GE Fanuc 90-30 UR8LH Relay Output Module

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GE Fanuc 90-30 Series: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The GE Fanuc Series 90-30 Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is one of the most widely deployed control platforms in global heavy industry. Installed across petrochemical refineries, nuclear power generation facilities, offshore platforms, pulp and paper mills, and large-scale chemical processing plants, the 90-30 architecture has maintained a dominant installed base since its commercial introduction in the late 1980s. Its modular rack-based design, deterministic scan cycle, and broad I/O density made it the default selection for mid-range process automation throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The UR8LH is a relay output module within this platform, providing 2 Form A (SPST-NO) and 2 Form C (SPDT) isolated relay contacts for interfacing with high-voltage field devices, motor starters, solenoid valves, and alarm annunciators.

The Evolution of 90-30 Architecture

The Series 90-30 was introduced by GE Fanuc Automation as a successor to the Series Six and Series Five platforms. Early rack configurations supported 5-slot and 10-slot backplanes with a shared parallel backplane bus. CPU modules evolved from the IC693CPU311 (fixed 6K word program memory) through the IC693CPU364 and IC693CPU374, which introduced expanded memory, Ethernet co-processor support, and floating-point math capability. The backplane communication protocol remained backward-compatible across generations, allowing mixed-generation I/O modules to coexist within the same rack — a critical factor for long-lifecycle plant maintenance strategies. By the mid-2000s, GE Intelligent Platforms (the renamed division) began positioning the PACSystems RX3i as the migration target for 90-30 installations. Despite this, the 90-30 remains in active service at thousands of sites globally, and demand for spare modules — particularly relay output, analog input, and CPU modules — remains consistent. The platform is now firmly in its maintenance and lifecycle-extension phase, with no new hardware development. All procurement is sourced from surplus inventory, authorized distributors, and specialist spare parts suppliers.

GE Fanuc 90-30 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

CPU Modules

• IC693CPU311: Entry-level CPU, 6K word program memory, serial port, no Ethernet
• IC693CPU321: Mid-range CPU, 12K word memory, expanded I/O support
• IC693CPU340: Enhanced CPU with floating-point, 240K word memory
• IC693CPU350: High-performance CPU, 240K word, dual serial ports
• IC693CPU364: Ethernet-embedded CPU, 240K word, 10/100 Mbps LAN port
• IC693CPU374: Top-tier 90-30 CPU, 512K word, Ethernet, floating-point, high-speed counter

Discrete Output Modules

• UR8LH: 2 Form A + 2 Form C isolated relay outputs, mixed contact configuration for field device interfacing
• IC693MDL740: 12/24 VDC positive logic output, 0.5A per point, 8-point discrete output
• IC693MDL930: 120 VAC output module, 8 points, 2A per point, isolated commons
• IC693MDL752: 24 VDC positive logic output, 16 points, 0.5A per point
• IC693MDL390: Relay output module, 8 points, 2A per point, Form A contacts

Discrete Input Modules

• IC693MDL241: 24 VDC positive logic input, 16 points, standard discrete input
• IC693MDL645: 120 VAC input module, 16 points, optically isolated
• IC693MDL655: 120/240 VAC input, 8 points, high-voltage field signal acquisition

Analog Modules

• IC693ALG220: 4-channel analog input, 4–20 mA / 0–10 V, 12-bit resolution
• IC693ALG390: 2-channel analog output, 4–20 mA, 12-bit, for control valve and positioner drive

Communication & Network Modules

• IC693CMM321: Serial communications module, RS-232/RS-485, Modbus RTU/ASCII support
• IC693BEM331: Genius Bus Interface Module, connects 90-30 rack to Genius I/O bus network
• IC693PCM301: Programmable coprocessor module, offloads custom ladder logic execution

Power Supply Modules

• IC693PWR330: 120/240 VAC input power supply, 30W output, standard rack power
• IC693PWR321: 24 VDC input power supply, 30W, for DC-powered panel installations

Specialty & Positioning Modules

• IC693APU300: Axis positioning unit, single-axis stepper/servo control, pulse output
• IC693ACC300: Expansion rack adapter, extends I/O capacity beyond base rack

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete 90-30 Parts

The GE Fanuc 90-30 series reached end-of-active-production status, with GE Intelligent Platforms (later Emerson Automation Solutions following the 2018 acquisition) directing new projects to the PACSystems RX3i platform. This transition has created a sustained secondary market for 90-30 spare parts, particularly for facilities operating under long-term maintenance contracts or regulatory frameworks that prohibit mid-lifecycle control system replacements (common in nuclear, pharmaceutical, and defense-adjacent industries).

DriveKNMS maintains a dedicated inventory of 90-30 modules sourced from decommissioned plant equipment, authorized surplus channels, and factory-refurbished stock. All modules are catalogued by part number, firmware revision where applicable, and physical condition grade. For obsolete CPU variants (IC693CPU311, IC693CPU321) and legacy communication modules (IC693CMM321), DriveKNMS provides cross-reference support to identify functionally equivalent replacements where direct substitution is not possible. Customers operating under IEC 61511 or ISA-84 safety lifecycle requirements can request documentation packages including test records and traceability data.

Quality Control for the 90-30 Range

The 90-30 backplane uses a parallel bus architecture with active termination. Modules with degraded backplane connectors or corroded edge contacts are a primary failure mode in aged installations. DriveKNMS applies a multi-stage inspection protocol to all 90-30 modules prior to dispatch:

• Visual inspection of PCB, backplane connector pins, and relay contact surfaces
• Powered functional test: module inserted into a live 90-30 test rack with active CPU scan
For relay output modules (including UR8LH): contact resistance measurement across Form A and Form C contacts under rated load; coil actuation verification at nominal and ±10% supply voltage
• For CPU modules: full program load/execute cycle, memory retention test, and serial/Ethernet port loopback verification
• For analog modules: calibration check against NIST-traceable reference instruments, linearity and offset error measurement
• Final burn-in: 24-hour powered soak at ambient temperature before packaging

Modules that fail any stage are quarantined, documented, and not returned to saleable stock.