GE IC695CPE302 RX3i Central Processing Unit

Description

In today’s industrial automation landscape, engineers are under pressure to deliver more processing power, tighter cybersecurity, and future-proof connectivity without ripping out existing I/O or rewriting decades of proven logic. Many plants still run critical processes on aging Series 90-30 or RX3i hardware, but the CPUs are hitting performance ceilings—slow scan times, limited memory for data logging, and no native OPC UA or modern security. Downtime for a full platform migration is rarely an option, and the cost of stranded I/O can kill a project before it starts.

The GE IC695CPE302 solves this exact problem by dropping a modern, high-performance controller directly into an existing RX3i universal backplane. It gives you a dual-core 1.4 GHz processor, 2 MB of non-volatile user memory, 10 MB of fast RAM, and built-in PROFINET with two gigabit ports—all while retaining 100 % compatibility with your current IC695 I/O, third-party modules, and legacy ladder code. You get a 5–10× scan-time improvement on the same rack, native OPC UA server capability, and a full suite of cybersecurity features (ACH, signed firmware, role-based access) without changing a single field wire.

The GE IC695CPE302 becomes essential when you need to add complex analytics, high-speed motion, advanced data logging, or Industry 4.0 connectivity to a running line. It’s the fastest way to eliminate obsolescence risk in process control, extend system life by another decade, and bring high-reliability industrial automation into the connected era.

The GE IC695CPE302 occupies the standard CPU slot in any RX3i universal backplane and communicates natively over the high-speed VME/PCI bus to all local and expansion racks. It supports the full IC695 I/O family, Genius, VersaMax remote drops, and third-party modules exactly like earlier RX3i CPUs.

On the network side, the built-in dual-port gigabit switch provides MRP ring redundancy and supports up to 128 PROFINET devices (256 with expansion). Two independent IP addresses allow clean separation of plant and enterprise traffic. The integrated OPC UA server exposes tags, alarms, and historian data without middleware, while the embedded four-port Ethernet switch on the rack can be used for additional I/O or HMI connections.

Diagnostics are extensive: energy-pack status, redundant CPU sync (when used with CPE305/310 in redundancy), temperature, memory health, and detailed cybersecurity logs—all visible through Proficy Machine Edition or the web interface. Firmware updates are signed and authenticated, and the controller supports secure boot and encrypted configuration storage.

In the automation stack, the GE IC695CPE302 sits at the top as the primary logic solver and data concentrator, bridging legacy field I/O to modern cloud or MES systems while maintaining deterministic real-time performance.

Choosing the GE IC695CPE302 instantly delivers the headroom most plants desperately need—scan times drop from tens of milliseconds to low single digits on typical medium-size programs, giving you room for advanced PID tuning, complex sequencing, or onboard data analytics. Memory expansion eliminates the constant juggling of register space that plagues older CPUs, while the built-in OPC UA server with certificate-based security satisfies IT/OT convergence requirements without third-party gateways.

Long-term performance is assured through signed firmware and secure boot—features that protect against tampering in an era of rising cyber threats. Maintenance efficiency improves because diagnostics are centralized in the web interface and PME, and the energy pack (IC695ACC402) provides graceful shutdown and weeks of clock retention. Integration overhead is nearly zero: drop it in, load your existing project, and you’re running faster and safer the same day.

The GE IC695CPE302 is widely used in water/wastewater facilities to modernize SCADA integration and add high-speed pumping algorithms without replacing field I/O. In automotive and material-handling plants, it powers high-axis-count motion and vision systems while keeping legacy safety and conveyor logic intact.

Pharmaceutical and food & beverage lines deploy it for 21 CFR Part 11-compliant data logging and audit trails via OPC UA. Power plants and oil & gas installations leverage its MRP redundancy and cybersecurity for critical turbine or compressor controls requiring continuous uptime in harsh conditions. Across all these process control environments, the GE IC695CPE302 delivers deterministic performance, future-proof connectivity, and rock-solid reliability.

IC695CPE305 – Single-slot version with 5 MB RAM (otherwise identical) IC695CPE310 – 10 MB RAM, supports CPU redundancy

IC695CPE330 – Dual-core 1.8 GHz with 64 MB RAM for very large programs

IC695CPE400 – Latest rackless CPE with integrated PROFINET and Camming

IC695CPE302-LT – Extended temperature version (-40°C to +70°C)

IC695ACC402 – Required energy pack and cables for all 300-series CPUs

IC695PNS001 – Add-on PROFINET controller if more than 128 devices needed

Before installing the GE IC695CPE302, verify you have the latest Proficy Machine Edition (9.8 or higher) and the IC695ACC402 energy pack with good capacitors—without it the CPU will not start. Confirm backplane power supply capacity (add ~500 mA at 24 VDC) and ensure rack grounding meets specifications.

If migrating from an older CPU, export the hardware configuration and logic, then re-target to CPE302 in PME—most conversions are automatic. Pre-configure IP addresses and OPC UA certificates offline to shorten commissioning. Leave 50 mm clearance above and below for airflow, especially if using redundancy cables.

Maintenance is straightforward: monitor the energy-pack health bit monthly, replace the pack every 5–7 years, and apply firmware updates only from Emerson’s signed packages. Keep a configured spare with your standard IP and security settings for sub-10-minute swaps during planned outages.