 16 Point Digital Output Module | Discontinued | December 31, 2016 | Rockwell |
1771-OBD | 1771 16 Point Digital Output Module | Discontinued | January 31, 2021 | Rockwell |
1771-OA | 1771 8 Point Digital Output Module | Discontinued | September 29, 2023 | Rockwell |
1771-OW16 | 1771 8 Point Digital Output Module | Discontinued | March 31, 2021 | Rockwell |
1771-OQ16 | 1771 16 Point Digital Output Module | Discontinued | January 31, 2021 | Rockwell |
1771-OGD | 1771 16 Point Digital Output Module | Discontinued | July 31, 2017 | Rockwell |
1771-OZL | 1771 Digital Output Module | Discontinued | January 31, 2021 | Rockwell |
1771 analog & specialty I/O
| Catalog number | Product | Status | Discontinued date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1771-IFE | 1771 Analog Input Module | Discontinued | May 31, 2017 | Rockwell |
1771-IL | 1771 Analog Input Module | Discontinued | May 31, 2017 | Rockwell |
1771-OFE1 | 1771 Analog Output Module | Discontinued | March 4, 2021 | Rockwell |
1771-OFE2 | 1771 Analog Output Module | Discontinued | March 4, 2021 | Rockwell |
1771-NIS | 1771 Analog Module | Discontinued | May 31, 2017 | Rockwell |
1771-NOC | 1771 Analog Module | Discontinued | May 31, 2017 | Rockwell |
1771-IXE | 1771 8 Point Input Module | Discontinued | May 31, 2017 | Rockwell |
1771-CFM | 1771 4 Flow Meter Module | Discontinued | March 20, 2019 | Rockwell |
1771-VHSC | 1771 Combination Module | Discontinued | December 3, 2019 | Rockwell |
1771 power supplies & wiring arms
| Catalog number | Product | Status | Discontinued date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1771-P4S | 1771 Power Supply | Discontinued | March 31, 2021 | Rockwell |
1771-P6S | 1771 Power Supply | Discontinued | March 31, 2021 | Rockwell |
1771-P7 | 1771 Power Supply | Discontinued | March 31, 2021 | Rockwell |
1771-PS7 | 1771 Power Supply | Discontinued | July 30, 2016 | Rockwell |
1771-WB | 1771 Field Wiring Arm, 12 Terminals | Discontinued | May 19, 2020 | Rockwell |
1771-WH | 1771 Field Wiring Arm, 21 Terminals | Discontinued | May 7, 2020 | Rockwell |
1771-WN | 1771 Field Wiring Arm, 32 Terminals | Discontinued | May 19, 2020 | Rockwell |
Sources: every status, date and replacement on this page comes from Rockwell Automation's own product page for that catalog number (the “Rockwell” links in the Source column), read on September 29, 2026. Statuses change: before you buy or plan a migration, check the current status on Rockwell's product lifecycle search.
Rockwell Automation documents cited: Converting PLC-5 or SLC 500 Logic to Logix-Based Logic reference manual, publication 1756-RM085I-EN-P (September 2025); I/O Wiring Conversion Systems, PLC-5 1771 to ControlLogix 1756 selection guide, publication 1492-SG121E-EN-P (July 2016).
Rockwell's migration path
Rockwell's PLC-5 migration page points to the ControlLogix platform and offers conversion tools, wiring conversion systems and migration services. It also says Rockwell still repairs PLC-5 controllers and related parts, even discontinued ones, and warns that spare parts, repaired units and experienced engineers are getting harder to find.
Two Rockwell documents cover the practical work. The Converting PLC-5 or SLC 500 Logic to Logix-Based Logic reference manual (publication 1756-RM085I, September 2025) describes converting the program for a Logix controller; treat the converted program as a draft to review offline. The I/O Wiring Conversion Systems selection guide (publication 1492-SG121E, July 2016) describes conversion modules for moving 1771 I/O to 1756 ControlLogix I/O: the existing 1771 swing arm plugs onto the conversion module, and a pre-wired cable carries the signals to the new 1756 module, so the field wires stay where they are.
What to do now
- List every PLC-5 system you run: processor catalog number, series and firmware revision, every 1771 module by rack and slot, the power supplies and the communication cards.
- Mark each one against the tables. Everything listed is discontinued; for anything not listed, check Rockwell's site yourself.
- Buy spares for the systems you can't afford to lose: a processor with a firmware revision that runs your program, a power supply, one of each I/O module and spare wiring arms. Our PLC quote page takes single parts; a whole spares list goes through our ISO list form and gets an official written quote in under 24 hours on business days.
- Back up every program and note the processor's firmware revision next to it.
- Plan the migration in phases, for example processor and network first and I/O with wiring conversion later, so each outage stays short.
Safety first: change 1771 modules, power supplies and processors only as Rockwell's instructions allow, following your site's lockout/tagout procedure. Field wiring on a 1771 swing arm can be live from other sources even when the rack is off – verify before you touch it.
PLC-5 parts in our stock
With nothing new coming from Rockwell, surplus and used units are where PLC-5 hardware comes from. Each catalog number in the tables links to a live search of our store; you can also browse all 1785 processors and modules and 1771 I/O, power supplies and wiring arms, or the PLC processors and I/O modules categories. Every item we stock is photographed, so read the series and firmware on the label before you buy.
Can't find a part, or need several? Send the catalog numbers through the obsolete parts quote page and we'll check our shelves and our sourcing network. Purchase orders are welcome; payment is due before we ship.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Allen-Bradley PLC-5 discontinued?
Yes. Rockwell Automation says its PLC-5 controllers are now discontinued, and every 1785 and 1771 catalog number in the table on this page shows Discontinued on its own Rockwell product page, with dates from July 2016 to December 31, 2025.
Why are some PLC-5 catalog numbers missing from the table?
When we checked, Rockwell's site no longer had a product page for many older catalog numbers, such as the 1785-L40B processor and the 1771-A1B to 1771-A4B chassis. We only list what we could read on Rockwell's own site. Send us the number and we'll check our shelves and our sourcing network.
What does Rockwell recommend instead of the PLC-5?
ControlLogix. Rockwell publishes a reference manual for converting PLC-5 logic to Logix-based logic, and I/O wiring conversion systems that move 1771 field wiring to 1756 I/O without removing the wires from the existing swing arm.
Does Rockwell still repair PLC-5 parts?
Rockwell's PLC-5 migration page says it repairs PLC-5 controllers and related parts, including discontinued ones. Ask Rockwell or your distributor about your catalog number.