Multidrop make and break system

An apparatus for providing a trunk network and one or more branch sub-networks within a motor control center (MCC) of an industrial automation system comprising:

• a memory;
• processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is communicatively coupled to the memory;
• first physical layer circuitry configured to form the trunk network over a trunkline, wherein the trunkline comprises a trunkline cable extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the first physical layer circuitry is communicatively coupled to the memory and processing circuitry;
• second physical layer circuitry configured to:
• couple an MCC withdrawable unit and form a branch subnet over a branchline that connects and enables communication with one or more nodes within the MCC withdrawable unit;
• decouple the MCC withdrawable unit from the branch sub-network without disrupting the trunk network wherein the second physical layer circuitry is communicatively coupled to the memory, processing circuitry, and first physical layer circuitry;
• a sensor configured to detect a voltage, a current, or both, within the industrial automation system, wherein the sensor is coupled to the second physical layer circuitry;
• a first terminal configured to communicatively couple to the first end of the trunkline;
• a second terminal configured to communicatively couple to the second end of the trunkline;
• and
• a third terminal configured to connect to the MCC withdrawable unit.

A system, comprising:

• a motor control center (MCC);
• a multidrop system, comprising:
• a trunkline comprising multiple multidrop make and break devices connected through a trunkline cable extending from a first end to a second end, wherein each of the multidrop make and break device comprises:
• a memory;
• processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is communicatively coupled to the memory;
• first physical layer circuitry configured to form a multidrop network comprising multiple MCC units over the trunkline, wherein the first physical layer circuitry is communicatively coupled to the memory and processing circuitry;
• second physical layer circuitry configured to couple an MCC withdrawable unit installed in a bucket of the MCC and form an independent sub-network over a branchline that connects and enables communication with one or more nodes within the MCC withdrawable unit, wherein the multidrop make and break device is configured to couple the MCC withdrawable unit to, and decouple the MCC withdrawable unit from, the second physical layer circuitry without disrupting the sub-network, wherein the second physical layer circuitry is communicatively coupled to the memory, processing circuitry, and first physical layer circuitry;
• a sensor configured to detect a voltage, a current, or both, within the multidrop system, wherein the sensor is communicatively coupled to the second physical layer circuitry;
• a first terminal configured to communicatively couple to the first end of the trunkline;
• a second terminal configured to communicatively couple to the second end of the trunkline;
• and
• a third terminal configured to communicatively couple to the MCC withdrawable unit.