Using CCW with VFDs Quick Start
Learn to use CCW to upload & download parameters to A-B PowerFlex VFDs, including:
| ✓ Setup RSLinx's Ethernet IP Driver | ✓ Setup RSLinx's Ethernet Devices Driver |
| ✓ Where to get PowerFlex manuals | ✓ How to download and apply updates |
| ✓ Connect to PF52x series using USB | ✓ How to use the PowerFlex USB utility |
| ✓ Import, edit, export parameter files | ✓ Up/download PowerFlex parameters |
| Buy For Someone Else (Voucher) | Open Course Data Sheet (PDF) |
Note: to purchase this course for someone else, choose “Voucher.” Enrolling three or more people? Contact us here to learn about our group enrollment program.
At a Glance
- Format
- Online, self-paced
- Lessons
- Ten online lessons, plus bonus videos
- Access
- Lifetime, no expiration
- Certificate
- Yes, with PDHs
- Starting Price
- $24
- Content Last Reviewed
- March 17, 2026
On This Page
What You’ll Learn
By the End of This Course, You’ll Be Able To:
- ✓ Set up RSLinx Classic’s EtherNet/IP driver
- ✓ Set up RSLinx Classic’s Ethernet Devices driver
- ✓ Find and download PowerFlex manuals
- ✓ Download and apply updates
- ✓ Connect to the PowerFlex 52x series using USB
- ✓ Use the PowerFlex USB utility
- ✓ Import, edit, and export parameter files
- ✓ Upload and download PowerFlex parameters
What You Receive With Your Purchase
- ✓ Immediate online access
- ✓ Ten online lessons
- ✓ Online instructor support
- ✓ Completion certificate with PDHs
- ✓ No expiration date
- ✓ Take lessons in any order
- ✓ Retake lessons as needed
- ! VFD hardware & software is NOT included
Proudly Serving Thousands of Individuals and Companies
Using CCW with VFDs Quick Start Online Training Course
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to learn how to use Connected Components Workbench (CCW) with Allen-Bradley drives.
All you need is our affordable Using CCW with VFDs Quick Start online course.
Using CCW with VFDs Quick Start is the perfect online course for electricians, technicians, and engineers who want to learn to use Connected Components Workbench (CCW) with Allen-Bradley drives.
Taught by a factory-certified automation specialist with over thirty-five years of experience, this course teaches you everything you need to know to get started using CCW with VFDs with confidence.
Unlike other vendors’ courses that only become available after you purchase their expensive hardware or trainers, this course is built around Rockwell’s free CCW software — we show you where to download a free copy and how to install it.
For those who’d like to follow along with a physical drive, we cover which Allen-Bradley VFDs are compatible with CCW, as well as the programming cables and connections you’ll need.
We stay involved after the sale: our expert instructors visit The Automation School each weekday to answer questions in the lesson discussion area, and you’re welcome to retake any lesson at any time — none of our courses expire.
Finish the course and pass all the quizzes, and you’ll earn an official Completion Certificate from The Automation School listing the Professional Development Hours you’ve completed.
Topics Covered in This Course
Below is a summary of the topics covered in this course. For a complete list of topics, see the course lesson list.
- Where you can download a free copy of CCW
- How to install CCW, including how to work around the .NET issue
- How to download and install drivers and firmware for the 1203-USB cable
- How to set up RSLinx Classic’s EtherNet/IP and Ethernet Devices drivers
- How to set up RSLinx Classic’s driver for the 1203-USB cable
- How to download PowerFlex manuals and update files
- How to connect to the PowerFlex 520 series using USB on Windows 10 and 7
- How to use the PowerFlex USB utility to upload and download parameters from the 520 series
- How to import, edit, and export PowerFlex USB utility parameter files in CCW
- How to use CCW to upload and download drive parameters over Ethernet
- How to use CCW and the 1203-USB to upload and download drive parameters over DSI
- Free Bonus 1! How to set the PowerFlex 525’s Ethernet address using its keypad
- Free Bonus 2! How to set the PowerFlex 525’s Ethernet address using BOOTP
Who Should Take This Course
Anyone who needs to learn how to back up and restore Allen-Bradley VFD parameters using CCW over Ethernet, over USB, and with the 1203-USB cable.
