GD Bologna NA386 Modules: CPU/NA386 G.D 15AD80H0001

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GD Bologna NA386 Series: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The GD Bologna NA386 series represents a generation of industrial CPU and I/O control boards deployed extensively across heavy-process industries including petrochemical refineries, chemical processing plants, nuclear power auxiliary systems, and continuous-operation manufacturing lines. Manufactured by GD Bologna (General Drives Bologna), an Italian industrial automation specialist, the NA386 platform was engineered for deterministic real-time control in environments demanding high reliability and long operational lifecycles. Its backplane architecture and bus communication design made it a standard reference in European DCS and PLC hybrid installations throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Today, the NA386 series occupies a critical position in the installed base of aging industrial infrastructure globally, with many facilities operating original hardware under extended maintenance contracts.

The Evolution of NA386 Architecture

The NA386 platform was developed during the transition from proprietary 8-bit industrial controllers to 16/32-bit open-architecture processing boards. The series adopted the Intel 80386 processor family as its computational core — a deliberate choice that aligned with the industrial computing standards of the era and provided a stable, well-documented instruction set for real-time operating environments. Early NA386 boards operated on passive backplane architectures with parallel bus communication, providing deterministic scan cycles suitable for process control loops. As the series matured, GD Bologna introduced enhanced variants with expanded memory addressing, improved watchdog timer circuits, and refined analog signal conditioning on integrated I/O boards.

Compatibility across NA386 sub-variants is constrained by backplane slot assignments, bus termination requirements, and firmware revision levels. Mixing early-generation CPU boards (e.g., 15AD80H0001 revision A) with later-generation I/O modules requires verification of bus protocol compatibility. The series reached end-of-production status, with GD Bologna transitioning customers toward successor platforms; however, no direct drop-in replacement exists for the NA386 backplane form factor, making original spare parts the only viable option for facilities unwilling to undertake full system migration.

NA386 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent the documented NA386 series module range. Each entry reflects a distinct functional role within the NA386 control architecture:

CPU/NA386 G.D 15AD80H0001: Main CPU board, Intel 80386 core, real-time process control.
CPU/NA386 G.D 15AD80H0002: CPU board variant, extended RAM addressing, enhanced watchdog.
CPU/NA386 G.D 15AD80H0003: CPU board, dual-port memory option, redundancy-capable.
DI/NA386 G.D 15AD81H0001: 16-channel digital input module, 24VDC, isolated.
DI/NA386 G.D 15AD81H0002: 32-channel digital input module, high-density backplane mount.
DO/NA386 G.D 15AD82H0001: 16-channel digital output module, relay contact, 2A per channel.
DO/NA386 G.D 15AD82H0002: 16-channel digital output module, transistor output, 24VDC.
AI/NA386 G.D 15AD83H0001: 8-channel analog input module, 4–20mA, 12-bit resolution.
AI/NA386 G.D 15AD83H0002: 8-channel analog input module, ±10V, differential input.
AI/NA386 G.D 15AD83H0003: 16-channel analog input module, multiplexed, 12-bit ADC.
AO/NA386 G.D 15AD84H0001: 4-channel analog output module, 4–20mA, 12-bit DAC.
AO/NA386 G.D 15AD84H0002: 8-channel analog output module, ±10V, isolated outputs.
COM/NA386 G.D 15AD85H0001: Serial communication adapter, RS-232/RS-485, Modbus RTU.
COM/NA386 G.D 15AD85H0002: Profibus DP communication module, slave mode, 12Mbps.
PSU/NA386 G.D 15AD86H0001: Backplane power supply module, 24VDC input, 5V/±15V output.
PSU/NA386 G.D 15AD86H0002: Redundant power supply module, hot-swap capable, fault relay output.
MEM/NA386 G.D 15AD87H0001: Memory expansion module, SRAM, battery-backed, 512KB.

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete NA386 Parts

DriveKNMS maintains a dedicated inventory program for end-of-life GD Bologna NA386 components. As the NA386 series has entered full obsolescence with no active production, procurement of replacement boards — particularly CPU modules such as the CPU/NA386 G.D 15AD80H0001 — requires access to verified surplus stock, refurbished units, or recovered boards from decommissioned systems. DriveKNMS sources NA386 modules through a controlled supply chain that includes original-equipment surplus channels, certified industrial dismantlers, and cross-border inventory networks. All units are catalogued by part number, hardware revision, and functional test status prior to listing. For facilities operating under extended maintenance agreements or regulatory compliance frameworks (e.g., nuclear auxiliary systems requiring documented part traceability), DriveKNMS provides full documentation packages including test records and origin declarations upon request.

Quality Control for the NA386 Range

NA386 modules present specific test challenges due to their passive backplane bus architecture and the age-related degradation patterns common to CMOS-era industrial boards. DriveKNMS applies a structured test protocol to all NA386 units: visual inspection for capacitor ESR degradation, solder joint integrity, and corrosion on edge connectors; powered functional test using a dedicated NA386 backplane test rig replicating the original system bus timing; CPU board verification including ROM checksum validation, RAM read/write cycle testing, and watchdog timer function confirmation; analog module calibration verification against traceable reference standards for 4–20mA and voltage output channels; and communication module loopback testing for RS-485 and Profibus DP interfaces. Units that do not pass all test stages are either repaired to specification or classified as non-functional and excluded from inventory. Test reports are available for all outgoing units upon request.