GE Series 90-70 IC697 Modules IC697CHS782 Rack

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GE Series 90-70 IC697 Series Technical Notes

The GE Series 90-70 (IC697) programmable logic controller platform is one of the most widely deployed large-frame PLC architectures in global heavy industry. Installed across petrochemical complexes, nuclear power stations, offshore oil platforms, and continuous-process refineries, the IC697 backplane and module ecosystem has maintained an active installed base since its commercial introduction in the late 1980s. Its 9-slot and 5-slot rack configurations, high-capacity CPU modules, and deterministic I/O scanning make it a reference architecture for safety-critical and high-availability automation environments. The IC697CHS782 is a 9-slot VME-compatible rack chassis that serves as the physical backbone for Series 90-70 system builds, supporting all IC697-series CPU, I/O, and communication modules.

The Evolution of IC697 Architecture

The Series 90-70 platform was engineered by GE Fanuc Automation (later GE Intelligent Platforms, now GE Automation & Controls / Emerson) as a modular, rack-based PLC targeting large-scale process and discrete manufacturing. The architecture is built on a proprietary VME-derived backplane bus operating at 10 MHz, with a shared memory model that allows CPU modules to address all I/O data through a unified memory map.

Early-generation CPUs such as the IC697CPU731 and IC697CPU771 provided 512 KB to 1 MB of user memory with basic ladder logic execution. Mid-generation releases introduced the IC697CPU781 and IC697CPU782, expanding memory to 2 MB and adding structured text and function block diagram support under the VersaPro programming environment. The high-end IC697CPU789 represented the performance ceiling of the platform, with 4 MB user memory, floating-point co-processing, and Ethernet-ready communication slots.

Rack options evolved from the original 5-slot IC697CHS750 to the 9-slot IC697CHS782 and the 12-slot expansion chassis IC697CHS790, enabling system architects to scale I/O density without additional CPU overhead. Communication adapters bridged the platform to Genius Bus, Profibus-DP, DeviceNet, and Ethernet/IP networks, extending the operational life of IC697 installations well into the 2010s.

GE officially announced end-of-life for the Series 90-70 product line, with last-time-buy windows closing progressively between 2015 and 2020. The recommended migration path is to the GE RX3i (IC695) platform. However, the volume of IC697 systems still in active service — particularly in nuclear and refinery environments where requalification costs are prohibitive — sustains strong demand for certified spare and replacement modules.

IC697 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

Rack / Chassis

• IC697CHS782: 9-slot Series 90-70 VME rack chassis, standard configuration
• IC697CHS750: 5-slot compact rack chassis for space-constrained installations
• IC697CHS790: 12-slot expansion rack chassis for high I/O density systems

CPU Modules

• IC697CPU731: 512 KB user memory CPU, ladder logic, basic instruction set
• IC697CPU771: 1 MB user memory CPU, enhanced math and data handling
• IC697CPU781: 2 MB user memory CPU, IEC 61131-3 multi-language support
• IC697CPU782: 2 MB CPU with expanded I/O table and floating-point support
• IC697CPU789: 4 MB high-performance CPU, Ethernet-ready, floating-point co-processor

Power Supply Modules

• IC697PWR710: 120/240 VAC input, 30 W output power supply module
• IC697PWR711: 120/240 VAC input, 40 W output, redundancy-capable power supply
• IC697PWR724: 24 VDC input power supply, 30 W, for DC-powered panel installations

Discrete Input / Output Modules

• IC697MDL340: 32-point 24 VDC discrete input module, isolated commons
• IC697MDL341: 32-point 120 VAC discrete input module
• IC697MDL740: 32-point 24 VDC discrete output module, 0.5 A per point
• IC697MDL741: 32-point 120 VAC discrete output module, triac output

Analog I/O Modules

• IC697ALG320: 8-channel analog input module, 4–20 mA / 0–10 V, 12-bit resolution
• IC697ALG321: 16-channel analog input module, high-density configuration
• IC697ALG440: 4-channel analog output module, 4–20 mA, 12-bit resolution

Communication Modules

• IC697CMM711: Genius Bus Controller, supports up to 32 Genius I/O blocks per bus
• IC697CMM742: Ethernet Interface Module, 10BASE-T, SRTP and Modbus TCP support
• IC697BEM711: Genius Bus Expansion Module for remote I/O drop configuration

Quality Control for the IC697 Range

• Backplane bus continuity and slot impedance verification using a Series 90-70 test rack
• CPU module power-on self-test (POST) execution with logged output capture
• I/O module channel-by-channel functional test under rated load conditions (discrete: full voltage/current cycle; analog: calibrated signal injection across full scale)
• Communication module protocol handshake verification (Genius Bus token passing, Ethernet SRTP session establishment)
• Visual inspection per IPC-A-610 Class 2 criteria: solder joint integrity, connector pin condition, conformal coating assessment
• Firmware revision identification and documentation against GE hardware compatibility tables
• 48-hour burn-in at rated operating temperature for CPU and power supply modules