Brief Product Description

GE IC698CHS017B is a 17-slot rear mount rack for GE Fanuc PACSystems RX7i PLC, equipped with VME high-speed backplane bus. It provides mechanical mounting support and electrical signal interconnection for CPU, power supply and various I/O modules. Slot 0 is used for power supply module, slot 1 is fixed for RX7i CPU, slots 2~17 are for I/O modules. It is compatible with RX7i I/O, Series90-70 modules and standard VME modules. The backplane supports VME64 high-speed 64-bit data transmission, with automatic interrupt daisy chain and slot identification function. Optional cooling fan assembly meets heat dissipation requirements for long-time operation of high-power CPUs. It features wide temperature design, vibration resistance and strong EMC shielding performance, widely used in power plants, petrochemical and other large critical automatic control systems. Fully tested refurbished GE IC698CHS017B racks can be used for spare parts replacement of legacy RX7i systems and PLC cabinet renovation projects.

Core Product Functions

• 17-slot rear mount rack for PACSystems RX7i PLC, carrying CPU, power supply and I/O modules
• Integrated VME high-speed backplane bus; J2 connector supports 64-bit VME high-speed data exchange
• Slot allocation: slot 0 for power supply, slot 1 for CPU, remaining 16 slots for I/O expansion
• Compatible with RX7i I/O modules, Series 90-70 modules and standard VME industrial boards
• Backplane circuit with interrupt acknowledgement, bus grant daisy chain and slot detection identification
• Supports high-power power supply modules; fan assembly optional for heat dissipation under high load conditions
• Single-width module occupies 1 slot, double-width module occupies 2 consecutive slots, flexible mixed configuration
• Industrial reinforced mechanical structure with electromagnetic shielding for long-term operation in industrial control cabinets
• Provides power distribution and signal intercommunication channel for the complete RX7i PLC system

Application Scenarios

• Legacy GE PACSystems RX7i main rack for large-scale PLC control system
• Thermal power plant boiler, turbine auxiliary control and interlock system
• Petrochemical, refinery large continuous process control system
• Oil & gas, pulp & paper heavy industry high-reliability PLC control
• Metallurgy, water treatment large-scale automation control cabinet
• Legacy RX7i rack replacement, maintenance and plant control retrofits

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

• Q: Module identification failure or backplane communication failure after power-on?
  A: Check backplane pins for bending and oxidation, confirm matching power module power rating, ensure CPU and I/O modules are fully seated, inspect rack grounding and verify fan assembly for heat dissipation.
• Q: Does GE IC698CHS017B support hot swap of modules?
  A: RX7i I/O modules support hot swap, but evaluate process interlock risk before replacement and perform LOTO lockout-tagout. The rack itself cannot be assembled or disassembled when powered on.
• Q: What is the difference between IC698CHS017B and IC698CHS117?
  A: IC698CHS017B is rear mount rack; IC698CHS117 is front mount version. They differ in installation structure while backplane bus functions are consistent.
• Q: What module types are supported?
  A: RX7i I/O modules, Series90-70 modules and standard VME64 boards, mixed configuration of single-width and double-width modules.
• Q: Is GE IC698CHS017B available for new control projects?
  A: This legacy RX7i rack is end-of-life for new projects. Only fully tested surplus and refurbished units are supplied for existing PLC system maintenance and retrofits.