Description
Key Technical Specifications
- Model Number: 330103-00-06-50-01-00
- Manufacturer: Bently Nevada (a Baker Hughes business)
- Probe Type: Eddy current (inductive) proximity probe with integral cable
- Probe Diameter: 8mm (0.315″) – industry-standard for medium/large rotating machinery
- Probe Length: 6mm (0.236″) – compact for tight bearing housing installations
- Cable Length: 50ft (15.24m) – long-reach for remote probe mounting
- Cable Construction: PFA (perfluoroalkoxy) insulation, 100% stainless steel braided shield, 22 AWG stranded copper conductors
- Connector Type: MIL-C-5015 male (mates with 3300 XL Proximitors)
- Linear Measurement Range: 2mm (0.079″) peak-peak
- Sensitivity: 200 mV/mm (5.08 mV/mil) typical (at 25°C, ferrous target)
- Operating Temperature: -54°C to +121°C (-65°F to +250°F)
- Isolation Rating: 500V AC (conductor to shield)
- Impedance: 50Ω (matched to 3300 XL Proximitor impedance)
- Certifications: CE, ATEX Zone 0 (Ex ia IIC T6), IECEx ia IIC T6, API 670 compliant
- Compatibility: Bently 3300 XL Proximitors, 3500 Machinery Protection System, 3300 Series monitoring modules
- Bend Radius: 15mm (static), 25mm (dynamic)
- Weight: 1.2kg (2.65lbs) (including 50ft cable)
Bently Nevada 330103-00-06-50-01-00
Field Application & Problem Solved
In rotating machinery with remote or hard-to-access bearing housings—refinery gas turbines, power plant steam turbines, chemical plant centrifugal compressors—the biggest probe challenge is long-reach, signal-integrity monitoring without compromising durability. Generic proximity probes fail here in three critical ways: their cables use fragile insulation (PVC melts in turbine lube oil), lack proper shielding (picking up VFD/ motor noise), or have mismatched impedance (causing sensitivity loss over 50ft runs). A Texas refinery lost $280k in a 4-hour outage when a generic probe’s cable shorted after lube oil seeped through PVC insulation, triggering a false turbine trip. A Pennsylvania power plant spent $32k annually replacing generic probes that introduced 60Hz noise into vibration data, leading to inaccurate bearing wear assessments.
This 330103 probe solves these issues with its factory-integrated 50ft PFA-shielded cable and Bently-native design. You’ll find it in: deep turbine bearing housings, compressor baseplates, pump motor mounts, and any installation where the probe must be 50ft or more from the proximitor. It’s the standard for retrofits or new builds where machinery design limits proximitor placement near the probe (e.g., large turbine casings or remote pump skids).
Its core value is long-reach signal integrity + harsh-environment durability + 3300/3500 compatibility. Unlike generics, it’s impedance-matched (50Ω) to Bently proximitors, ensuring no loss of the 200 mV/mm sensitivity critical for accurate displacement measurements over 50ft. The PFA insulation resists oil, chemicals, and extreme temperatures, while the 100% braided shield blocks EMI/RFI. For a Louisiana chemical plant, this probe enabled installing a sensor in a remote reactor pump housing—avoiding $45k in machinery modification costs to relocate the proximitor and eliminating false trips caused by generic cable noise.
Installation & Maintenance Pitfalls (Expert Tips)
- Connector Torque: 0.8Nm (7.1 in-lbs) – No More, No Less: Rookies over-torque MIL connectors, stripping threads or damaging pins, or under-torque them, causing intermittent signal loss. A Florida refinery’s probe failed after 3 months when the connector was torqued to 1.5Nm—use a torque wrench with a MIL adapter to hit the exact spec.
- Cable Routing: 30cm Clearance from Power Cables: Running the 50ft cable parallel to 480V+ power lines induces noise. A Michigan paper mill’s vibration data had persistent hum until the cable was rerouted through a separate conduit, 30cm away from motor power cables. Avoid crossing power lines at sharp angles—use 90° crossings if necessary.
- Shield Grounding: Single-Point at Proximitor End Only: Grounding the cable shield at both the probe and proximitor creates a ground loop, corrupting signals. An Ohio steel mill’s turbine data showed erratic displacement readings until we disconnected the shield from the machinery housing and grounded it solely at the proximitor. Never splice the shield—maintain continuous shielding from probe to proximitor.
- Avoid Daisy-Chaining or Splicing: Rookies splice shorter cables to reach 50ft or chain extensions, doubling impedance and signal delay. A North Carolina refinery’s probe sensitivity dropped by 40% until we replaced the spliced setup with this integral 50ft model—splicing voids calibration and introduces failure points.
- Cable Abrasion Protection: Secure Against Sharp Edges: The 50ft cable is prone to rubbing against machinery casings or conduit edges. A Texas refinery’s cable shorted after 18 months when the braid wore through—use cable ties with rubber grommets to secure the cable away from sharp surfaces, and inspect high-wear areas during shutdowns.
Bently Nevada 330103-00-06-50-01-00
Technical Deep Dive & Overview
The Bently Nevada 330103-00-06-50-01-00 is a purpose-built 8mm eddy current proximity probe designed for long-reach monitoring of critical rotating machinery. At its core, a precision-wound coil in the 8mm probe tip generates an alternating electromagnetic field. When a ferrous shaft (target) approaches the tip, eddy currents are induced in the shaft, altering the coil’s impedance. The integral 50ft cable transmits this impedance change to a 3300 XL Proximitor, which converts it into a linear voltage output (-24V to 0V) proportional to the probe-to-shaft gap—enabling accurate measurement of shaft vibration (radial/axial) and displacement.
What sets this probe apart is its signal integrity over long distances. The 50ft cable’s 50Ω impedance is matched to Bently proximitors, eliminating signal reflection and sensitivity loss that plague generic long-reach cables. The PFA insulation is chemically inert and heat-resistant, outperforming PVC or rubber in turbine lube oil, chemical vapors, and extreme temperatures (-54°C to +121°C). The 100% stainless steel braided shield provides complete EMI/RFI protection, blocking interference from VFDs, motors, and power cables that would corrupt the probe’s low-voltage (mV-level) signals.
Unlike generic probes, it’s API 670 compliant, meeting the strict reliability and precision requirements for machinery protection systems. Its compact 6mm probe length fits in tight bearing housings, while the MIL-C-5015 connector ensures a secure, vibration-resistant connection to proximitors. For maintenance teams, this probe isn’t just a sensor—it’s a reliable link that extends 3300/3500 system monitoring to hard-to-reach assets, enabling early fault detection (e.g., bearing wear, shaft misalignment) and preventing catastrophic downtime. Its rugged design and Bently-native integration make it the gold standard for long-reach proximity monitoring in harsh industrial environments.
