GE IC695PBS301-AA PROFIBUS DP Slave Communication Module

Description

The GE IC695PBS301-AA is used wherever an RX3i controller needs to sit cleanly on a PROFIBUS DP network as a well‑behaved slave device rather than the network master. In many brownfield plants, drive systems, remote I/O blocks, and subsystems already speak PROFIBUS, and engineers want the central PACSystems RX3i to exchange data with an existing PROFIBUS master PLC or DCS without ripping out the network. In that scenario, the GE IC695PBS301-AA gives the RX3i a standards‑compliant PROFIBUS DP slave interface, making it applicable in control systems that span multiple vendors or that use PROFIBUS as a fieldbus backbone in process, power, and materials‑handling applications. Typical use cases include integrating an RX3i‑based turbine or burner management panel into a plant DCS, linking an RX3i machine controller to a line‑level PROFIBUS master, or exposing calculated values and diagnostics from the RX3i to an existing PROFIBUS HMI segment. Because the module is a slave, it fits especially well where another controller already owns the bus timing, and the RX3i simply needs a robust way to publish and receive cyclic I/O data over that bus. In modern industrial automation architectures, this lets the GE IC695PBS301-AA act as a bridge between newer PACSystems logic and entrenched PROFIBUS infrastructure, preserving investments in cabling and devices while enabling incremental control system upgrades.​

The GE IC695PBS301-AA is a PROFIBUS DP Slave communication module for the PACSystems RX3i family, occupying a single slot in an RX3i universal backplane and presenting a 9‑pin PROFIBUS port on the front. Functionally, it maps data between the RX3i backplane and the PROFIBUS DP master, so configured input and output words in the RX3i appear as cyclic I/O on the bus, and vice versa. In a control system architecture, the GE IC695PBS301-AA is placed in the same rack as the RX3i CPU and is configured via RX3i programming tools to define the size and layout of its PROFIBUS process image, using GSD‑based configuration in the master to match. Engineers value this module because it lets them treat the RX3i like any other PROFIBUS DP slave node, simplifying integration into large multi‑vendor bus segments without custom gateways or protocol converters. Its role is particularly attractive in systems where the RX3i performs complex logic or fast local control, while the PROFIBUS master provides supervisory coordination and plant‑wide data collection.​

From a technical standpoint, the GE IC695PBS301-AA supports standard PROFIBUS DP physical and electrical characteristics, using a 9‑pin D‑sub port compatible with typical PROFIBUS cabling and connectors. Status light‑emitting diodes on the front indicate PROFIBUS OK, network activity, and module status, allowing technicians to see at a glance whether the slave is correctly configured and online with the master. The module draws its power from the RX3i backplane, with a consumption of roughly 440 milliamps at 3.3 volts direct current, which must be counted in the rack’s power budget when sizing power supplies.​

Hardware design is optimized for the RX3i ecosystem. The GE IC695PBS301-AA uses the RX3i PCI‑style universal backplane, meaning it can be installed in any universal slot in a compatible rack rather than requiring a special carrier. This flexibility allows integrators to position it near the CPU or group it with other communication cards according to panel layout constraints. Because it is a single‑slot module with modest power draw, it is well suited for compact panels and can be added later in a project without large mechanical changes, provided spare slots and power capacity exist.​

In terms of compatibility and integration, the GE IC695PBS301-AA is designed for PACSystems RX3i controllers and works with RX3i CPUs and power supplies documented in the system manuals. It presents itself to the PROFIBUS master via a GSD file, so configuration on the master side follows the same workflow as other slaves, including defining input and output byte sizes and diagnostic capabilities. Environmentally, the module is specified for an operating temperature from 0 °C to 60 °C, with storage down to –40 °C and up to 85 °C, aligning with typical industrial cabinet and warehouse conditions when proper enclosure cooling is provided.​

IC695PBM300 – PROFIBUS DP Master module for RX3i, often used on the opposite side of networks that include slaves like GE IC695PBS301-AA.​
IC695CPU310 – RX3i CPU that commonly works with GE IC695PBS301-AA to expose selected process data as PROFIBUS I/O.​
IC695PSA040 – 120/240 volt alternating current or 125 volt direct current 40‑watt RX3i power supply that feeds racks containing GE IC695PBS301-AA​
IC695PSD040 – 24 volt direct current 40‑watt RX3i power supply used where low‑voltage direct current distribution is preferred, powering modules such as GE IC695PBS301-AA​
IC695PSD140 – Multi‑purpose 24 volt direct current power supply for RX3i, useful in larger racks with several communication modules including GE IC695PBS301-AA​
IC694MDL240 – 120 volt alternating current input module often found in the same RX3i systems, with status points that can be mapped through GE IC695PBS301-AA to a PROFIBUS master.​

When planning installation, engineers should allocate a universal RX3i backplane slot for the GE IC695PBS301-AA and ensure that power supply loading calculations include its 440 milliamps at 3.3 volts direct current consumption. PROFIBUS cabling must follow standard practices—proper shielded twisted pair, segment length limits, terminators at the ends of the bus—to ensure reliable communication, with the 9‑pin connector on the module wired according to PROFIBUS pin assignments. The module’s operating temperature limits call for adequate enclosure cooling and separation from high‑heat devices, while grounding and shielding strategies should be coordinated with plant standards to minimize electromagnetic interference. During commissioning, technicians typically verify that the correct GSD file is loaded into the PROFIBUS master, that the configured I/O sizes match the RX3i project, and that the PROFIBUS OK and network indicators on the GE IC695PBS301-AA show a healthy bus state once the master is running.