GE Series 90-70 (IC697) Modules - IC697CBL700

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GE Fanuc Series 90-70 (IC697) Series Technical Notes

The GE Fanuc Series 90-70, identified by the IC697 prefix, is one of the most widely deployed programmable logic controller platforms in global heavy industry. Installed across petrochemical refineries, nuclear power facilities, steel mills, pulp and paper plants, and continuous process manufacturing environments, the Series 90-70 rack-based architecture established a benchmark for high-density I/O and multi-slot CPU redundancy that remained the standard for large-scale DCS/PLC hybrid deployments throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

The Evolution of IC697 Architecture

The Series 90-70 was introduced by GE Fanuc Automation in the late 1980s as a successor to the Series Six platform. Its VMEbus-based backplane architecture was a deliberate departure from proprietary bus designs, enabling higher data throughput between CPU and I/O modules and supporting third-party module integration.

Generation 1 (Late 1980s – Early 1990s): Initial CPUs such as the IC697CPU731 and IC697CPU771 offered basic ladder logic execution with limited memory. Rack communication relied on the Series 90-70 backplane at 32-bit parallel bus speeds. These units are now fully obsolete with no OEM support.

Generation 2 (Mid 1990s): Introduction of enhanced CPUs (IC697CPU781, IC697CPU782) with expanded program memory, floating-point math support, and Ethernet connectivity options. The IC697CMM711 and IC697CMM741 communication modules extended the platform into GENIUS bus and PROFIBUS networks.

Q: How are RFQ terms confirmed?
A: Quantity, required condition, documentation needs, destination and sourcing route are confirmed during RFQ review before quotation.

Modern Transition: GE (now part of Emerson / Proficy ecosystem) recommends migration to the PACSystems RX7i platform, which offers physical rack compatibility with select IC697 I/O modules via the IC698CHS017 adapter rack. However, full migration carries significant re-engineering cost, making long-term IC697 spare parts support the preferred strategy for most brownfield facilities.

IC697 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

CPU Modules

• IC697CPU731: Series 90-70 CPU, 12MHz, 32KB program memory, basic ladder logic only
• IC697CPU771: Enhanced CPU, 64KB memory, supports floating-point, early-gen redundancy-ready
• IC697CPU781: High-performance CPU, 128KB memory, Ethernet-ready with optional CMM module
• IC697CPU782: Dual-port CPU with expanded I/O scan rate, supports structured text
• IC697CPU788: Advanced CPU, 512KB program memory, hot-standby redundancy support
• IC697CPU789: Top-tier CPU, 512KB memory, fastest scan rate in IC697 family, full IEC 61131-3

Power Supply Modules

• IC697PWR710: 120/240VAC input power supply, 30W output, standard rack power
• IC697PWR711: 24VDC input power supply, 30W, for DC-powered panel environments
• IC697PWR724: High-capacity 60W power supply, supports fully loaded 12-slot racks

Digital Input / Output Modules

• IC697MDL340: 32-point 24VDC discrete input module, sink/source configurable
• IC697MDL341: 32-point 120VAC discrete input module, optically isolated
• IC697MDL740: 32-point 24VDC discrete output module, 0.5A per point
• IC697MDL741: 32-point relay output module, 2A per point, Form C contacts

Analog I/O Modules

• IC697ALG320: 16-channel analog input, 4-20mA / 0-10V, 12-bit resolution
• IC697ALG321: 8-channel analog input, high-resolution 16-bit, thermocouple/RTD compatible
• IC697ALG440: 8-channel analog output, 4-20mA, 12-bit, process control applications

Communication & Specialty Modules

• IC697CBL700: I/O expansion cable module, connects remote I/O racks via coaxial bus, max 7 drops
• IC697CMM711: GENIUS bus controller, supports up to 32 GENIUS I/O blocks per network
• IC697CMM741: PROFIBUS-DP master module, up to 125 slave nodes, 12Mbps
• IC697RCM711: Redundancy control module, enables hot-standby CPU switchover under 10ms
• IC697MEM713: Memory expansion module, adds 512KB extended data/program memory to CPU

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete IC697 Parts

The IC697 series entered GE's mature lifecycle phase in the mid-2010s, with active manufacturing of most modules discontinued by 2018. This creates three distinct procurement risk categories:

Moderate Scarcity: Communication modules (IC697CMM711, IC697CMM741) and specialty analog I/O are available through secondary market channels but require firmware version verification before installation.

Quality Control for the IC697 Range

The Series 90-70 backplane uses a 32-bit VMEbus architecture with strict slot-addressing protocols. Modules that have been improperly stored, subjected to ESD events, or operated beyond rated temperature ranges (0–60°C) frequently exhibit intermittent bus communication faults that do not trigger standard self-diagnostic routines.

DriveKNMS applies a multi-stage inspection protocol specific to IC697 hardware:

Q: How is condition confirmed before quotation?
A: Available condition, photos, test records and documentation are checked according to the requested model and sourcing channel before a formal RFQ response.