General Electric IC693CHS398 5-Slot Expansion Baseplate

Description

The General Electric IC693CHS398 is a 5-slot expansion baseplate designed for the Series 90-30 programmable logic controller (PLC) system. This hardware component serves to extend the capacity of an existing automation system by providing physical slots for additional I/O and option modules. Operating as part of a distributed backplane architecture, the IC693CHS398 requires connection to a central CPU baseplate or a personal computer equipped with a suitable interface card.

Equipped with a 25-pin female D-type I/O bus expansion connector located on its right end, the expansion baseplate supports daisy-chain configurations up to a maximum total cable distance of 50 feet (15 meters) from the CPU baseplate. It incorporates a dedicated Rack Number Selection DIP switch for proper system addressing and supports standard Series 90-30 power supplies and module hardware.

Features

• Provides 5 physical slots for Series 90-30 I/O and option modules
• Integrated 25-pin female D-type I/O Bus Expansion connector for linking additional baseplates
• Built-in Rack Number Selection DIP switch for accurate system rack addressing
• Compatible with standard Series 90-30 power supplies and rack-mounted hardware
• Supports multi-tier system expansion up to system-defined CPU limits (up to 4 or 7 expansion racks depending on CPU model)

Applications

• Industrial automation and discrete manufacturing control systems
• Process control expansion requiring distributed I/O rack placement
• System capacity upgrades for existing GE Series 90-30 PLC installations
• Machine automation requiring modular remote mounting of signal modules

Technical Specifications

Connections / Interfaces

• I/O Bus Expansion Connector: 25-pin female D-type connector on the right side for connecting to preceding baseplates or extending to subsequent racks.
• Rack Number Switch: Accessible DIP switch for configuring the specific rack identification number within the Series 90-30 system.
• Power Supply Slot: Integrated slot designation for standard Series 90-30 power supply modules.
• Module Slots: Five slots capable of accepting discrete I/O, analog I/O, and most option modules (excluding dedicated intelligent modules such as PCM, ADC, BEM330, and CMM which require CPU baseplates).

Installation Guidelines

• The IC693CHS398 cannot operate as a standalone unit and must be connected to a CPU-governed system via the 25-pin expansion cable.
• Ensure all expansion baseplates and connected equipment are tied to a reliable common ground to prevent electrical noise and communication faults.
• Verify that intelligent option modules (such as PCM, ADC, BEM330, and CMM) are exclusively installed in CPU baseplates rather than expansion racks.
• Set the Rack Number Selection DIP switch correctly to match the system configuration software requirements before applying power.