SIEMENS 6AV6545-0BC15-2AX0

What is 6AV6545-0BC15-2AX0 and where is it used?

The 6AV6545-0BC15-2AX0 is a Siemens SIMATIC TP170B Colour Touch Panel designed for machine-level operation and monitoring in existing automation systems. It is primarily used in legacy installations where MPI/PROFIBUS-DP communication, traditional Siemens HMI architectures, and older engineering environments remain in operation.

Typical applications include packaging machines, conveyor systems, machine tools, retrofit projects, and spare-parts support for active production lines. For maintenance and procurement teams, this panel is particularly relevant when an existing HMI must be repaired, replaced, or sourced identically without unnecessary changes to the machine logic, control panel cut-out, or communication structure.

Overview of the key technical data and what it means

The TP170B features a 5.7-inch STN colour display with a resolution of 320 × 240 pixels and an analogue resistive touchscreen. This configuration is designed for clearly structured machine screens, alarms, recipes, and basic diagnostic displays.

The front of the unit is rated IP65, making it suitable for industrial environments, while the rear is rated IP20, requiring installation within a control cabinet or protective enclosure.

For system integration, the most important specifications include a 24 V DC power supply, a typical power consumption of 7 W, MPI/PROFIBUS-DP, RS232/RS422/RS485 interfaces, and a CompactFlash card slot.

Engineering is carried out using ProTool/Lite from V5.2 SP2 or WinCC flexible Compact from 2004 onwards. For engineering and procurement purposes, these details are critical because they determine installation compatibility, communication capability, and project compatibility.

Product status, lifecycle status and obsolescence

EICHLER lists the 6AV6545-0BC15-2AX0 with the product status EOP (End of Product): 01.04.2008.

Siemens also announced the discontinuation of the TP170A/B product family effective 01.04.2008. Since then, these panels have only been available in a limited capacity, primarily as replacements for failed units.

For operators, this means that the device is now clearly an obsolescence-management issue. Procurement, maintenance, and lifecycle strategies should therefore focus not only on availability but also on repairability, data migration, and spare-parts stocking strategies.

For the discontinued TP170A/B family, Siemens identified the TP177A and TP177B as recommended successor products. However, a direct one-to-one replacement should not be assumed, as project content, interfaces, and migration requirements must be evaluated individually.

Available EICHLER services and when they are relevant

For the 6AV6545-0BC15-2AX0, EICHLER offers several practical support options: repair, exchange units, refurbished devices, and new units.

These options are particularly relevant when downtime costs are increasing while the existing installation must continue operating without modification.

Repair is the preferred option when the original device, project status, installation arrangement, and communication environment should remain unchanged. Exchange services are appropriate when production must resume as quickly as possible.

Refurbished and new units support procurement teams in managing pricing, stock availability, and long-term spare-parts strategies for obsolete HMI devices.

According to EICHLER, repairs include technical cleaning, preventive maintenance, comprehensive functional testing, and a minimum 24-month warranty. An optional test report for touch panels is also available.

These services help ensure continued functionality and supply security even after the product has entered the obsolescence phase.

Which software is required for 6AV6545-0BC15-2AX0?

For the 6AV6545-0BC15-2AX0, the typical engineering environments in existing installations are ProTool/Lite from Version 5.2 SP2 or WinCC flexible Compact from Version 2004 onwards. Siemens specifies these engineering platforms for the TP170B.

For operators of legacy systems, this is important because hardware availability alone does not guarantee that project modifications or panel replacement can be carried out without the appropriate engineering software. Anyone planning to maintain or migrate an existing ProTool project should therefore secure not only the panel itself, but also the software version, project source files, and migration path at an early stage.

Is 6AV6545-0BC15-2AX0 still available as a standard product or has it been discontinued?

The device has been discontinued. EICHLER lists the product status as EOP (End of Product): 01.04.2008, and Siemens officially announced the discontinuation of the TP170A/B product family effective 01.04.2008.

In practical terms, procurement today focuses on repair, exchange units, refurbished devices, or remaining new-old-stock inventory, rather than standard manufacturer supply. For procurement and decision-makers, the key consideration is therefore not simply the part number, but which supply route will restore production with the least risk and shortest downtime.

Which successor is suitable for a TP170B?

Siemens identified the TP177A and TP177B as recommended successor products for the discontinued TP170A/B family. However, this should not be regarded as an automatic one-to-one replacement.

In practice, the project migration, communication interfaces, screen design, functionality, and engineering environment must all be evaluated. With older ProTool projects in particular, it may first be necessary to migrate to a WinCC flexible-compatible platform. A low-risk replacement strategy therefore depends not only on the nominal successor but also on the complete technical and project-related feasibility.

Can I back up or restore an existing TP170B via CF card without an online connection?

Yes. Siemens describes a CompactFlash card-based backup and restore procedure for the TP170B, allowing projects, data, and parts of the system configuration to be backed up or restored without a live connection to the engineering PC.

It is important to use a Type 1 CF card and to ensure that the software and OS version of the target device match the backup. If a compatibility conflict is reported during restore, an operating system update must be performed first. For maintenance personnel, this method is particularly valuable when preparing rapid panel replacements on site without access to an engineering workstation.

When is repair more appropriate than replacement or purchasing another unit?

Repair is particularly worthwhile when the existing machine should continue operating unchanged, the original project must be retained, and mechanical or communication-related modifications should be avoided.

Replacement is generally focused on minimising downtime, as a fully functional replacement device may be available more quickly. Refurbished units are often suitable for cost-conscious spare-parts strategies or warehouse stock, while new units are primarily relevant when verified inventory remains available and planned stockholding is required.

The EICHLER product page offers exactly these supply options for the TP170B, allowing selection based on urgency, budget, and operational risk.

Which interfaces and key specifications should be checked before ordering a replacement?

Before ordering, you should verify the part number, 5.7-inch display size, 320 × 240 resolution, MPI/PROFIBUS-DP communication, RS232/RS422/RS485 interfaces, CompactFlash card slot, 24 V DC supply, IP65 front protection rating, and the engineering software in use.

These factors determine whether the panel will fit mechanically, communicate correctly with the existing PLC, and allow the existing project to be recommissioned with reasonable effort. With obsolete HMIs, procurement mistakes are often caused not by the basic touch-panel functionality itself, but by differences in communication interfaces, project versions, or retrofit compatibility.