Bently Nevada 3300 Series Proximity Probes – 330103-00-05-05-02-05

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

Bently Nevada 3300 Series Technical Notes

The Bently Nevada 3300 Series is one of the most widely deployed eddy-current proximity probe systems in global heavy industry. Installed across petrochemical refineries, nuclear power stations, offshore platforms, LNG terminals, and rotating machinery facilities, the 3300 Series serves as the primary vibration and position monitoring infrastructure for critical turbomachinery — including steam turbines, gas compressors, centrifugal pumps, and large induction motors. Its three-component architecture (probe, extension cable, proximitor/oscillator-demodulator) delivers non-contact, continuous shaft displacement measurement with sub-micron resolution. The system is fully compatible with Bently Nevada's System 1 and 3500 Series monitoring racks, and remains the reference standard for API 670 machinery protection compliance in rotating equipment installations worldwide.

The Evolution of 3300 Series Architecture

The 3300 Series was introduced by Bently Nevada Corporation (acquired by GE in 2002, subsequently integrated into Baker Hughes in 2017) as a successor to the earlier 7200 Series proximity system. The core operating principle — eddy-current induction via a coil embedded in the probe tip — has remained unchanged, but the system has undergone significant architectural evolution across three generations.

The first-generation 3300 probes used a 5-meter standard cable assembly with fixed-length extension cables and analog proximitor modules mounted in standalone enclosures. Second-generation variants introduced modular extension cable assemblies with field-configurable lengths (1 m, 2 m, 5 m, 9 m options), enabling installation flexibility in confined machinery spaces. The third-generation architecture, represented by the XL series proximitors (e.g., 330180), introduced extended temperature range operation (−40°C to +85°C) and improved EMI rejection for installations near variable-frequency drives and high-voltage switchgear.

Compatibility constraints are a critical operational consideration: 3300 Series probes are calibrated as matched sets with their extension cables and proximitor modules. Mixing components from different calibration sets — or substituting 7200 Series components — will produce measurement errors that cannot be corrected by field calibration. All replacement components must reference the original system's calibration documentation.

3300 Series Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

Proximity Probes (Sensing Elements)

• 330103-00-05-05-02-05: 3/8-inch diameter, 5 mm tip, 5 m integral cable, 2 m extension, standard temperature proximity probe — the subject SKU of this listing.
• 330103-00-05-05-05-05: 3/8-inch diameter, 5 mm tip, 5 m integral cable, 5 m extension, standard temperature proximity probe.
• 330103-00-05-05-10-05: 3/8-inch diameter, 5 mm tip, 5 m integral cable, 10 m extension, standard temperature proximity probe.
• 330104-00-06-05-02-05: 1/2-inch diameter, 6 mm tip, 5 m integral cable, 2 m extension, standard temperature proximity probe.
• 330104-00-06-05-05-05: 1/2-inch diameter, 6 mm tip, 5 m integral cable, 5 m extension, standard temperature proximity probe.
• 330105-02-12-05-02-05: 3/4-inch diameter, 12 mm tip, 5 m integral cable, 2 m extension, high-temperature proximity probe (rated to 177°C).
• 330105-02-12-05-05-05: 3/4-inch diameter, 12 mm tip, 5 m integral cable, 5 m extension, high-temperature proximity probe.

Extension Cables

• 330130-045-00-00: 3300 Series extension cable, 4.5 m, standard temperature, armored jacket.
• 330130-090-00-00: 3300 Series extension cable, 9 m, standard temperature, armored jacket.
• 330130-180-00-00: 3300 Series extension cable, 18 m, standard temperature, armored jacket.
• 330130-045-02-00: 3300 Series extension cable, 4.5 m, high-temperature rated, armored jacket.

Proximitor / Oscillator-Demodulator Modules

• 330180-X1-05: 3300 XL 8 mm proximitor, standard range (−2.54 mm to −7.62 mm gap), −24 VDC supply.
• 330180-X1-CN: 3300 XL 8 mm proximitor, conduit-mount housing, standard range.
• 330180-51-05: 3300 XL 11 mm proximitor, extended range (−2.54 mm to −10.16 mm gap), −24 VDC supply.
• 330190-080-01-00: 3300 NSv proximitor, 8 mm, low-power variant for battery-backed monitoring systems.
• 330191-00-00: 3300 Series proximitor, DIN-rail mount, standard 8 mm range, for panel-mount installations.

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete 3300 Series Parts

The Bently Nevada 3300 Series entered its mature lifecycle phase following GE's introduction of the 3500 Series rack-based monitoring system. While the 3500 Series has become the current standard for new installations, the installed base of 3300 Series equipment in operating plants remains substantial — particularly in facilities where full system replacement is not economically justified during ongoing production cycles.

Quality Control for the 3300 Series Range

The 3300 Series proximity system presents specific quality control requirements that differ from standard electronic component testing. The probe tip coil, integral cable, and extension cable form a tuned LC circuit; any degradation in cable impedance, connector integrity, or coil geometry will shift the system's scale factor and gap voltage output.

DriveKNMS applies the following test protocol to all 3300 Series units:

• Gap voltage linearity test: Each probe-cable-proximitor set is tested across the full measurement range using a calibrated aluminum target (AISI 4140 steel equivalent). Output voltage is recorded at 0.25 mm increments and compared against the OEM calibration curve.
• Scale factor verification: Confirmed at 200 mV/mil (7.87 V/mm) ±1% for standard-range units.
• Cable continuity and insulation resistance: All extension cables tested at 500 VDC megohm; minimum acceptance threshold 100 MΩ.
• Connector inspection: All MIL-spec connectors inspected for pin straightness, corrosion, and thread integrity under 10× magnification.
• Thermal cycling (high-temperature variants): High-temperature probes (330105 series) subjected to 10-cycle thermal soak at rated maximum temperature prior to final gap calibration.