GE IC660 Genius I/O Modules IC660EBA026

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GE IC660 Genius I/O Series Technical Notes

The Evolution of IC660 Architecture

The IC660 platform was introduced in the mid-1980s as GE's answer to the growing demand for distributed I/O in large-scale process automation. The original Genius Bus architecture separated field I/O from the CPU backplane, reducing wiring costs and enabling modular expansion across geographically distributed control cabinets. Early-generation blocks such as the IC660BBA020 and IC660BBD020 used discrete 24 VDC I/O with fixed terminal configurations. By the late 1980s, GE introduced analog-capable blocks (e.g., IC660BBA100, IC660BBA104) supporting 4–20 mA and 0–10 V field signals, expanding applicability to flow, pressure, and temperature loops.

The transition to the Series 90-70 and Series 90-30 PLC families in the early 1990s introduced Bus Controller modules (e.g., IC660BBA020, IC660CBB902) that bridged the Genius Bus to VME and rack-based backplanes. The IC660EBA026 represents the Bus Interface Unit (BIU) generation — a block-level controller that manages local I/O scanning and communicates upstream to the host PLC via the Genius Bus, eliminating the need for a dedicated rack-mounted bus controller in smaller node configurations. As GE transitioned its automation portfolio to Emerson (via the GE Intelligent Platforms acquisition and subsequent rebranding to Emerson Automation Solutions), the IC660 series entered end-of-life status, with last-time-buy notices issued for most catalog numbers. Replacement migration paths include the Emerson RX3i (IC695) and VersaMax (IC200) platforms, though direct I/O-for-I/O substitution is not possible without bus conversion hardware.

IC660 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following catalog numbers represent verified, commonly stocked IC660-series components. SKUs are classified by functional category.

Bus Interface Units (BIU) / Block Controllers

• IC660EBA026: Genius Bus Interface Unit, 16-pt discrete output block controller, 120 VAC output
• IC660EBA020: Genius Bus Interface Unit, 16-pt discrete input block, 120 VAC input
• IC660EBA023: Genius Bus Interface Unit, 8-pt discrete I/O combination block, 120 VAC
• IC660EBD021: Genius Bus Interface Unit, 16-pt discrete input block, 24 VDC
• IC660EBD025: Genius Bus Interface Unit, 16-pt discrete output block, 24 VDC source output

Discrete Input Blocks (DI)

• IC660BBD020: 16-pt discrete input block, 24 VDC, standard Genius Bus node
• IC660BBD021: 16-pt discrete input block, 24 VDC, with diagnostics
• IC660BBA020: 16-pt discrete input block, 120 VAC
• IC660BBA021: 16-pt discrete input block, 120/240 VAC, isolated

Discrete Output Blocks (DO)

• IC660BBD025: 16-pt discrete output block, 24 VDC source
• IC660BBD026: 16-pt discrete output block, 24 VDC sink
• IC660BBA026: 16-pt discrete output block, 120 VAC triac output
• IC660BBA100: 8-pt analog input block, 4–20 mA / 0–10 V, 12-bit resolution

Analog I/O Blocks (AI/AO)

• IC660BBA104: 4-pt analog output block, 4–20 mA, 12-bit resolution
• IC660BBA101: 8-pt analog input block, thermocouple/RTD, multi-range
• IC660BBA102: 4-pt analog output block, 0–10 V / 4–20 mA selectable

Bus Controllers & Communication Adapters

• IC660CBB902: Genius Bus Controller, VME backplane interface, Series 90-70 host
• IC660CBB903: Genius Bus Controller, dual-bus redundant configuration
• IC660CBB900: Genius Bus Controller, single-bus, Series 90-30 compatible