Description
Key Technical Specifications
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Model Number: IS420UCSBH1A
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Manufacturer: GE (General Electric)
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Processor: 600 MHz Intel EP80579 (single-core)
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Memory: 256 MB DDR2 SDRAM (ECC), 2 GB NAND Flash
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Operating System: QNX Neutrino RTOS
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Power Supply: 18-36 VDC, 24 V nominal, 15 W max
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Comms: 2 × IONet (IEEE 1588 time-sync ≤ 100 µs), 10/100 Ethernet, RS-232/485
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On-board I/O: 8 DI, 8 DO, 4-20 mA AI, configurable up to 32 mixed points
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Isolation: 1500 V AC channel-to-channel
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Operating Temperature: –40 °C…+85 °C
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Dimensions: 150 × 100 × 50 mm
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Weight: 0.5 kg
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Protection: IP20, fan-less, aluminum heat-sink plate
GE IS420UCSBH1A
Field Application & Problem Solved
Gas-turbine skids in west-Texas compression stations used to need three separate boards—CPU, comm, and I/O. The IS420UCSBH1A collapses them into one panel-mounted slate: it runs the speed-loop PID, fires the fuel valves, and publishes data to the plant DCS over IONet, all while keeping TMR voting for trip channels. I’ve hung these on 5 MW Solar Taurus units—board mounts on the door, wires to three triple-redundant I/O packs, and you’re starting the unit in an hour. Value: single-module replacement eliminates two rack slots and the old battery-backed CPU; QNX boots in 3 s, so there’s no “five-minute wait” after a power hit.
Gas-turbine skids in west-Texas compression stations used to need three separate boards—CPU, comm, and I/O. The IS420UCSBH1A collapses them into one panel-mounted slate: it runs the speed-loop PID, fires the fuel valves, and publishes data to the plant DCS over IONet, all while keeping TMR voting for trip channels. I’ve hung these on 5 MW Solar Taurus units—board mounts on the door, wires to three triple-redundant I/O packs, and you’re starting the unit in an hour. Value: single-module replacement eliminates two rack slots and the old battery-backed CPU; QNX boots in 3 s, so there’s no “five-minute wait” after a power hit.
Installation & Maintenance Pitfalls (Expert Tips)
IONet cable swap = time-sync fault – If you mix single-mode and multi-mode fiber the IEEE 1588 jitter jumps above 100 µs and the TMR voter flags “Clock Fail”. Use matched 62.5/125 µm cable and clean the SC ends every time you pull them.
24 V ripple > 2 V resets the CPU – Old turbine battery chargers float at 29 V with 3 Vpp saw-tooth; the board browns-out at 16 V and you’ll cold-start every time the charger equalizes. Add a 4700 µF / 50 V cap across the supply studs.
Flash write-cycle limit – QNX logs to NAND by default. After 5 years the 2 GB flash hits 50 k cycles and you can’t update firmware. Disable cyclic logs or redirect to an external SD if you want the board to last a decade.
Heat-sink orientation matters – The fins are vertical; mount the panel flat and you block natural convection. In 50 °C ambient the die hits 95 °C and throttles to 400 MHz. Keep 100 mm clearance above the heat-sink or you’ll chase mysterious “slow scan” faults.
IONet cable swap = time-sync fault – If you mix single-mode and multi-mode fiber the IEEE 1588 jitter jumps above 100 µs and the TMR voter flags “Clock Fail”. Use matched 62.5/125 µm cable and clean the SC ends every time you pull them.
24 V ripple > 2 V resets the CPU – Old turbine battery chargers float at 29 V with 3 Vpp saw-tooth; the board browns-out at 16 V and you’ll cold-start every time the charger equalizes. Add a 4700 µF / 50 V cap across the supply studs.
Flash write-cycle limit – QNX logs to NAND by default. After 5 years the 2 GB flash hits 50 k cycles and you can’t update firmware. Disable cyclic logs or redirect to an external SD if you want the board to last a decade.
Heat-sink orientation matters – The fins are vertical; mount the panel flat and you block natural convection. In 50 °C ambient the die hits 95 °C and throttles to 400 MHz. Keep 100 mm clearance above the heat-sink or you’ll chase mysterious “slow scan” faults.
GE IS420UCSBH1A
Technical Deep Dive & Overview
IS420UCSBH1A is essentially a PC-on-a-plate. Intel EP80579 SoC gives you a 32-bit x86 core with built-in 10/100 MAC, while the north-bridge hosts 256 MB ECC DDR2 and a 2 GB NAND flash disk. QNX Neutrino boots from flash, mounts the control application stored in a compressed image, and schedules the cyclic task at 0.15 ms if required
IS420UCSBH1A is essentially a PC-on-a-plate. Intel EP80579 SoC gives you a 32-bit x86 core with built-in 10/100 MAC, while the north-bridge hosts 256 MB ECC DDR2 and a 2 GB NAND flash disk. QNX Neutrino boots from flash, mounts the control application stored in a compressed image, and schedules the cyclic task at 0.15 ms if required
. Dual IONet ports run IEEE 1588 over 100BASE-FX; the FPGA-based time-stamper keeps all remote I/O packs within ±100 µs so the TMR voter can do a bit-by-bit compare. No battery, no fan, no jumpers—just 24 V and a fiber pair and the turbine is running.
