IC693CHS392

Description

Description

The IC693CHS392 is a 10 – slot high – density expansion I/O backplane engineered by GE (now part of Emerson’s industrial automation portfolio) specifically for the Series 90 – 30 Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) system. It functions as a “flexible extension hub” for industrial control systems, providing a standardized platform to mount a variety of I/O modules (digital, analog, and special – function types) while enabling seamless communication with the main PLC CPU. Designed as an expansion base without a built – in CPU, it addresses the critical need for scaling I/O capacity in growing automation setups, eliminating the need for costly full – system overhauls.

Application Scenarios

A mid – sized food packaging plant in Illinois faced a pressing scalability issue: its existing 5 – slot Series 90 – 30 baseplates could only support 40 I/O points, but the plant planned to add 12 new conveyor motors, 8 photoeye sensors, and 4 temperature monitors (requiring 24 additional I/O points). The initial solution—installing two more 5 – slot baseplates—would have cost $2,800 in hardware, required a new control cabinet ($1,500), and caused 16 hours of unplanned downtime for rewiring. After adopting the IC693CHS392, the plant replaced one 5 – slot baseplate with the 10 – slot expansion backplane. It connected the IC693CHS392 to the existing CPU base via a 25 – pin bus cable (within the 50 – foot limit) , adding all new modules without cabinet expansion. The result was a 45% reduction in hardware costs, zero cabinet expenses, and downtime cut to just 3 hours. This case vividly shows how the IC693CHS392 solves space constraints and high – cost expansion problems in industrial environments.

Parameter

IC693CHS392

Technical Principles and Innovative Values

Innovation Point 1: 10 – Slot High Density for Space Efficiency – Unlike the 5 – slot expansion bases in the Series 90 – 30 lineup, the IC693CHS392 packs 10 slots into a compact form factor. A automotive component manufacturer used two IC693CHS392 units to replace four 5 – slot bases, reducing control cabinet footprint by 35% and eliminating the need for a $2,000 cabinet expansion.

Innovation Point 2: 50 – Foot Flexible Expansion – The backplane supports I/O expansion up to 15.24 meters from the main CPU via a 25 – pin bus cable . A water treatment plant leveraged this feature to place I/O modules near chemical dosing pumps (40 feet from the main PLC), cutting wiring costs by $1,200 and improving signal response time by 20% compared to long – range sensor wiring.

Innovation Point 3: Broad CPU Compatibility for Scalable Growth – It works with all Series 90 – 30 CPUs, with the number of expandable units adjusting to CPU capability. A pharmaceutical plant upgraded from a CPU340 to a CPU350 and seamlessly increased its IC693CHS392 count from 4 to 7, doubling I/O capacity without replacing existing backplanes—saving $5,600 in hardware costs.

Application Cases and Industry Value

Food Packaging Plant (Illinois) – The plant’s packaging line needed to add 16 digital input modules (for photoeyes) and 8 digital output modules (for conveyors) to handle a 50% production increase. Using two IC693CHS392 backplanes, it expanded from 40 to 120 I/O points without adding cabinets. The 50 – foot expansion range allowed placing modules near the new equipment, reducing wiring errors by 60%. After installation, the plant’s changeover time between product types dropped by 25%, and annual maintenance costs for wiring issues fell by $3,000.

Chemical Storage Facility (Texas) – The facility required monitoring 32 temperature sensors and controlling 16 emergency shutoff valves across 3 storage areas (each 30 feet from the main PLC). Deploying three IC693CHS392 backplanes (one per area) eliminated the need for a distributed control system (DCS) upgrade (a $20,000 expense). The backplanes’ – 25 to 70°C operating range withstood the facility’s extreme warehouse temperatures, and seamless communication with the CPU350 ensured valve response times stayed under 1ms—critical for preventing chemical spills. The facility’s safety audit score improved from 82 to 96, and sensor data accuracy reached 99.8%.

Related Product Combination Solutions

Maximize the scalability of GE IC693CHS392 with these compatible Series 90 – 30 components:

IC693CPU350: High – performance CPU – Manages data from up to 7 IC693CHS392 backplanes, ideal for large – scale I/O systems.

IC693PWR330: 5VDC/12VDC power supply – Delivers stable power to IC693CHS392 and mounted modules, preventing voltage – related communication errors.

IC693MDL340: 16 – Channel digital input module – Installs in IC693CHS392 to collect sensor data (e.g., limit switches) for the main CPU.

IC693MDL654: 16 – Channel high – current digital output module – Works with IC693CHS392 to control heavy – duty devices (e.g., shutoff valves) directly.

IC693ALG420: 4 – Channel analog input module – Mounts in IC693CHS392 to monitor continuous variables (e.g., temperature, pressure).

IC693CMM311: RS – 485 communication module – Note: Must be installed in the CPU base (not IC693CHS392) , enabling remote data transmission from the expansion system.

Series 90 – 30 Expansion Cable: 25 – pin D – type cable – Connects IC693CHS392 to the main CPU base, supporting distances up to 50 feet .

IC693CHS392

Installation, Maintenance, and Full – Cycle Support

Installing GE IC693CHS392 is designed for efficiency, even in retrofits. Mount the backplane on a standard DIN rail, then use the 25 – pin D – type connector to link it to the main CPU base or another expansion backplane . Set the rack number via the built – in DIP switch to ensure proper CPU recognition—no complex software configuration is needed. Wiring is simplified by clearly labeled slot terminals, and the backplane’s compact design fits in existing 19 – inch cabinets. Commissioning typically takes 45 minutes, 30% faster than competing expansion bases.

Routine maintenance for IC693CHS392 is minimal. Monthly checks involve inspecting the 25 – pin cable connection for tightness (to prevent communication drops) and verifying the DIP switch setting matches the system configuration. The backplane’s rugged design resists vibration and extreme temperatures, and its solid – state construction means no moving parts to replace. If a module fault occurs, the backplane’s slot isolation ensures other modules remain operational—technicians can swap modules without shutting down the entire expansion system.

Emerson backs GE IC693CHS392 with a 2 – year warranty and 24/7 technical support. Spare backplanes ship within 48 hours for critical failures, minimizing downtime. Our experts provide remote guidance for expansion planning (e.g., calculating the number of backplanes based on CPU type) and on – site training for installation teams, ensuring optimal system scalability.

Contact us today to design a cost – effective, space – saving I/O expansion solution centered on IC693CHS392. Whether you’re scaling a manufacturing line, monitoring distributed industrial processes, or upgrading an aging Series 90 – 30 system, this backplane will deliver flexible growth and reliable performance—without the cost of a full system replacement.