Bently Nevada 3300XL 8 mm Proximity Probes – 330103-00-16-50-02-00

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

Bently Nevada 3300XL Series Technical Notes

The Bently Nevada 3300XL Series represents one of the most widely deployed eddy-current proximity transducer systems in global heavy industry. Installed across petrochemical complexes, nuclear power stations, LNG terminals, offshore platforms, and refinery rotating equipment trains, the 3300XL system provides continuous, non-contact measurement of shaft radial vibration, axial position, differential expansion, and eccentricity. Its architecture conforms to API 670 (Machinery Protection Systems) and is accepted by major engineering contractors including Bechtel, Fluor, and Technip as the baseline specification for turbomachinery protection. The system operates on a three-component topology: proximity probe, extension cable, and Proximitor® sensor — each component matched by cable length and system gain to maintain calibrated output. The 3300XL replaced the legacy 3300 Series and introduced tighter gap voltage tolerances, improved EMI rejection, and extended temperature ratings suitable for hot-section installations adjacent to gas turbine casings.

The Evolution of 3300XL Architecture

Bently Nevada's proximity transducer product line originated in the 1960s with the 3000 Series, which established the eddy-current measurement principle for industrial rotating machinery. The 3300 Series followed in the 1980s, standardizing the 5-meter and 9-meter cable configurations and introducing the Proximitor® sensor as a field-mountable signal conditioning unit. The 3300XL generation, introduced in the mid-1990s, addressed field reliability issues identified in the 3300 Series: improved connector sealing (IP67 rated), tighter manufacturing tolerances on probe tip geometry, and a revised calibration curve that reduced sensitivity drift over thermal cycles.

With GE's acquisition of Bently Nevada in 2002, the 3300XL was integrated into the System 1® condition monitoring platform and later the System 1 Evolution software suite. The series remained in active production through the 2010s before transitioning to end-of-active-production status. Current GE Vernova / Baker Hughes documentation positions the 3500 Series as the direct successor for new installations, while the 3300XL remains the dominant installed base in brownfield facilities where full system replacement is not economically justified. Compatibility between 3300XL probes and 3500 Series monitors requires adapter cables and recalibration — a direct swap is not supported without engineering review.

3300XL Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent verified, commonly stocked components within the Bently Nevada 3300XL proximity transducer system. Each entry reflects a distinct configuration defined by probe diameter, cable length, connector type, and temperature rating.

330103-00-16-50-02-00: 8 mm proximity probe, 5 m integral cable, standard temperature, reverse mount, armored cable, standard connector — the subject SKU of this listing.
330103-00-16-50-02-05: 8 mm probe, 5 m cable, high-temperature variant rated to 177°C continuous, reverse mount configuration.
330103-00-16-10-02-00: 8 mm probe, 1 m integral cable, standard temperature, reverse mount, used in space-constrained bearing housings.
330103-00-16-05-02-00: 8 mm probe, 0.5 m integral cable, standard temperature, for installations with adjacent Proximitor® mounting.
330104-00-16-50-02-00: 11 mm proximity probe, 5 m integral cable, standard temperature — used where larger target area improves signal-to-noise ratio on rough shaft surfaces.
330104-00-16-10-02-00: 11 mm probe, 1 m cable, standard temperature, reverse mount.
330105-02-12-05-02-00: 14 mm proximity probe, 1.2 m cable, standard temperature — common in axial position measurement on large steam turbines.
330130-040-00-00: 3300XL 8 mm Proximitor® sensor, 4 m extension cable range, standard output -18 VDC supply, -24 VDC nominal.
330130-080-00-00: 3300XL 8 mm Proximitor® sensor, 8 m extension cable range, standard output.
330180-X1-05: 3300XL 5 m extension cable, armored, for use with 8 mm and 11 mm probe systems.
330180-X1-09: 3300XL 9 m extension cable, armored, standard configuration for most field installations.
330180-X1-15: 3300XL 15 m extension cable, armored, for remote Proximitor® mounting in high-temperature zones.
330191-00-16: 3300XL 8 mm probe, non-standard thread, metric M10 body, for European OEM turbine frames.
330193-00-16-50-02-00: 3300XL 8 mm probe with integral 5 m cable, ATEX/IECEx certified, for Zone 1 hazardous area installations.
330193-00-16-10-02-00: 3300XL 8 mm probe, ATEX/IECEx, 1 m cable, Zone 1 rated.
330100-90-00: 3300XL probe mounting hardware kit, includes lock nut, jam nut, and thread protector for standard 3/8-24 UNF probe bodies.
330101-00-16-50-02-00: 3300XL 5 mm proximity probe, 5 m cable, used in small-bore bearing housings on compressor trains.

Quality Control for the 3300XL Range

The 3300XL proximity transducer system requires functional verification across the complete probe-cable-Proximitor® signal chain. DriveKNMS applies the following test protocol to all 3300XL components prior to dispatch:

Gap voltage linearity verification: each probe is tested against a calibrated steel target across the full measurement range (0 to 2.54 mm / 0 to 100 mil) to confirm output voltage linearity within ±1% of the published calibration curve. Proximitor® sensor output verification: DC supply current draw, output voltage at nominal gap, and scale factor (mV/mil or mV/mm) are confirmed against the original factory specification sheet. Extension cable continuity and insulation resistance: each cable assembly is tested for conductor continuity, shield integrity, and insulation resistance (minimum 100 MΩ at 500 VDC). Connector inspection: MIL-spec and standard industrial connectors are inspected for pin corrosion, thread damage, and sealing integrity. Components failing any test parameter are quarantined and not offered for sale.