Who This Course Is NOT For
- Anyone looking to learn PLC programming — this course focuses on using CCW with Allen-Bradley VFDs; see our PLC and PAC courses instead
- Anyone looking for training on non-Allen-Bradley drives (e.g. ABB, Siemens, Yaskawa)
- Anyone looking for drive wiring or installation training — this course focuses on CCW software, drive communications, and managing drive parameters
- Anyone who wants to complete the optional hands-on exercises but doesn’t have access to a CCW-compatible Allen-Bradley VFD and programming cable. Compatible drives and cables are covered in the course, but some initiative is required of students who wish to follow along on their own hardware.
Meet Your Instructor
Shawn Tierney
Industrial Automation Instructor
Founder of The Automation School, The Automation Blog, and host of The Automation Podcast and Show
Hi, I'm Shawn Tierney, and I've spent more than 35 years helping electricians, technicians, engineers, and programmers learn how to setup, program, and troubleshoot industrial automation products and systems.
During my first 25 years I attended over fifty weeks of Rockwell Automation training, and earned several certifications, including becoming a Rockwell Automation Certified Controls & Information Specialist.
And since 2015 I've focused full-time on creating practical online and in-person training courses to help people like you build and maintain real-world PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems.
Throughout my career I've trained thousands of automation professionals in manufacturing, OEM, and system integration environments. Every course I create is based on practical field experience, emphasizing techniques you can immediately apply on the plant floor.
My goal is simple: help you become more confident, more productive, and more valuable as an automation professional.
- 35+ Years in Industrial Automation
- Rockwell Automation Certified Controls & Information Specialist
- Instructor to Thousands of Automation Professionals
- Creator of The Automation School
- Author of The Automation Blog
- Host of The Automation Podcast and Show
Learn more about Shawn at The Automation Blog.
Course and Bundle Pricing
| Feature | Using CCW with VFDs Quick Start |
A-B Mega Bundle Save 45% |
A-B Ultra Bundle Save 45% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $24 | $699 | $899 |
| Instant & lifetime access | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lesson Q&A support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Completion certificate with PDHs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CCW VFD Quick Start | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CompactLogix courses | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| ControlLogix courses | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Micro800 courses | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| MicroLogix courses | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| PanelView Plus / FTViewSE courses | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mastering PLCLogix / Factory I/O | — | — | ✓ |
| SLC-500, PLC-5, SLC-100 & DeviceNet | — | — | ✓ |
| Enroll | Buy Online Course | Buy 11 Course Bundle | Buy 17 Course Bundle |
Note: to purchase this course as a gift, or for someone else to take, choose the Voucher option at the top of the page.
Lesson Snapshots
Student Reviews
All students who complete the course are invited to leave a review, and you can see all the existing student reviews on the Reviews tab above.
Course Requirements
Requirements to follow along and/or complete any optional exercises
Students who wish to complete any optional exercises, or just follow along with the instructor as he teaches, will need the following:
- An internet connection to take this online course, as well as to download the free Connected Components Workbench (CCW) software from Rockwell’s website
- An Allen-Bradley VFD compatible with CCW (compatible devices are covered in the course)
- A compatible programming cable for the VFD you wish to use that will also work with your PC (cables and connections are covered in the course)
- A Windows PC compatible with the above software and Allen-Bradley VFD
To learn if your PC’s Windows Operating System is compatible with the version of Connected Components Workbench you’d like to use, see Rockwell’s compatibility page.
Course Pre-sales Questions
Have a question about this course? Send it to the instructor below.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Is this course beginner friendly? Do I need previous CCW experience?
This course starts at the very beginning of the CCW workflow: where to download a free copy of CCW, how to install it (including how to work around the .NET issue), and how to set up the RSLinx Classic drivers you’ll need.
From there, you’ll learn how to connect to Allen-Bradley drives and how to upload, download, back up, and restore their parameters.
If you’re unsure whether this course fits your needs, please send me your question using the pre-sales question form on this page.
Who is this course designed for?
I designed this course for electricians, technicians, and engineers who want to learn to use Connected Components Workbench (CCW) with Allen-Bradley drives.
It’s especially useful for anyone who needs to back up and restore Allen-Bradley VFD parameters using CCW over Ethernet, over USB, and with the 1203-USB cable.
How long does it take to complete?
The course includes more than an hour and a half of video instruction across ten online lessons, plus free bonus videos.
And since all of my courses include lifetime access, you can return and review any lesson as often as you like.
Do I need a physical VFD to take this course?
No.
You can watch every lesson without one. However, if you’d like to follow along with me or complete the optional exercises, you’ll need an Allen-Bradley VFD that is compatible with CCW, along with a compatible programming cable that will also work with your PC.
