Product Core Brief

• Model:
• Brand: GE Fanuc / Emerson Automation
• Series: PACSystems RX3i Serial Expansion I/O (IC694 Platform)
• Core Function: 10-slot passive serial expansion backplane, mechanical and electrical carrier for IC694 series I/O modules and dedicated expansion power supply. Used to build remote I/O racks connected to main RX3i CPU via serial expansion bus (IC695LRE001 transceiver).
• Product Type: 10-Slot Serial Expansion Passive Backplane
• Key Specs: Total 10 slots | Leftmost slot dedicated for IC694 series power supply | Serial bus only architecture | Rack ID DIP switch onboard | 25-pin D-Sub expansion bus connector Note: Discontinued legacy expansion baseplate; new original stock limited, surplus & refurbished widely available. NO hot swap support for any modules on this backplane. Cannot plug IC695 RX3i native modules directly; only IC694 series I/O. Incompatible with IC695CHSxxx main RX3i racks. Paired power supply: IC694PWR330 / IC694PWR321 / IC694PWR331.

 

Key Technical Specifications

• Slot Layout Definition Slot 0 (Leftmost): Dedicated power supply slot (only IC694PWR series power modules) Slots 1 ~ 9: I/O module slots for all IC694 discrete/analog modules
• Bus Type: Serial Expansion Bus only (no RX3i PCI bus)
• Backplane Internal Consumption: 150 mA @ 5 VDC
• Station Identification: Onboard DIP switch to set rack number (0~7)
• Expansion Interface: 25-pin female D-Sub serial expansion connector on right side
• Maximum Cable Length Between Main Rack and Expansion Rack: 15 m (50 ft)
• Mounting: Horizontal DIN rail or panel mounting
• Grounding: Integrated chassis ground lug for EMC shielding
• Compatible Power Supplies IC694PWR321, IC694PWR330, IC694PWR331
• Compatible I/O Modules: Full module family (IC694MDL discrete, IC694ALG analog modules)
• System Architecture: Connect to RX3i main rack equipped with IC695LRE001 serial transceiver
• Maximum System Scale: Up to 7 serial expansion racks per main CPU
• Operating Temperature: 0°C ~ +60°C horizontal cabinet mounting
• Storage Temperature: -40°C ~ +85°C
• Physical Dimensions: 443 × 130 × 142 mm
• Supported Software: Proficy Machine Edition
• Agency Certifications: UL508, Class I Div.2, CE

 

Product Introduction

is a 10-slot serial expansion backplane for PACSystems RX3i migration systems. It forms remote I/O racks hosting I/O modules (electrically compatible with legacy Series 90-30 I/O). These remote racks communicate with the main RX3i CPU via serial expansion cable and IC695LRE001 transceiver installed on the main RX3i rack. Ideal for plant incremental migration from Series 90-30 to RX3i platform.

Critical Layout & Platform Rules

1. Slot0 must be occupied by power supply; I/O modules cannot be placed in Slot0.
2. Set unique rack number via DIP switch before power-on; duplicate rack IDs cause I/O scan failures.
3. Not interchangeable with IC695CHS main RX3i backplanes; mechanical and bus architecture different.
4. Cannot install IC695 RX3i native I/O modules onto .

Comparison with sibling expansion baseplate

• : 10-slot serial expansion rack
• IC694CHS398: 5-slot compact serial expansion rack Both use identical serial bus and support the same modules.

 

QA & Testing SOP (Transparency Building)

1. Incoming Inspection: Verify part marking. Inspect backplane gold edge connectors for oxidation, bending, contamination; check D-Sub expansion connector and mounting brackets integrity.
2. Live Testing: Mount qualified IC694PWR330 power supply and I/O modules. Apply rack power, connect serial expansion cable to validated RX3i main rack, confirm all remote I/O modules detected by PME, run continuous 24-hour rack stability test.
3. Electrical Testing: Verify power trace continuity and ground bar integrity; insulation resistance ≥10MΩ between backplane circuits and chassis protective ground.
4. Documentation: Photograph slot layout, DIP rack switch setting and wiring before shipment.
5. Final QC & Packaging: Place unit inside anti-static shielding. Attach dated QC test tag confirming serial bus connectivity validation prior to shipment.

 

Installation Pitfalls & Guide

❗ No Hot Swap Support: Full remote rack power shutdown mandatory before any module insertion or removal. ❗ Strict Slot0 Rule: Slot0 exclusively for series power supply modules. ❗ Unique Rack ID Setting: Confirm DIP switch rack number is unique within the serial expansion system before power-up. ❗ Cable Length Limit: Serial expansion cable cannot exceed 15 meters; avoid routing alongside high-power AC cables. ❗ Power Budget Calculation: Sum all I/O module power consumption to avoid overloading power supply. ❗ Unidirectional Expansion: Expansion cable connects from main rack LRE001 to remote D-Sub port; do not create ring topology. ❗ EMC Grounding: Connect chassis ground lug to cabinet protective ground to reduce noise and static discharge risk.

Replacement Guide

1. Pre-install: Lockout-tagout remote expansion rack power; back up PME hardware configuration. Photograph existing slot arrangement, DIP rack switch setting and serial expansion cable wiring.
2. Removal: Power off rack, remove all I/O modules and power supply, detach DIN rail mounting clips.
3. Install: Mount new horizontally, install power supply first, then all I/O modules following original slot mapping; replicate DIP rack number setting.
4. Power-on Test: Restore rack power; launch Proficy Machine Edition, confirm all remote I/O modules are scanned without fault alarms, verify discrete/analog channel access.

 

FAQ

Q: Does support hot swap? A: No. No hot-swap capability for any modules installed on this serial expansion backplane.

Q: What is the difference between and IC694CHS398? A: Only slot quantity differs:

• : 10 slots
• IC694CHS398: 5 slots Bus architecture and module compatibility identical.

Q: Can I install IC695 RX3i I/O modules on ? A: No. Only series I/O modules are supported.

Q: Can connect directly to Series 90-30 CPU? A: No. Designed for RX3i CPU + IC695LRE001 serial expansion transceiver.

Q: How many serial expansion racks can one RX3i CPU support? A: Up to 7 expansion racks (mix of IC694CHS and legacy IC693 expansion racks), subject to CPU performance and I/O data volume limits.

Q: Can multiple power supplies be fitted on one ? A: Only one dedicated power slot (Slot0); single power supply per baseplate.