GE Series 90-30 IC693 Modules

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GE Series 90-30 (IC693) Series: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The GE Series 90-30, identified by the IC693 part number prefix, is one of the most widely deployed programmable logic controller (PLC) platforms in global heavy industry. Installed across petrochemical refineries, nuclear power generation facilities, chemical processing plants, pulp and paper mills, and water treatment infrastructure, the Series 90-30 architecture established GE Fanuc Automation's position as a tier-one DCS/PLC supplier throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Its modular backplane design, deterministic scan cycle, and broad I/O density made it the default control platform for continuous-process and batch-process environments requiring high availability and long service life. Installed base estimates place active Series 90-30 deployments in the tens of thousands of sites globally, with a significant proportion operating beyond their original design lifecycle — creating sustained demand for spare parts, replacement modules, and lifecycle extension services.

The Evolution of IC693 Architecture

The Series 90-30 platform was introduced in the early 1990s as a mid-range successor to GE's Series Six and Series Five PLC families. The original architecture centered on a 5-slot and 10-slot backplane (IC693CHS391, IC693CHS392) with a parallel I/O bus operating at TTL logic levels. Early CPU modules — including the IC693CPU311 and IC693CPU313 — offered limited memory (6K–12K words) and no embedded Ethernet, relying on the IC693CMM321 and IC693CMM311 communications coprocessors for network connectivity.

The mid-generation refresh introduced the IC693CPU340 and IC693CPU350 series, expanding program memory to 240K bytes and adding support for floating-point math, structured text, and function block diagram programming via Logicmaster 90 and later Proficy Machine Edition. The final production generation — the IC693CPU360 and IC693CPU374 — integrated 10/100 Ethernet natively and supported SRTP, Modbus TCP, and EGD (Ethernet Global Data) protocols without an auxiliary communications module.

GE Fanuc transitioned the Series 90-30 to end-of-active-production status progressively between 2010 and 2018. The recommended migration path leads to the RX3i (IC695) platform, which maintains partial software compatibility via Proficy Machine Edition but requires new hardware infrastructure. For sites where migration is not operationally feasible, third-party lifecycle support — including tested surplus and refurbished modules — remains the primary continuity strategy.

IC693 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

CPU Modules

• IC693CPU311: 6K-word CPU, Series 90-30 base controller, no Ethernet
• IC693CPU313: 12K-word CPU, enhanced instruction set, RS-232 port
• IC693CPU321: 32K-word CPU, floating-point support, SNP/SRTP serial
• IC693CPU340: 240K-byte CPU, high-speed logic, Logicmaster 90 compatible
• IC693CPU350: 240K-byte CPU, expanded I/O map, dual RS-232/RS-485
• IC693CPU360: 240K-byte CPU, embedded 10/100 Ethernet, SRTP/EGD
• IC693CPU374: 512K-byte CPU, embedded Ethernet, highest-performance 90-30 CPU

Discrete Input Modules

• IC693MDL230: 120VAC 8-point discrete input module
• IC693MDL240: 120VAC 16-point discrete input module
• IC693MDL241: 24VDC 16-point positive-logic discrete input
• IC693MDL260: 24VDC 32-point discrete input, high-density

Discrete Output Modules

• IC693MDL310: 120VAC 8-point relay output module
• IC693MDL340: 120VAC 16-point triac output module
• IC693MDL741: 24VDC 16-point transistor output, positive logic
• IC693MDL752: 24VDC 32-point transistor output, high-density

Analog Modules

• IC693ALG220: 4-channel analog input, 4–20mA / 0–10V
• IC693ALG390: 4-channel analog output, 4–20mA / 0–10V
• IC693ALG442: 8-channel analog input, high-resolution 16-bit

Communications & Specialty Modules

• IC693CMM311: Serial communications coprocessor, RS-232/RS-485, Modbus RTU
• IC693CMM321: Ethernet interface module, 10BaseT, SRTP protocol
• IC693PBS301: PROFIBUS-DP slave adapter, up to 244 bytes I/O

Power Supply Modules

• IC693PWR321: 120/240VAC input power supply, 30W output
• IC693PWR322: 24VDC input power supply, 30W, battery-backed
• IC693PWR330: High-capacity 120/240VAC power supply, 40W

Simulator & Diagnostic Modules

• IC693ACC300: Input simulator module — 8-position DIP switch array simulating discrete input states for offline commissioning, loop testing, and field diagnostics without live field wiring

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete IC693 Parts

DriveKNMS maintains a dedicated inventory program for Series 90-30 components that have reached end-of-production status with GE Vernova (formerly GE Automation & Controls). The IC693 platform's extended installed base means that procurement teams at refineries, utilities, and process plants regularly require modules that are no longer available through standard distribution channels.

DriveKNMS sources IC693 modules through controlled surplus acquisition, decommissioned system buybacks, and verified third-party refurbishment pipelines. Each unit is cataloged by firmware revision, hardware revision code, and production date code to ensure compatibility with the target system's existing backplane and CPU firmware. Priority sourcing is available for CPU modules (IC693CPU3xx/IC693CPU374), high-density I/O modules (IC693MDL260, IC693MDL752), and communications coprocessors (IC693CMM321, IC693PBS301), which represent the highest-demand obsolete SKUs in the Series 90-30 catalog.

For plant maintenance teams operating under long-term service agreements or multi-year turnaround schedules, DriveKNMS offers consignment stock arrangements and advance procurement programs to pre-position critical spare modules against planned outage windows.

Quality Control for the IC693 Range

The Series 90-30 backplane uses a parallel TTL bus architecture in which module seating, connector integrity, and bus termination are critical to system stability. DriveKNMS applies a structured test protocol to all IC693 modules prior to dispatch:

• Visual and mechanical inspection: Connector pin condition, PCB surface inspection for corrosion, capacitor condition assessment, and front-panel label verification against the module's hardware revision marking.
• Powered functional test: Each module is installed in a reference Series 90-30 rack with a known-good CPU and power supply. CPU modules are tested against a standardized ladder logic program covering all instruction types supported by that firmware revision. I/O modules are tested for all channel states under both energized and de-energized conditions.
• Communications module validation: CMM and Ethernet modules are tested for protocol handshake, data throughput, and error-free operation over a minimum 30-minute burn-in cycle using SRTP and Modbus RTU test frames.
• Simulator module verification (IC693ACC300): DIP switch continuity and input state mapping are verified against the module's documented channel-to-bit address table to confirm correct signal injection into the CPU's discrete input image table.
• Documentation package: Each dispatched module is accompanied by a test report, hardware revision record, and warranty statement.

© 2026 DriveKNMS. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Specifications are for reference only and subject to change without notice. Verify all parameters against official documentation before installation.