GE Series 90-70 IC697 Modules – IC697MDL970 Output Relay Module

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GE Series 90-70 IC697 Series Technical Notes

The GE Fanuc Series 90-70 (IC697) programmable logic controller platform is one of the most widely deployed rack-based control architectures in global heavy industry. Installed across petrochemical complexes, nuclear power generation facilities, offshore oil & gas platforms, and continuous-process refineries, the IC697 backplane architecture supports high-density I/O expansion, redundant CPU configurations, and deterministic scan-cycle execution. Its VMEbus-derived mechanical form factor and proprietary GE Fanuc bus protocol established a de facto standard for large-scale discrete and analog control from the mid-1980s through the 2000s. Installed base counts in the tens of thousands of racks globally, making long-term spare parts availability a critical operational concern for plant engineers and maintenance managers.

The Evolution of IC697 Architecture

The Series 90-70 platform was introduced by GE Fanuc Automation in 1988 as a successor to the Series Six and Series Five PLC families. The original IC697 rack accepted 9-slot and 5-slot configurations with a shared VME-compatible backplane. Early CPU modules (IC697CPU731, IC697CPU771) operated at clock speeds under 10 MHz with limited program memory. By the mid-1990s, the IC697CPU781 and IC697CPU782 introduced expanded RAM, floating-point coprocessors, and Ethernet-ready communication slots.

The architecture evolved through three distinct generations: (1) Classic I/O — discrete relay and transistor modules with fixed terminal block wiring; (2) Analog Expansion — high-resolution 12- and 16-bit analog input/output modules with configurable ranges; (3) Bus Communication — Genius Bus, Profibus-DP, and DeviceNet adapters enabling distributed I/O topologies. GE Fanuc transitioned the Series 90-70 to end-of-active-production status circa 2012, with GE Intelligent Platforms (later Emerson Automation Solutions) continuing to supply spare parts and repair services. The platform is now firmly in its lifecycle maintenance phase, and replacement with PACSystems RX7i (IC698 series) is the recommended migration path — though the RX7i rack is backward-compatible with most IC697 I/O modules, extending the practical service life of existing IC697 field wiring and termination assemblies.

IC697 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent verified, commonly stocked modules within the GE Series 90-70 IC697 family, classified by functional category:

Output Modules

• IC697MDL970: Output relay module, 16-point, 2A/point, Form C contacts, 120/240VAC or 24VDC load
• IC697MDL940: Output relay module, 8-point, 2A/point, isolated Form C contacts, 120/240VAC
• IC697MDL753: Discrete output module, 32-point, 24VDC, 0.5A/point, sourcing transistor
• IC697MDL750: Discrete output module, 16-point, 24VDC, 2A/point, sourcing transistor
• IC697MDL740: Discrete output module, 16-point, 120VAC, 0.5A/point, triac solid-state

Input Modules

• IC697MDL653: Discrete input module, 32-point, 24VDC, positive logic, 8ms filter
• IC697MDL651: Discrete input module, 16-point, 24VDC, isolated groups, 8ms filter
• IC697MDL640: Discrete input module, 16-point, 120VAC, 15ms filter, optically isolated
• IC697MDL671: Discrete input module, 16-point, 120/240VAC, isolated, 15ms filter
• IC697ALG320: Analog input module, 8-channel, 12-bit resolution, 4–20mA / 0–10V configurable
• IC697ALG321: Analog input module, 16-channel, 12-bit, voltage/current configurable per channel
• IC697ALG440: Analog output module, 8-channel, 12-bit, 4–20mA / 0–10V, isolated outputs

CPU Modules

• IC697CPU771: CPU module, 512KB user memory, floating-point math, Series 90-70 base CPU
• IC697CPU781: CPU module, 2MB user memory, Ethernet option, enhanced instruction set
• IC697CPU782: CPU module, 4MB user memory, dual-port RAM, high-speed interrupt processing

Communication & Power Modules

• IC697BEM711: Genius Bus Controller, single bus, 32 device addresses, 115.2 kbps
• IC697CMM711: Communications coprocessor, RS-232/RS-422, multi-protocol support
• IC697PWR710: Power supply module, 120/240VAC input, 5VDC/13A + 24VDC/1A output
• IC697PWR724: Power supply module, 24VDC input, 5VDC/13A output, battery-backed

Quality Control for the IC697 Range

IC697 modules present specific test challenges due to their VMEbus backplane interface, proprietary GE Fanuc bus arbitration protocol, and mixed analog/digital signal paths. DriveKNMS applies a structured multi-stage verification process to all IC697 inventory: