GE IC695CPU320HU High-Performance CPU Module

Description

Product Model: GE IC695CPU320HU

• Product Brand / Series: GE (Fanuc / PACSystems / VersaMax lineage)
• Module Type: CPU / Controller Module
• Key Features:
  • Built with an Intel Celeron-M processor (~1 GHz) for fast control tasks
  • 64 MB user RAM + 64 MB nonvolatile flash memory for program storage and retention
  • Dual serial ports supporting RS-232 / RS-485, plus support for Modbus, SNP, serial I/O
  • Dual backplane support (RX3i PCI backplane and legacy 90-30 serial bus) for high throughput and backward compatibility

Applications & Industry Use Cases

Controllers like the GE IC695CPU320HU are central to modern industrial systems that demand both reliability and performance. You’ll find them in:

• Process industries (chemical, petrochemical, refining) where precise control loops, safety logic, and data integration are essential.
• Manufacturing automation and machine control tasks where responsiveness and determinism matter.
• Retrofit projects in systems originally built on GE’s VersaMax / RX3i or even legacy 90-30 architectures — the IC695CPU320HU’s backward compatibility is a strength.
• Critical infrastructure such as power plants, pipelines, or water treatment systems needing rugged, stable controllers with built-in communication options.

In one example, a processing plant that upgraded parts of an older 90-30 system used the IC695CPU320HU as a drop-in controller that could address both new RX3i I/O and older serial backplane modules, bridging between legacy and modern I/O. Because it supports both the RX3i PCI backplane and 90-30 style serial bus, it simplifies migration paths

echnical Features & Benefits

The IC695CPU320HU is designed to deliver strong performance while maintaining compatibility and resilience in industrial settings. Below are its standout features and the advantages they deliver.

Processor & Performance

• Uses Intel Celeron-M, running at approximately 1 GHz in many spec sheets.
• Offers accelerated scan and computation capacity, enabling more complex control logic, higher throughput, and faster loops.
• Ideal for systems where multiple PID loops, diagnostics, and communication must run concurrently.

Memory & Storage

• 64 MB user RAM (volatile) to run programs, data tables, and variables.
• 64 MB nonvolatile flash memory to store code and retain data across power loss.
• This mix of memory supports decent program complexity while preserving state in the event of shutdowns.

Communication & Serial Interfaces

• Equipped with two serial ports (RS-232 / RS-485), enabling communication for field devices, modems, or other controllers.
• Supports serial protocols such as SNP, Modbus RTU (slave), and serial I/O.
• In modern usage, its serial ports may serve remote terminal units (RTUs), legacy devices, or gateway functions.

Backplane & Bus Support

• Dual backplane support: both RX3i PCI bus and 90-30 style serial bus. This allows high-speed transfers to RX3i I/O modules while maintaining compatibility with legacy 90-30 I/O modules.
• This hybrid bus capability is a strong migration advantage because many plants still have 90-30 modules that can’t be discarded immediately.

Power & Electrical Requirements

• Draws from standard backplane supply: +3.3 V rail (1.0 A) and +5 V rail (1.2 A) on some spec sheets.
• Operating environment usually 0 °C to +60 °C per public listings.
• The module includes status LEDs (CPU OK, Run, Output Enable, I/O Force, Battery, System Fault, etc.), giving clear visual feedback.

Technical Specifications

Here’s a consolidated spec table for GE IC695CPU320HU:

Installation & Maintenance Advice

From my field experience and reading the module details, here are practical tips and caveats:

Installation Tips

• Ensure the module is fully seated into the backplane slot so all pins mate correctly; intermittent contacts cause elusive faults.
• Keep good airflow in the rack; though it’s designed for 0–60 °C, sustained high ambient temperatures can degrade performance or reduce lifespan.
• Use twisted-pair, shielded cabling for serial ports and ensure proper grounding to reduce noise or communication errors.
• When migrating older systems, configure communication paths so that both new RX3i I/O and legacy 90-30 I/O modules can coexist seamlessly.

Maintenance Practices

• During startup, monitor LED indicators—any status beyond “normal” can point to configuration, memory, or I/O issues.
• Regularly backup the flash memory image and RAM contents (programs, data) to external storage.
• If firmware updates become available, verify version compatibility with existing I/O modules before applying them.
• In systems where downtime is critical, maintain a spare IC695CPU320HU unit (or compatible module) to swap in quickly if needed.
• Periodically check for memory errors, battery health (if there’s battery backup), and verify serial port communications with external devices.

Benefits & Why Use IC695CPU320HU

• High performance in a compact form allows more complex control logic, diagnostics, and data processing.
• Migration-friendly architecture — dual bus support means legacy I/O investments can be preserved.
• Communications integrated — serial ports built in, enabling connections to field devices, remote units, or gateways without extra modules.
• Strong support in automation ecosystems — used widely in GE / Emerson / PACSystems deployments, so documentation, third-party support, and spares are more accessible than obscure modules.

Related or Alternative Models

• IC695CPU320 (without “HU” suffix) — similar CPU version for less harsh or earlier environments.
• IC695CPU310 / CPU350 / CPU360 — other CPU class modules in GE’s automation lineup.
• RX3i-series CPUs — more modern control modules in the PACSystems / VersaMax family.
• Other CPU modules with extended environment — variants designed for wider temperature ranges, more memory, or additional communication features.