Description
Key Technical Specifications
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Model Number: DS3800HXTA1E1E
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Manufacturer: General Electric
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Function: High-speed parallel data transmitter / signal buffer
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Form Factor: 6BA06 Euro-card (≈ 233 × 160 mm)
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Connectors: Dual 40-pin headers (J1/J2) to CPU rack; multiple 10/16-pin aux headers for daughter-cards
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Logic Levels: 5 V CMOS/TTL; 6-layer PCB for impedance control
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Isolation: 500 V channel-to-ground on analog paths; opto-coupled digital lines
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Power Demand: +5 V @ 1.5 A, +15 V @ 0.3 A from back-plane 2PL bus
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Operating Temperature: 0 – 60 °C board rating
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Weight: ≈ 0.22 kg metal-clad frame
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Repairability: Epoxy-sealed traces—board replacement only
Field Application & Problem Solved
In a Mark IV C-core the CPU needs a low-skew, high-density link to remote I/O pods—this board is the freeway. It sits between the main processor and the HXRA receiver cards, buffers the parallel address/data bus, and gives each pod its own regulated 5 V rail. When a lightning hit blows a trace, the epoxy seal limits damage to one lane—you swap the whole card in three minutes and the turbine is back online—no download, no re-cal. Every peaker crate keeps a spare taped inside the door because without HXTA the CPU can’t talk to the I/O world.
In a Mark IV C-core the CPU needs a low-skew, high-density link to remote I/O pods—this board is the freeway. It sits between the main processor and the HXRA receiver cards, buffers the parallel address/data bus, and gives each pod its own regulated 5 V rail. When a lightning hit blows a trace, the epoxy seal limits damage to one lane—you swap the whole card in three minutes and the turbine is back online—no download, no re-cal. Every peaker crate keeps a spare taped inside the door because without HXTA the CPU can’t talk to the I/O world.
Installation & Maintenance Pitfalls (Expert Tips)
Dual connectors must seat evenly
J1/J2 are 40-pin and long—half-latch one and you get random “DATA FAULT” that clears when you wiggle the card. Push until both extractors click, then tug-test.
Dual connectors must seat evenly
J1/J2 are 40-pin and long—half-latch one and you get random “DATA FAULT” that clears when you wiggle the card. Push until both extractors click, then tug-test.
Epoxy seal means no trace repair
If a via lifts or a trace burns, you cannot solder it—epoxy won’t take heat. Order a new board; attempting repair voids the UL listing and you’ll fight the same fault next month
If a via lifts or a trace burns, you cannot solder it—epoxy won’t take heat. Order a new board; attempting repair voids the UL listing and you’ll fight the same fault next month
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Power-up sequence matters
The HXTA bus must be live before the CPU boots. If you rack this card after the CPU, the processor throws “HXTA TIMEOUT” and hangs. Always install in slot order: power, I/O, then CPU.
The HXTA bus must be live before the CPU boots. If you rack this card after the CPU, the processor throws “HXTA TIMEOUT” and hangs. Always install in slot order: power, I/O, then CPU.
Metal frame is live at 5 V potential
The heat-spreader plane floats at logic ground. Bolt it to the cabinet while the rack is hot and you’ll short 5 V through the mounting screw—blown fuse and a dead CPU. Always rack the breaker before you swap the card.
The heat-spreader plane floats at logic ground. Bolt it to the cabinet while the rack is hot and you’ll short 5 V through the mounting screw—blown fuse and a dead CPU. Always rack the breaker before you swap the card.
DS3800HXTA1E1E
Technical Deep Dive & Overview
Internally the board is a passive signal highway—no CPU, no firmware. Address buffers (74ACT244) and data transceivers (74ACT245) distribute the 32-bit HXTA bus to each remote pod; local 5 V DC-DC converters provide isolated power. Because everything is hardware, you can hot-swap with the rack powered: pull the old card, slam in the new, seat both 40-pin connectors, and the CPU re-scans the I/O map inside 100 ms
Internally the board is a passive signal highway—no CPU, no firmware. Address buffers (74ACT244) and data transceivers (74ACT245) distribute the 32-bit HXTA bus to each remote pod; local 5 V DC-DC converters provide isolated power. Because everything is hardware, you can hot-swap with the rack powered: pull the old card, slam in the new, seat both 40-pin connectors, and the CPU re-scans the I/O map inside 100 ms
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