IC693CPU363-BH GE 90-30 PLC Processor – 240KB Memory 25MHz

Description

Product Model: IC693CPU363-BH

Product Brand: GE Fanuc (Emerson Intelligent Platforms)

Product Series: Series 90-30

Product Features:

• 25 MHz 80386EX Processor with 240 KB configurable user memory and 0.22 µs per Boolean instruction for high-speed control
• Built-in 10Base-T Ethernet Port plus two serial ports (RS-232/RS-485) supporting SNP, SRTP, and Modbus RTU
• Hot-Standby Redundancy Capable with bumpless transfer and dual-CPU synchronization via fiber or coax
• Flash Memory & Battery-Backed RAM for program retention, expandable via PCMCIA for data logging and firmware updates

I’ve got a soft spot for the IC693CPU363-BH—it was the first GE CPU I ever hot-swapped in a live system, back in 2001, during a midnight outage at a Detroit stamping plant. The line was down, pressure was sky-high, and that little green OK LED coming back solid after the swap felt like striking oil. This module bridged the gap between the old 90-30 workhorses and the Ethernet age, and twenty-plus years later, it’s still running presses, conveyors, and batch systems like it was born yesterday. If you’re nursing a legacy 90-30 rack or need a bulletproof brain for a mid-sized machine, the IC693CPU363-BH is the one that won’t let you down when the clock’s ticking.

Applications & Industry Context

The IC693CPU363-BH thrives where speed, connectivity, and reliability collide—think automotive transfer lines where every millisecond counts. I’ve wired these into body shops; one CPU sequenced 128 weld guns across three Genius drops, syncing timers to ±0.5ms while streaming fault data over Ethernet to a CIMPLICITY HMI. Challenges like arc flash EMI? The isolated serial ports and shielded Ethernet kept comms clean. Food & beverage plants love the Ethernet—batch mixers in dairies use SRTP to push recipe data from MES systems, with PID loops holding temps to 0.2°C.

Water utilities? Remote lift stations run standalone with the IC693CPU363-BH, polling flow meters via Modbus and emailing alarms through a serial-to-Ethernet converter. One Midwest city tied six stations to a central SCADA; the 240KB memory swallowed trend logs for a month. Manufacturing floors face vibration and heat—these shrug 60°C and 5G shakes, keeping motion control tight. Why 90-30 here? Cost-per-point under $50, plus that open Ethernet stack—SRTP, EGD, even raw sockets.

Field tale: Upgrading a ’98 packaging line, we dropped in a IC693CPU363-BH—Ethernet replaced SNP cables, cut commissioning from days to hours, and the built-in web server let techs monitor from tablets. If your process demands real-time control with modern oversight on a legacy budget, this CPU’s the bridge you need.

Technical Features & Benefits

Clocking at 25 MHz with an 80386EX core, the IC693CPU363-BH cranks through 0.22 µs per Boolean—fast enough for 10K instructions in under 3ms, leaving headroom for floating-point math and PID. User memory? 240 KB split configurable (program/data), flash-backed so power cycles don’t wipe your logic, and a PCMCIA slot for up to 4 MB of extra storage—perfect for black-box logging or firmware boots. Ethernet’s native 10Base-T with SRTP/EGD, plus two serials (one RS-232, one switchable RS-485) handling SNP, Modbus RTU master/slave, even CCM.

Redundancy? Dual CPUs sync via fiber link (up to 2km), mirroring I/O tables for <50ms failover—I’ve seen it save a conveyor during a lightning strike. Power draw’s 1.3A at 5V, with battery backup (IC693ACC301) holding RAM for years. Diagnostics? LEDs for RUN, OK, Ethernet activity, plus %S fault bits and web pages for real-time stats. Benefits? In a chemical dosing skid, it juggled 64 analogs and 128 discretes while pushing trends to SQL—zero external gateways.

It’s not a PAC beast, but for mid-tier control, the ROI’s unmatched—Ethernet cuts cabling, serials bridge legacy, and speed trims cycle times. UL Class I Div 2, CE—hazloc-ready. Draw it out: At 50% load, scan under 1ms. This CPU’s the workhorse that modernized 90-30 without breaking the bank.

Product Role & System Fit

In the Series 90-30 world, the IC693CPU363-BH is the command center—slot 1 of any baseplate, orchestrating up to 4096 I/O points across local and remote racks. Role? Brain and broker: Executes ladder, function blocks, C, even motion via DSM314; maps %I/%Q/%AI/%AQ seamlessly. Fits every chassis—2-slot micros to 10-slot mains—with Genius, Profibus, or Ethernet NIUs for distributed muscle.

Programming? Proficy Machine Edition loads over Ethernet or serial; SNP for handhelds. Redundant? Pair with another 363, link via IC693CBL319—bumpless, mirrored. I’ve meshed these with RX3i via EGD; data flows bidirectional. In a palletizer, it ran 512 points, PID for servos, and web diagnostics—techs loved the browser view. If your system’s a mix of old racks and new demands, the IC693CPU363-BH ties it tight, future-proof on a legacy frame.

Installation & Maintenance Insights

Dropping in a IC693CPU363-BH is muscle memory—power down, verify 5V backplane (4.9–5.25V), slide into slot 1—keying blocks mistakes. Ethernet? CAT5 to switch, IP via front-panel or Proficy. Serials: DB9 for RS-232, terminal block for RS-485—ground shields at one end. Battery first (IC693ACC301, 3-year life); PCMCIA if logging.

Boot sequence: PSU on, CPU last—RUN LED flashes, then solid in 10s. Config: Set IP, enable redundancy, load program—web server auto-starts. Maintenance? Annual—swap battery (hot-swappable), clean vents, check Ethernet ferrite. Firmware v10.7 is gold; flash via PCMCIA. In dusty mills, we bagged the CPU—cut failures zero. Spares? Keep a programmed clone; swap in 2 minutes. Do this, and your IC693CPU363-BH runs decades, faults rare.

Related Models

• IC693CPU364: Same CPU, adds second Ethernet port—dual-network redundancy.
• IC693CPU374: 32-bit PowerPC, 240KB—faster for motion or heavy math.
• IC693CPU350: 16 MHz, 32KB—budget step-down for simple logic.
• IC693CPU374: 240KB, floating-point—upgrade path with DSM support.
• IC694CPU780: PAC RX3i equivalent—modern chassis, more memory.
• IC693BEM331: Genius bus controller—frequent partner for remote I/O.
• IC693ACC301: Replacement battery—must-have spare.