Description
DS3800HPTNPC: Product Overview
The DS3800HPTNPC is a daughterboard-grade high-voltage pulse attenuator that plugs onto a motherboard carrier inside the GE Speedtronic Mark IV rack. It sits electrically between high-energy pulse sources (ignition transformers, exciter fields, or IGBT gate drivers) and the central CPU, attenuating >1 kV pulses to low-level, isolated signals that the CPU can use for energy control, arc-fault detection, and protective tripping. Because it is hardware-deterministic (no firmware), the card delivers bit-exact timing across all three legs of a TMR string, making it suitable for SIL-2 / API 670 energy-limiting loops.
The board belongs to the DS3800 daughterboard architecture, allowing hot-swap replacement without rewiring the turbine deck. Gold-plated edge fingers, conformal coat, and –20 °C to +70 °C rating ensure 25-year service life in coal-dust, salt-fog, or high-vibration environments.
DS3800NDAC1B1C
DS3800HXPA1B1A: Technical Specifications
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Model Number: DS3800HPTNPC (suffix NPC denotes high-voltage pulse attenuator)
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Manufacturer: General Electric (GE)
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Product Type: High-Voltage Pulse / Attenuator Board
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System Compatibility: Speedtronic Mark IV (6BA06 slot)
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Input Range: >1 kV pulses (field-attenuated to ±10 V)
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Output Range: 0–5 V isolated (to CPU A/D)
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Isolation: 1500 V AC board-to-ground (from VME back-plane)
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Connectors: 40-pin modular (field side) + VME edge fingers (back-plane side)
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Input Protection: 120 V AC / 125 V DC continuous over-voltage withstand
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Operating Temperature: -20 °C to +70 °C; Storage: -55 °C to +125 °C
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Certifications: CE, RoHS, IEEE 344 seismic qualified
Core Features & Customer Value
Hardware-Deterministic Timing
Because the card contains no flashable firmware, every attenuated pulse responds with bit-exact timing across all three legs of a TMR string. This eliminates scan-to-scan jitter that could introduce voter disagreement, giving you SIL-2 / API 670 confidence for energy-limiting or arc-fault loops.
Because the card contains no flashable firmware, every attenuated pulse responds with bit-exact timing across all three legs of a TMR string. This eliminates scan-to-scan jitter that could introduce voter disagreement, giving you SIL-2 / API 670 confidence for energy-limiting or arc-fault loops.
Hot-Swap Ready
Daughterboard form allows you to extract and insert the card while the turbine remains on-line (provided the carrier is in a TMR string). Mean-time-to-repair is <5 minutes, so you avoid forced outages and start-up delays.
Daughterboard form allows you to extract and insert the card while the turbine remains on-line (provided the carrier is in a TMR string). Mean-time-to-repair is <5 minutes, so you avoid forced outages and start-up delays.
Field-Calibratable Without Software
On-board attenuation network and jumper-selectable I/O ranges let you match ±10 V pickups or 4–20 mA loops on the turbine deck using only a screwdriver and a scope. This eliminates the need for a laptop or OEM service call when you swap high-energy sources or change cable runs.
On-board attenuation network and jumper-selectable I/O ranges let you match ±10 V pickups or 4–20 mA loops on the turbine deck using only a screwdriver and a scope. This eliminates the need for a laptop or OEM service call when you swap high-energy sources or change cable runs.
Surge-Hardened for Harsh Sites
Continuous 120 V AC / 125 V DC over-voltage withstand and TVS diodes on every line clamp >500 V spikes from lightning, VFD switching, or exciter flash-over. The 1500 V galvanic isolation barrier prevents ground-fault currents from propagating into the low-voltage CPU domain, extending card life beyond 25 years in coal-dust, salt-fog, or high-vibration environments.
Continuous 120 V AC / 125 V DC over-voltage withstand and TVS diodes on every line clamp >500 V spikes from lightning, VFD switching, or exciter flash-over. The 1500 V galvanic isolation barrier prevents ground-fault currents from propagating into the low-voltage CPU domain, extending card life beyond 25 years in coal-dust, salt-fog, or high-vibration environments.
DS3800NDAC1B1C
Typical Applications
Gas Turbine Ignition & Exciter Energy Control
In large combined-cycle plants, DS3800HPTNPC is widely used to attenuate ignition-transformer pulses and exciter field spikes. The >1 kV input withstand and 0–5 V isolated output allow the CPU to monitor energy delivery without exposing the A/D converter to high voltage, enabling predictive energy-limiting that prevents coil overheating.
In large combined-cycle plants, DS3800HPTNPC is widely used to attenuate ignition-transformer pulses and exciter field spikes. The >1 kV input withstand and 0–5 V isolated output allow the CPU to monitor energy delivery without exposing the A/D converter to high voltage, enabling predictive energy-limiting that prevents coil overheating.
Steam Turbine Gate-Driver Feedback
The card’s high-voltage input capability makes it the preferred interface for IGBT gate-driver feedback and crowbar circuits. During load ramps, the deterministic attenuation preserves pulse-edge timing while the 40-pin modular connector keeps the rack footprint small.
The card’s high-voltage input capability makes it the preferred interface for IGBT gate-driver feedback and crowbar circuits. During load ramps, the deterministic attenuation preserves pulse-edge timing while the 40-pin modular connector keeps the rack footprint small.
Island-Mode & Black-Start Sites
On offshore platforms or remote peaking plants, the –20 °C rating and conformal coat allow the card to run without HVAC. Battery-backed operation is supported because the card draws <1 W and continues to deliver accurate attenuated readings when external high-energy sources are powered from station DC.
On offshore platforms or remote peaking plants, the –20 °C rating and conformal coat allow the card to run without HVAC. Battery-backed operation is supported because the card draws <1 W and continues to deliver accurate attenuated readings when external high-energy sources are powered from station DC.
