GE IC697MEM715D 128 KB Battery-Backed SRAM Expansion 

Description

In multi-rack Series 90-70 systems running pharmaceutical filling lines or automotive paint shops, GE IC697MEM715D steps up as the memory booster that lets operators store recipe tables, trend buffers, and fault histories without forcing a CPU upgrade or rack expansion. Engineers slip it onto compatible CPUs like the 771 or 772 during brownfield retrofits, where growing data logging for compliance audits or batch tracking pushes onboard RAM limits—think holding thousands of timestamps or scaler values across shifts without constant dumps to disk. You’ll find GE IC697MEM715D embedded in pulp dryers or conveyor sorters, safeguarding register memory for position data, alarm queues, or shift reports that survive power blips via the host CPU’s battery.

This module proves vital in environments where downtime for reconfiguration isn’t an option, like utilities tracking meter pulses or factories archiving production tallies over months. Maintenance teams value how GE IC697MEM715D configures as extra program or data space through simple software toggles, avoiding slot-hogging expansions while keeping scans lean. Because it is used in industrial automation for legacy PLCs under data creep, plants specify it to extend rack life, ensuring critical variables persist through outages or firmware flashes without manual reloads. The upshot is smoother audits and fewer engineering hours chasing memory overflows.

The GE IC697MEM715D is a compact CMOS expansion memory module from GE Fanuc’s Series 90-70 family, providing 128 KB of battery-backed SRAM that mounts directly onto select CPUs (such as IC697CPU771 or IC697CPX772) without consuming an extra rack slot. It expands user-accessible register space for %R data, program blocks, or temporary buffers, retained by the CPU’s lithium battery during power loss—up to six months typical holdup. In a PLC architecture, GE IC697MEM715D integrates invisibly via the CPU backplane, appearing as extended memory in Proficy Machine Edition or Logicmaster for seamless allocation between logic and variables.

Targeted at mid-range 90-70 setups needing growth headroom, GE IC697MEM715D offers engineers a low-risk way to scale without rewiring or swapping processors, supporting both program storage for larger applications and data retention for historians or queues. Its plug-on design and no-extra-power draw make it ideal for crowded cabinets, preserving compatibility with remote I/O buses and comms modules while enabling features like run-mode edits on expanded files.

GE IC697MEM715D delivers straightforward expansion with 128 KB SRAM (32-bit words) that absorbs recipe sets, analog trends, or fault stacks, configurable fully for data (%R/%AI/%AQ) or split for mixed use—crucial for sites logging compliance data alongside control logic. Battery tie-in from the host CPU ensures retention without dedicated cells, holding contents through brownouts common in motor-start heavy panels.

Hardware keeps it simple: a low-profile daughterboard with gold-edge contacts for secure CPU seating, drawing negligible current (~10 mA) from the 5 V logic rail and rated for standard PLC ambient (0-60°C). GE IC697MEM715D lacks onboard indicators but reports health via CPU diagnostics, with no moving parts or user terminals to fail in dusty process areas. Electromagnetic compatibility matches 90-70 standards, shrugging off nearby relays or fluorescents.

It pairs exclusively with early IC697 CPUs lacking integrated flash, scaling total memory to 640 KB combined while supporting all rack expansions and programming flows. Field-proven for decades, GE IC697MEM715D logs minimal failures, thriving where data persistence underpins audits or recovery in batch or discrete lines.

Detailed Technical Specifications

Related Modules or Compatible Units

GE IC697MEM719 – Higher-capacity 512 KB sibling for GE IC697MEM715D when data needs exceed 128 KB on the same CPUs.

GE IC697CPX772 – Target CPU where GE IC697MEM715D mounts, boosting register space for expanded logic.

GE IC697CPX782 – Faster CPU compatible with GE IC697MEM715D-style expansions in performance racks.

GE IC697MEM735 – Flash-enhanced memory module offering non-volatile backup alongside GE IC697MEM715D SRAM.

GE IC697HSC700 – High-speed counters that feed data into GE IC697MEM715D buffers for rate logging.

GE IC697MDL350 – Discrete outputs driven by recipes stored in GE IC697MEM715D expanded memory.

GE IC697CHS790 Racks – House CPUs with GE IC697MEM715D for full-system growth without slot tradeoffs.

Power down the rack and CPU before attaching GE IC697MEM715D—align edge fingers precisely with the CPU socket, press evenly to avoid bends, then verify seating via no-gap visuals. Confirm CPU firmware supports the D revision and battery voltage sits above 2.8 V; reconfigure memory allocation in Proficy (%R expansion first), testing retention by pulling rack power and checking registers post-restart. Keep the CPU front clear for battery access, as GE IC697MEM715D rides its holdup without independent protection.

Maintenance boils down to CPU-level battery swaps every 4-5 years—test retention monthly via diagnostics, logging any %SA bits for low-voltage warnings before data loss hits. Inspect contacts yearly for oxidation in humid sites, reseating if resistance creeps; spares must match D rev for plug compatibility. Firmware updates pass through harmlessly, but snapshot configs offline pre-change.