Bently Nevada 3300 Series Proximity Probes – 330101-00-14-10-02-05

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

Bently Nevada 3300 Series Technical Notes

The Bently Nevada 3300 Series proximity probe system is one of the most widely deployed eddy-current-based vibration monitoring platforms in global heavy industry. Installed across petrochemical refineries, nuclear power stations, offshore platforms, LNG terminals, and rotating machinery facilities, the 3300 Series provides continuous, non-contact measurement of shaft radial vibration, axial position, differential expansion, and eccentricity. Its three-component architecture — probe, extension cable, and proximitor — delivers a standardized -24 VDC output signal compatible with the System 1 and 3500 monitoring racks. The series conforms to API 670 (5th Edition) machinery protection standards and remains the reference platform for turbomachinery condition monitoring in critical service applications.

The Evolution of 3300 Series Architecture

The 3300 Series was introduced by Bently Nevada in the 1970s as a successor to earlier 7200 and 3000 Series eddy-current systems. The core operating principle — electromagnetic induction between a coil-tipped probe and a conductive target — has remained constant, but successive generations introduced significant improvements in cable impedance standardization, temperature compensation, and connector ruggedization.

Early 3300 Series probes used a 5-meter integral cable with a fixed BNC termination. By the mid-1980s, the architecture evolved to support modular extension cables (3300 XL series), allowing probe-to-proximitor distances of up to 9 meters while maintaining the ±200 mil linear range. The introduction of the 3300 XL 8mm probe in the 1990s extended gap sensitivity and reduced tip diameter for tighter bearing housing installations. The 3300 NSv (Non-Standard voltage) variant addressed installations requiring output ranges beyond the standard -24 VDC supply.

As the 3500 Series rack system became the dominant monitoring platform from the late 1990s onward, the 3300 Series transitioned from primary to legacy/maintenance status. Baker Hughes (which acquired Bently Nevada in 2002) officially classified the majority of 3300 Series SKUs as mature or end-of-life by 2015, though installed base volumes in long-lifecycle plants ensure continued demand for spare parts and replacement units through the 2030s.

3300 Series Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent the core of the 3300 Series proximity probe system. Each entry reflects a verified, commercially documented part number within the Bently Nevada catalog.

330101-00-14-10-02-05: 3300 XL 8mm probe, 14-inch cable, reverse mount, standard sensitivity, 5m extension.
330101-00-14-10-01-05: 3300 XL 8mm probe, 14-inch cable, standard mount, standard sensitivity, 5m extension.
330101-00-14-10-02-CN: 3300 XL 8mm probe, 14-inch cable, reverse mount, standard sensitivity, connector termination.
330101-00-30-10-02-05: 3300 XL 8mm probe, 30-inch cable, reverse mount, standard sensitivity, 5m extension.
330101-00-30-10-01-05: 3300 XL 8mm probe, 30-inch cable, standard mount, standard sensitivity, 5m extension.
330103-00-14-10-02-05: 3300 XL 11mm probe, 14-inch cable, reverse mount, standard sensitivity, 5m extension.
330103-00-30-10-02-05: 3300 XL 11mm probe, 30-inch cable, reverse mount, standard sensitivity, 5m extension.
330104-00-14-10-02-05: 3300 XL 5mm probe, 14-inch cable, reverse mount, standard sensitivity, 5m extension.
330104-00-30-10-02-05: 3300 XL 5mm probe, 30-inch cable, reverse mount, standard sensitivity, 5m extension.
330130-080-00-00: 3300 XL 8mm extension cable, 8-meter, standard impedance, armored jacket.
330130-050-00-00: 3300 XL 8mm extension cable, 5-meter, standard impedance, armored jacket.
330180-X1-05: 3300 XL proximitor sensor, 8mm, 5-meter system, -24 VDC supply, standard output.
330180-X1-09: 3300 XL proximitor sensor, 8mm, 9-meter system, -24 VDC supply, standard output.
330180-51-05: 3300 XL proximitor sensor, 11mm, 5-meter system, -24 VDC supply, standard output.
330180-51-09: 3300 XL proximitor sensor, 11mm, 9-meter system, -24 VDC supply, standard output.
330185-02-12-05-02-00: 3300 NSv proximitor, non-standard voltage output, 5m system, reverse mount.
330100-90-00: 3300 Series standard probe, 90-degree radial mount, general-purpose rotating machinery.
330105-02-12-05-02-00: 3300 XL 5mm probe assembly, 12-inch cable, reverse mount, 5m extension, standard sensitivity.

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete 3300 Series Parts

The majority of 3300 Series SKUs were discontinued from active Baker Hughes / Bently Nevada production between 2010 and 2020. However, the installed base in nuclear, petrochemical, and power generation facilities operates on 20–40 year asset lifecycles, creating sustained demand for replacement probes, extension cables, and proximitor sensors that are no longer available through OEM channels.

Quality Control for the 3300 Series Range

The 3300 Series proximity probe system presents specific quality verification challenges due to its three-component interdependency: probe tip coil integrity, extension cable impedance matching, and proximitor oscillator calibration must all be verified as a matched system. DriveKNMS applies the following test protocol to all 3300 Series units prior to dispatch:

Probe coil resistance is measured at the probe connector using a calibrated LCR meter; acceptable range is 6.8–8.2 Ω for 8mm probes and 9.5–11.5 Ω for 11mm probes. Extension cable continuity and shield integrity are verified at both terminations. Proximitor output voltage is measured across the full gap range (0–100 mil) using a calibrated aluminum target on a precision gap fixture; the output must conform to the standard scale factor of 200 mV/mil ±1%. System linearity is verified across the ±200 mil operating range. Final output is logged against the unit serial number and part number for traceability documentation supplied with each shipment.