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Phone: +86 16626708626Description
In plants demanding lightning-fast fieldbus coordination across noisy shop floors or hazardous areas, a robust FIP controller makes all the difference. Consider a heavy machinery fabricator linking 128 remote drops—valves, drives, and sensors—over WorldFIP networks at 1 Mbit/sec to dodge wiring nightmares and latency spikes. GE IC697BEM741-BE steps up as the dual-channel powerhouse, scanning IC693 FIP remote I/O in industrial automation setups like automotive welding lines or pulp mills, where electromagnetic interference from welders or pumps threatens signal chaos. It directly addresses expansion limits in tight Series 90-70 racks, enabling seamless attachment to FIP/WorldFIP fieldbuses for synchronized data from dispersed points.
This module empowers control systems to handle high-density field devices without backplane overloads, supporting up to three remote racks per main unit in 5- to 20-slot configurations. GE IC697BEM741-BE delivers real-time polling of inputs/outputs, fault-tolerant messaging, and diagnostics that keep lines running through power glitches or cable faults. Operators in power generation or chemical dosing rely on its status indicators for rapid issue spotting, while integrators scale legacy systems cost-effectively. From retrofitting European machine tools to building North American material handling grids, GE IC697BEM741-BE provides the high-speed bridge that turns distributed chaos into precise orchestration.
Product Introduction & Positioning
The GE IC697BEM741-BE serves as a Dual-Channel FIP Bus Controller for GE Fanuc Series 90-70 PLCs, fitting a single slot in standard or VME Integrator racks to interface with 1 Mbit/sec FIP or WorldFIP networks. It manages up to 128 field devices across channels, handling I/O scanning, peer messaging, and network arbitration via software configuration in Logicmaster or CIMPLICITY—no jumpers required. In broader control system designs, it extends the PLC’s reach to remote drops like IC693 FIP modules, offloading CPU resources for pure logic execution.
What appeals to field engineers? Its plug-in simplicity and firmware-upgradable diagnostics (BE revision adds point fault corrections), drawing 1.3A at 5V for stable operation. GE IC697BEM741-BE shines in hybrid architectures blending local racks with fieldbus expansions, ensuring compatibility across Series 90-70 variants. For system builders, this controller unlocks WorldFIP’s deterministic performance, positioning GE IC697BEM741-BE as essential gear for high-throughput, fault-resilient deployments.
Key Technical Features & Functional Benefits
Dual channels on the GE IC697BEM741-BE unleash 1 Mbit/sec throughput to 128 devices, arbitrating traffic flawlessly even in dense networks with mixed IC693 drops—perfect for sub-millisecond response in motion control loops. Front-panel LEDs track channel health, bus activity, and faults, while 15-pin connectors simplify cabling to remote racks up to three per main, in 5/10/15/20-slot sizes for flexible scaling.
Toughened for industrial automation extremes, its VME design resists EMI and draws efficiently from backplanes, boasting 100,000-hour MTBF amid vibrations or 60°C heat. Network diagnostics (enhanced in BE firmware) pinpoint point faults or arbiter issues, slashing downtime versus blind troubleshooting. Full Series 90-70 synergy includes bus disabling for maintenance and seamless IC697 integration, with WorldFIP protocol ensuring interoperability in multinational installs.
Reliability flows from redundant messaging and auto-recovery, letting crews hot-swap drops without network collapse. Integrators value how GE IC697BEM741-BE bridges FIP to modern fieldbus evolutions, delivering speed and diagnostics that compound savings over years of service.
Detailed Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | GE IC697BEM741-BE |
| Brand | GE Fanuc (Series 90-70) |
| Type | Dual-Channel FIP Bus Controller |
| Power Supply | 5V DC (backplane), 1.3A max |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 60°C |
| Mounting | Single slot, standard/VME rack |
| Dimensions | 3.4 x 22 x 8 cm (module) |
| Weight | 0.8 kg |
| Interfaces | Dual FIP bus (15-pin), VME |
| Certifications | UL, CE, WorldFIP compliant |
| Cooling | Passive convection |
| Environmental Rating | IP20 |
| Data Rate | 1 Mbit/sec |
| Max Devices | 128 per network |
| MTBF | 100,000 hours |
- IC697BEM741-BE
Related Modules or Compatible Units
IC697BEM741 – Base version without BE firmware enhancements.
IC693FIP002 – Remote FIP drop interface for GE IC697BEM741-BE scanning.
IC697BEM731Z – Genius I/O controller for hybrid bus setups.
IC697CPU731 – Core CPU pairing for FIP management.
IC697PWR748 – Rack power supply for stable operation.
IC697BEM713F – Rack expansion complementing fieldbus.
IC697CMM711 – Coprocessor for multi-bus integration.
Installation Notes & Maintenance Best Practices
Power off racks before inserting GE IC697BEM741-BE, seating it away from high-heat modules with 1-slot airflow gaps; connect 15-pin FIP cables (shielded, <100m segments) daisy-chaining to drops, terminating unused channels. Configure arbitration and baud via software—verify with LEDs post-power-up, testing each channel’s device scan before full load. In EMI-heavy zones like arc welding bays, route cables in metal conduit, grounding shields singly.
Sustain performance with semi-annual connector inspections for corrosion, especially in humid process areas—use CIMPLICITY diagnostics to log faults and update BE firmware during outages for arbiter stability. Quarterly network sweeps catch intermittent drop losses; no field parts, but spares rotation every 5 years aligns with MTBF. Field teams confirm these steps yield near-zero unplanned outages in 24/7 runs.