Compatible drives, cables, and connections are all covered in the course.
What software do I need?
The course is built around Connected Components Workbench (CCW), which Rockwell offers as a free download from its website.
I show you where to download a free copy of CCW and how to install it, and I also cover how to set up the RSLinx Classic drivers used to connect to your drive over Ethernet and with the 1203-USB cable.
Is instructor support included?
Yes.
At the bottom of every lesson is a discussion area where students can post questions, and our expert instructors visit The Automation School each weekday to answer them (see Lesson 1.10, which is available as a free preview).
Is the course self-paced?
Yes.
The course is completely self-paced, and you can take the lessons in any order.
Because the course has no expiration date, you can also come back and retake any lesson as the need arises.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes.
When you finish the course and pass all the quizzes, you’ll receive an official Completion Certificate from The Automation School that lists the Professional Development Hours (PDHs) you’ve earned by completing all of the course content.
Technical Questions
Which Allen-Bradley drives are covered?
In this course, I show you how to connect to the PowerFlex 520 series using USB, how to use the PowerFlex USB utility to upload and download 520 series parameters, and (in two free bonus videos) how to set the PowerFlex 525’s Ethernet address using its keypad and using BOOTP.
You’ll also learn how to use CCW to upload and download drive parameters over Ethernet, and over DSI using the 1203-USB cable.
Drives compatible with CCW are covered in the course, and an additional bonus video provides an overview of the PowerFlex 755TS.
Does the course cover EtherNet/IP?
Yes.
I cover how to set up RSLinx Classic’s EtherNet/IP and Ethernet Devices drivers, and how to use CCW to upload and download drive parameters over Ethernet.
Two free bonus videos also show how to set the PowerFlex 525’s Ethernet address using its keypad and using BOOTP.
Does the course cover the 1203-USB cable?
Yes.
I show you how to download and install the drivers and firmware for the 1203-USB cable, how to set up its RSLinx Classic driver, and how to use it with CCW to upload and download drive parameters over DSI.
Can I use CCW with parameter files from the PowerFlex USB utility?
Yes.
I show you how to use the PowerFlex USB utility to upload and download parameters from the 520 series, and then how to import, edit, and export those parameter files in CCW.
Does the course cover installing CCW?
Yes.
I cover where to download a free copy of CCW and how to install it, including how to work around the .NET issue.
Does the course show how to find PowerFlex manuals and updates?
Yes.
I show you where to get PowerFlex manuals, and how to download and apply update files.
Practical Questions
Will this help me back up and restore drive parameters at work?
Yes.
Backing up and restoring Allen-Bradley VFD parameters with CCW is the focus of this course, and I cover doing it over Ethernet, over USB, and with the 1203-USB cable.
Is this course included in any bundles?
Yes.
This course is included in both the A-B Mega Course Bundle (11 courses) and the A-B Ultra Course Bundle (17 courses). See the pricing table above to compare what each bundle includes.
License Agreement and Permitted Use of Our Online Courses
This section covers the license agreement and permitted use of our online courses and course bundles, which also includes any course materials, code snippets, downloads, and provided software — taken together, referred to collectively as a “course.”
The purchase of a single copy of a course grants a single individual the right to use the course for personal instruction and reference only. Purchasing a course for yourself (or for another) does not grant anyone the right to distribute or share that work beyond the single individual who registers to take the course.
Show more
This means the course and course materials may not be shared with friends, relatives, co-workers, students, or anyone else, as each sale is for an individual license to access, view, and take the lessons, quizzes, and exercises, and to download any course materials, documents, code, files, and software included with the course.
This per-person licensing helps ensure that the instructor — who created the course and exclusively holds its copyright — can cover the cost of creating it, keeping it available to new and existing customers, and answering ongoing student questions, while receiving fair compensation for a course licensed on a per-person basis.
It is unlawful to share this copyrighted course and course material even if you do not charge or profit from doing so — including for non-profit and governmental organizations — since this proprietary educational work is designed as a chargeable training resource, not one made freely available to the public.
Any unauthorized sharing of the course or course materials would reduce the potential for additional sales and licensing, directly impacting the instructor’s ability to cover costs, keep the course available, and support customers who purchased it lawfully.
If you have questions about the above, please contact us using the “Contact” link in the site menu.
Course Content
Reviews
I really enjoyed the course. thank you so much.
Just wondering if ccw can be used in other application.
About the Instructors
