GE IC693BEM340: Series 90-30 FIP Bus Controller Module —

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GE IC693 Series: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The GE Series 90-30 (IC693) programmable logic controller platform is one of the most widely deployed mid-range DCS/PLC architectures in global heavy industry. Installed across petrochemical refineries, nuclear power auxiliary systems, offshore platforms, and continuous-process chemical plants, the IC693 rack-based architecture has accumulated decades of field runtime in environments where unplanned downtime carries six-figure hourly costs. The IC693BEM340 FIP Bus Controller Module is a critical communications node within this ecosystem, enabling high-speed deterministic data exchange across the Factory Instrumentation Protocol (FIP) fieldbus network — a topology common in European process industries and legacy French nuclear infrastructure.

The Evolution of IC693 Architecture

The IC693 platform was introduced by GE Fanuc Automation in the early 1990s as the successor to the Series Six and Series Five PLC families. Its modular 5-slot and 10-slot rack design allowed engineers to mix CPU, I/O, communications, and power supply modules within a single backplane. Early revisions used the IC693CPU311 and IC693CPU313 processors with limited memory; subsequent generations introduced the IC693CPU364 and IC693CPU374 with Ethernet TCP/IP capability and expanded program storage.

The FIP bus interface — represented by the IC693BEM340 — was developed to satisfy IEC 61158 Type 1 fieldbus requirements, primarily for integration with Alstom and Schneider Electric field devices in European utility and nuclear applications. As the platform matured into the 2000s, GE transitioned customers toward Profibus (IC693BEM331) and Ethernet Global Data (EGD) communications, rendering FIP-based modules a specialized but still-active maintenance category. The IC693 series entered its end-of-active-production phase circa 2015, though GE (now Emerson under the Movicon/PACSystems brand) continues to provide limited repair and replacement support. Operators of legacy IC693 installations must now rely on certified aftermarket suppliers for board-level spares.

IC693 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

CPU Modules

• IC693CPU311: Entry-level CPU, 6K word program memory, no Ethernet
• IC693CPU313: Standard CPU, 12K word memory, serial port
• IC693CPU321: Mid-range CPU, 32K word memory, expanded I/O scan
• IC693CPU340: High-performance CPU, 240K word memory, EGD support
• IC693CPU350: Advanced CPU, 240K word, dual-port Ethernet ready
• IC693CPU360: Enhanced CPU, 240K word, built-in Ethernet port
• IC693CPU364: High-speed CPU, 512K word, dual Ethernet, SNP/SRTP
• IC693CPU374: Top-tier CPU, 512K word, redundancy-capable, EGD/SRTP

Digital Input Modules

• IC693MDL230: 8-point 120VAC discrete input module
• IC693MDL240: 16-point 120VAC discrete input module
• IC693MDL632: 16-point 24VDC positive logic input module
• IC693MDL634: 32-point 24VDC positive logic input, high-density

Digital Output Modules

• IC693MDL330: 8-point 120VAC relay output module
• IC693MDL740: 16-point 24VDC positive logic output module
• IC693MDL742: 32-point 24VDC positive logic output, high-density

Analog Modules

• IC693ALG220: 4-channel analog voltage/current input, 12-bit resolution
• IC693ALG390: 4-channel analog current output, 12-bit, 4–20mA

Communications & Bus Controller Modules

• IC693BEM340: FIP Bus Controller, IEC 61158 Type 1, WorldFIP fieldbus master
• IC693BEM331: Profibus-DP master module, up to 125 slave nodes
• IC693CMM311: Serial communications module, RS-232/RS-485, SNP/RTU
• IC693CMM321: Ethernet TCP/IP communications module, 10BaseT

Power Supply Modules

• IC693PWR321: 120/240VAC input power supply, 30W output for 5V/24V bus
• IC693PWR330: 24VDC input power supply, 30W, for DC-powered panels

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete IC693 Parts

Quality Control for the IC693 Range

IC693 backplane and bus communication modules present specific test challenges due to their multi-layer PCB construction and time-sensitive fieldbus arbitration logic. DriveKNMS applies the following verification protocol to all IC693BEM340 and communications-class modules prior to dispatch: (1) Visual inspection under 10× magnification for capacitor ESR degradation, solder joint fatigue, and connector pin integrity; (2) Powered bench test using a GE Series 90-30 reference rack with known-good CPU and I/O complement; (3) FIP bus arbitration test — the module is placed as bus master and polled against two slave nodes to verify deterministic cycle time compliance per IEC 61158-4; (4) Thermal soak at 55°C for 2 hours to screen latent component failures; (5) Final firmware revision check against GE Fanuc release notes to confirm compatibility with target CPU firmware version. All modules ship with a test report and 12-month warranty against functional defect.