GE Series 90-70 Modules: IC697ADC701

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GE Series 90-70: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The GE Series 90-70 (IC697 prefix) is a rack-based programmable logic controller platform developed by GE Fanuc Automation, deployed extensively across global heavy industry sectors including petrochemical refineries, nuclear power generation facilities, offshore oil & gas platforms, pulp and paper mills, and large-scale water treatment infrastructure. Its VMEbus-based backplane architecture, introduced in the late 1980s, established a modular expansion standard that allowed facilities to scale control systems from single-rack configurations to multi-rack distributed architectures spanning thousands of I/O points. The Series 90-70 remains one of the most widely installed legacy DCS/PLC platforms in continuous process industries, with installed base units still operating under long-term maintenance contracts well into the 2020s.

The Evolution of Series 90-70 Architecture

The Series 90-70 platform launched commercially circa 1988 under GE Fanuc Automation, a joint venture between General Electric and FANUC Ltd. The original CPU lineup (IC697CPU731, IC697CPU771) used Intel 80386-class processors and communicated via the proprietary Genius Bus (IC660 series field devices). By the mid-1990s, GE Fanuc introduced Ethernet TCP/IP communication modules (IC697CMM742) and expanded the analog I/O catalog to support thermocouple, RTD, and high-speed analog inputs. The platform transitioned through several ownership changes: GE Fanuc → GE Intelligent Platforms (2011) → Emerson Automation Solutions (2018, rebranded as PACSystems). Current Emerson documentation classifies the IC697 Series 90-70 hardware as End-of-Life (EOL), with no new manufacturing. Replacement migration paths include the GE PACSystems RX7i (IC698 prefix), which maintains physical rack and I/O module compatibility with select Series 90-70 modules, enabling phased migration without full system replacement. Compatibility constraints exist between early-generation CPUs (pre-IC697CPU789) and later high-density I/O modules; firmware version alignment is mandatory for mixed-generation rack configurations.

Series 90-70 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

CPU & Controller Modules

• IC697CPU731: Series 90-70 CPU, 512KB user memory, 80386 processor, Genius Bus master
• IC697CPU771: Series 90-70 CPU, 1MB user memory, enhanced instruction set, floating point
• IC697CPU781: Series 90-70 CPU, 2MB user memory, expanded I/O capacity, Ethernet-ready
• IC697CPU789: Series 90-70 CPU, 6MB user memory, high-speed execution, supports C-block programming

Analog Input Modules

• IC697ALG230: 16-channel analog input, ±10V / 4–20mA, 12-bit resolution, single-ended
• IC697ALG440: 8-channel analog input, high-resolution 16-bit, differential inputs, RTD/thermocouple compatible
• IC697ALG320: 8-channel thermocouple/mV input module, cold junction compensation, 16-bit

Analog Output Modules

• IC697ADC701: 12-channel analog output, 12-bit resolution, ±10V / 4–20mA selectable per channel, VMEbus interface
• IC697ALG320: 2-channel analog output, high-current drive, 16-bit resolution, isolated outputs
• IC697ALG390: 4-channel analog output, 12-bit, 0–20mA / 4–20mA, DIN rail compatible termination

Digital Input Modules

• IC697MDL340: 32-channel 24VDC digital input, sink/source configurable, diagnostic per-channel
• IC697MDL240: 16-channel 120VAC digital input, optical isolation, group diagnostics
• IC697MDL250: 32-channel 120VAC digital input, high-density, optical isolation

Digital Output Modules

• IC697MDL940: 32-channel 24VDC digital output, 0.5A per channel, short-circuit protection
• IC697MDL753: 16-channel relay output, Form C contacts, 2A per channel, 120/240VAC
• IC697MDL654: 32-channel 24VDC output, high-speed switching, diagnostic feedback

Communication & Network Modules

• IC697CMM742: Ethernet TCP/IP communication module, 10BaseT, SRTP protocol support
• IC697CMM711: Serial communication module, RS-232/RS-485, Modbus RTU/ASCII master/slave
• IC697BEM731: Genius Bus master module, supports up to 32 Genius devices per bus

Power Supply Modules

• IC697PWR710: 120/240VAC input power supply, 30W output, rack-mount, redundancy-capable
• IC697PWR724: 24VDC input power supply, 30W, for DC-powered rack installations

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete Series 90-70 Parts

Quality Control for the Series 90-70 Range

All IC697-series modules processed by DriveKNMS undergo a structured inspection and functional verification protocol prior to dispatch. The procedure addresses the specific failure modes documented in GE Fanuc service bulletins for this platform generation: VMEbus backplane connector wear (P1/P2 connector pin inspection and continuity verification), electrolytic capacitor degradation on analog I/O boards (ESR measurement, visual inspection for bulge/leakage), EEPROM and battery-backed SRAM integrity checks on CPU modules, and optical isolator degradation testing on AC digital I/O modules. Analog modules including the IC697ADC701 are bench-tested under load across all output channels with calibrated measurement equipment, verifying output accuracy within ±0.1% of full scale. Communication modules are tested for full protocol handshake and data throughput on live network test benches. Each unit ships with a test report and 12-month operational warranty.