Description
Product Introduction & Engineering Value
Adding a dedicated network coprocessor is the most reliable way to prevent heavy SCADA polling traffic from bogging down your main RX3i CPU scan time. The GE PACSystems RX3i IC695ETM001ER acts as an independent network gateway, processing high-volume SRTP, Modbus TCP, and Ethernet Global Data (EGD) packets directly on its own onboard hardware.
Featuring dual front-facing RJ-45 ports tied to an integrated auto-negotiating switch, this module allows daisy-chaining without external panel switches. The “ER” designation denotes enhanced environmental protection—typically conformal coating and extended thermal bounds—making it an ideal drop-in choice for harsh marine, chemical, or wastewater control environments where atmospheric corrosive gases would eat standard PCBs alive.
Technical Specifications
- Network Speeds: 10/100 Mbaud Auto-Sensing (Full or Half Duplex)
- Front Connectors: 2 RJ-45 Ports (Port 1A and Port 1B unmanaged switch), 1 RS-232 Station Manager Port (9-pin D-sub)
- Supported Protocols: SRTP Client/Server, Modbus TCP/IP Master/Slave, Ethernet Global Data (EGD), Modbus Read/Write Request Blocks
- Channel Capacity: Up to 16 SRTP server connections, 32 Modbus TCP server connections
- PCI Backplane Power: 0.84 A @ 3.3 VDC / 0.30 A @ 5 VDC
- Environmental Protection: Conformal coated board assembly for corrosive air / high-humidity zones (ER spec)
- Slot Occupancy: Single slot on RX3i Universal Baseplate (IC695CHS012)
- LED Status Diagnostics:
ETHERNET OK,LAN OK,LOG EMPTY, plus Port 1A / 1B link and speed indicators
Field Application & The “Trench” Experience
The Trench Story: A coastal salt-crust processing facility experienced intermittent communication drops on its wash-plant RX3i rack every afternoon as ambient cabinet temperatures spiked and humid air seeped inside. The standard network module’s board traces were suffering micro-corrosion. The site team swapped in a conformal-coated IC695ETM001ER unit, loaded the network configuration script via the front RS-232 Station Manager port, and restored full Modbus TCP telemetry to the plant SCADA in 15 minutes—completely halting environmental communication trips.
- Marine & Offshore Control Racks: Serving as the main network head-end in salt-spray atmospheres where non-coated cards degrade rapidly.
- SCADA Gateway Interfacing: Handling multi-client Ignition, Wonderware, or FactoryTalk HMI data requests independently of the CPU runtime.
- Peer-to-Peer Controller Interlocks: Exchanging high-speed EGD data packets between distributed RX3i process racks across large industrial sites.
- IC695ETM001ER
- IC695ETM001ER
Transparency SOP: QA & Testing
- Environmental & Coating Inspection: Inspection under UV blacklight to verify 100% conformal coating coverage across all board traces, IC pins, and connector solder joints.
- Backplane POST & Boot Audit: Inserting the module into an RX3i baseplate (IC695CHS012) to verify backplane handshake, logic boot sequences, and initial
ETHERNET OKstatus lights. - Dual-Port Traffic Stress Test: Pushing full 100 Mbaud bidirectional traffic through both Port 1A and Port 1B simultaneously while monitoring packet loss and port-switching logic.
- Protocol Verification: Simultaneous execution of Modbus TCP client transactions and SRTP transfers to ensure communications buffers don’t overflow or drop sockets.
- Station Manager Validation: Connecting to the RS-232 Station Manager port to verify diagnostic log reading, IP assignment routines, and firmware health.
The Veteran’s Tech Trap Guide
⚠️ Station Manager Cable Pinout: To talk to the module via its front 9-pin “Station Manager” port for low-level IP setting or log retrieval, you cannot use a standard straight-through DB9 serial cable. You need a dedicated GE null-modem serial pinout (IC693CBL305 or custom crossover wire) or the port will appear completely uncommunicative.
⚠️ IP Address Conflicts During Hot-Swapping: When swapping out an old ETM card for an IC695ETM001ER, remember that if the module is configured to receive its IP from the main CPU config on boot, it will adopt the target network IP upon backplane sync. However, if the old module had a hardcoded IP saved to its internal non-volatile flash, you must clear it via Station Manager or PAC Machine Edition first to prevent IP duplication faults on your subnetwork.
PRO TIP: Do not confuse the dual RJ-45 ports on the ETM001 as two independent network interfaces (two different IP addresses). They are connected to an internal Ethernet switch that shares a single IP address and MAC layer. If you need two completely isolated network subnets on one rack, you must install two separate IC695ETM001 modules in adjacent baseplate slots.
Dynamic FAQ
Q: What does the “ER” suffix stand for on the IC695ETM001ER? A: The “ER” suffix typically designates Extended Range or harsh environment variants, featuring factory-applied conformal coating on internal printed circuit boards to protect components against high humidity, chemical vapors, and atmospheric contaminants.
Q: Can I use the alongside a CPE310 CPU that already has built-in Ethernet? A: Yes. Adding an to a CPE310 system gives you a separate, isolated physical network interface. This is commonly done to separate plant-wide SCADA traffic (on the ETM001) from local field device networks or drive loops (on the CPU’s built-in Ethernet ports).
Q: Does the support PROFINET Controller operations? A: No. The handles general Ethernet protocols like SRTP, Modbus TCP, and EGD. For dedicated PROFINET master controller execution, you should use the IC695PNC001 PROFINET Controller module instead.
Q: How are your surplus units tested and guaranteed? A: Every surplus module undergoes full UV coating validation, dual-port bandwidth throughput testing, Modbus/SRTP protocol load testing, and backplane POST validation before being sealed in ESD protective packaging with a complete replacement warranty.
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