---
title: "OPC UA server on KinCony KC868-A16v3 / W5500"
url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/viktor/projects/opc-ua-server-on-kincony-kc868-a16v3-w5500/"
markdown_url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/viktor/projects/opc-ua-server-on-kincony-kc868-a16v3-w5500/md"
type: "UCC: User Created Content"
author: "Alex D"
author_url: "https://github.com/Aksurd/opcua_kincony_a16v3"
editor: "WIZnet"
editor_url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/"
original_author: "Alex D"
original_url: "https://github.com/Aksurd/opcua_kincony_a16v3"
published: "2025-12-30"
language: "en"
hardware: ["WIZnet W5500"]
likes: 0
views: 845
comments: 0
source: "WIZnet Makers (https://maker.wiznet.io/)"
---

# OPC UA server on KinCony KC868-A16v3 / W5500

> OPC UA server on KinCony KC868-A16v3 / W5500

Original author: Alex D (source: https://github.com/Aksurd/opcua_kincony_a16v3)

## Components

- **WIZnet W5500** x 1 ([docs](https://docs.wiznet.io/Product/Chip/Ethernet/W5500))

WIZnet parts: W5500 ([Datasheet](https://docs.wiznet.io/Product/Chip/Ethernet/W5500/datasheet?utm_source=maker&utm_medium=project&utm_campaign=w5500), [product hub](https://maker.wiznet.io/products/w5500/))

## Article

### Introduction

[![KinCony KC868-A16v3 (ESP32-S3 16CH Mosfet Board) | ESPHome Devices](https://devices.esphome.io/assets/images/KC868-A16v3-1-b3792f15eaab1c017129243e4cafef91.jpg)](https://www.kincony.com/esp32-s3-16-channel-gpio-module.html)

**opcua_kincony_a16v3** is an open-source project that turns the **KinCony KC868-A16v3** controller into an **industrial OPC UA gateway**—basically, it exposes the board’s I/O points (digital + analog) through the standardized **OPC UA** interface so SCADA/industrial clients can read and monitor them.

> Note: This is a community project and **not created by WIZnet** (and it’s also not an official KinCony product).

### Author introduction

The project is maintained on GitHub by **Aksurd**, and the readme lists the maintainer as **Alex D**.

### What is KinCony KC8680A16v3?

[![ESP32-S3 16 channel GPIO module – KC868-A16v3 – Smart Home Automation ...](https://www.kincony.com/images/KC868-A16v3/KC868-A16v3-shell-2.jpg)](https://www.kincony.com/esp32-s3-16-channel-gpio-module.html)

The **KinCony KC868-A16v3** is a compact **ESP32-S3** industrial controller that combines **Wi-Fi** with **100 Mbps Ethernet (RJ45)**. Notably, KinCony states they switched from the **LAN8720A to the WIZnet W5500** to improve Ethernet stability.

Hardware highlights include:

- **Digital I/O:** 16 opto-isolated digital inputs (dry contact) + 16 MOSFET outputs (with driver IC)

- **Analog:** 4× analog inputs (0–5V)

- **Interfaces & extras:** RS485, USB-C, SD card (SPI) for logging, DS3231 RTC (battery socket), SSD1306 I2C LCD, and 3× 1-Wire GPIO

- **Power & install:** 12/24V DC input, DIN-rail friendly housing

### What OPC UA is (and where it’s used)

**OPC UA (OPC Unified Architecture)** is an **industrial interoperability standard** (IEC **62541**) designed to let machines, controllers, and software exchange data in a consistent way across vendors and platforms.

[![OPC United Architecture Protocol FLC system architecture](https://control.com/uploads/articles/OPCUAreop_1.jpeg)](https://control.com/technical-articles/understanding-the-opc-ua-protocol/)
What makes it popular in factories:

- **Platform-independent** design that scales “from embedded controllers to cloud infrastructure.”

- Built-in focus on **security** (authentication, encryption, auditing) and long-term extensibility.

- Strong **information modeling**: not just raw registers—devices can expose structured objects/tags, relationships, and metadata.

Where OPC UA shows up in real life:

- **SCADA/HMI monitoring**, alarms/events, and historian-style data collection

- **PLC-to-software integration** (MES/ERP, dashboards, analytics)

- **Industrial gateways / IIoT edge devices** sending plant-floor data upward (and sometimes controlling setpoints back down)

### Project description (what it does)

Key points from the repo + the author’s forum write-up:

- **OPC UA Server implementation** using **open62541** + **ESP-IDF** (ESP32 environment).

- Exposes the board I/O through an OPC UA information model (goal: “IoT controller → Industrial gateway”).

- Hardware coverage includes **16 digital I/O (via PCF8574)** and **4 analog inputs**.

- Reported test result: **consistent reads under ~5 ms per tag** and validated with an industrial SCADA client (Simple SCADA).

### Why WIZnet is used (in this hardware + project context)

The **KC868-A16v3** uses the **WIZnet W5500** for Ethernet—KinCony even highlights that they **replaced** a PHY-based solution with **W5500 “more stable.”**
That matters here because an OPC UA gateway needs steady, predictable Ethernet connectivity, and W5500 is a common choice when you want reliable 10/100 Ethernet over SPI without building everything from scratch.

### How it can benefit

- **Industrial protocol visibility:** This is a clean example of “W5500 hardware in the loop” for a real industrial standard (OPC UA), not just basic TCP sockets.

- **Gateway reference angle:** “Low-cost controller → OPC UA industrial gateway” is a strong story for makers **and** light-industry users exploring Industry 4.0 pilots.

---

Source: https://maker.wiznet.io/viktor/projects/opc-ua-server-on-kincony-kc868-a16v3-w5500/