The Siemens Operator Panel OP 15-A (often designated by part number 6AV3515-1EB00) is a legacy industrial Human Machine Interface (HMI) from the SIMATIC family. It was widely used in the 1990s and early 2000s for monitoring and controlling automated processes.
Below is a detailed technical description of the OP 15-A:
1. Hardware and Display
The OP 15-A is a text-based line display unit. Unlike modern touchscreens, it relies on a physical membrane keyboard and a high-contrast LCD.
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Display Type: Backlit LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).
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Format: It typically supports a 4-line or 8-line display mode (depending on configuration), with up to 20 or 40 characters per line.
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Keyboard: * System Keys: 24 keys for navigation and data entry (numeric).
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Function Keys: 16 user-definable function keys (F1–F16), often with LEDs for status indication.
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Softkeys: 8 integrated softkeys for context-sensitive operations.
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2. Interfaces and Connectivity
The OP 15-A was designed to communicate directly with Siemens S5 and S7 PLCs using several integrated ports:
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TTY / V.24 (RS232): Used for point-to-point communication with the PLC or for programming the unit via a PC.
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RS422 / RS485: Standard industrial ports for longer distances or bus-based communication.
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Protocols: Supports standard Siemens protocols like AS511 (for S5 PLCs) and MPI (for S7 PLCs).
3. Technical Specifications
| Feature | Details |
| Model Number | 6AV3515-1EB00 (OP15/A) |
| Input Voltage | 24V DC |
| Memory | Internal Flash for firmware and SRAM (battery-backed) for project data. |
| Dimensions | Approx. 233mm (Width) x 161mm (Height). |
| Protection | IP65 (Front panel) — protected against dust and water jets. |
4. Software and Programming
This unit is programmed using Siemens’ older HMI software. It is not compatible with modern TIA Portal.
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Primary Software: ProTool (versions up to V6.0).
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Project Transfer: Data is transferred via a serial cable (PC/PPI cable or RS232 cable).
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Functions: It allows the configuration of alarms, password protection, recipes, and event-driven tasks.
5. Maintenance and Current Status
The OP 15-A is now a Legacy/Discontinued product.
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Battery: It uses a lithium battery to retain the real-time clock and static RAM data. If the battery dies, you may lose your machine’s settings or “recipe” data.
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Modern Replacement: Most users now upgrade these to the SIMATIC Comfort Panels or Basic Panels using a conversion process, though this usually requires rewriting part of the communication logic in the PLC.
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