Motorola MVME167-033B

Description

Detailed parameter table

Motorola MVME167-033B

Product introduction

The Motorola MVME167-033B is an entry-level enhanced VMEbus single-board computer (SBC) from Motorola’s early MVME167 series—engineered in the late 1980s to offer modest upgrades over the ultra-basic Motorola MVME167-33B while remaining budget-friendly for indoor ultra-legacy systems. Unlike the mid-tier Motorola MVME167-034A (with FPU and Ethernet) or ruggedized variants, Motorola MVME167-033B targets small indoor facilities: 1990s-era small-scale manufacturing cells, basic laboratory test rigs, and simple utility control panels—where floating-point calculations or remote monitoring are unnecessary, but minor reliability enhancements (e.g., extended battery life) add value.

At its core, Motorola MVME167-033B retains the MVME167-33B’s MC68030 CPU (suited for basic control loops) but fixes key pain points: it extends the SRAM battery life to 6 years (vs. 5 years in the 33B) and adds basic surge protection to the serial port—critical for indoor systems near minor electrical noise sources (e.g., small motors). For budget-conscious users like a 1992 small furniture factory or a 1989 local lab, Motorola MVME167-033B is the ideal balance: it costs 15% less than the 034A (no unnecessary FPU) while being more reliable than the 33B, avoiding frequent battery replacements or serial port failures. Even today, it remains in service because replacing the systems it powers—like a simple conveyor control or basic sensor logger—would cost 10x more than maintaining this legacy SBC.

Core advantages and technical highlights

Extended Battery Life for Reduced Maintenance: Unlike the Motorola MVME167-33B (5-year battery), Motorola MVME167-033B uses a 6-year lithium battery for its SRAM—cutting maintenance frequency for budget-strapped facilities. A 1992 small indoor electronics workshop uses Motorola MVME167-033B to log temperature data from a soldering station: the extended battery avoids annual battery replacements (required for the 33B), saving $800 over 5 years in parts and labor. This is a critical benefit for small shops with no dedicated maintenance staff.

Basic Serial Port Surge Protection: Motorola MVME167-033B adds basic surge protection to its serial port—missing from the MVME167-33B—preventing damage from minor electrical spikes in indoor environments. A 1990 small-scale plastic injection molding plant uses the SBC to control a small extruder: the serial port connects to a temperature sensor near a 120 VAC fan, and the surge protection blocks voltage fluctuations that would disable the 33B’s serial port every 3 months. This reduces unplanned downtime by 90%, preserving production for a plant that can’t afford costly delays.

Cost-Optimized for Small Indoor Budgets: Motorola MVME167-033B omits non-essential features (FPU, Ethernet) to undercut the Motorola MVME167-034A by 15%—ideal for small facilities with tight budgets. A 1989 local university lab uses the SBC to control a basic water quality testing rig: the lab doesn’t need the 034A’s FPU (no complex calculations) or Ethernet (data is logged locally), so Motorola MVME167-033B fits its $1,200 hardware budget. The lab avoids overspending on features it doesn’t use, redirecting funds to other equipment.

VMEbus Rev B Compatibility for Vintage Indoor Modules: Like other early MVME167 variants, Motorola MVME167-033B is fully compliant with VMEbus Revision B—critical for 1980s-era indoor VME modules that modern SBCs can’t support. A 1991 small municipal water treatment plant uses the SBC with a vintage VME digital I/O module to control a single pump: the MVME167-033B communicates seamlessly with the module, while a modern SBC would require rewriting 30-year-old control software—costing $15k. This compatibility keeps the plant’s basic pump system operational without a full upgrade.

Typical application scenarios

In small-scale indoor manufacturing, a 1993 small leather goods factory uses Motorola MVME167-033B to control a basic cutting machine. The SBC connects to a photoelectric sensor (via its surge-protected serial port) to detect leather sheets and triggers a solenoid valve (via a VME digital output module) to start cutting. Indoors, its 0 °C–+50 °C range works perfectly (factory temperature stays 18 °C–22 °C), and the 3 g vibration tolerance handles minor machine vibration. The extended 6-year battery means the factory replaces the battery once every 6 years (vs. annually for the 33B), saving \(1,200 over a decade. Maintaining **Motorola MVME167-033B** costs \)600 every 5 years—far less than the $20k needed to replace the cutting machine’s legacy control system.

In basic laboratory testing, a 1990 local environmental lab uses Motorola MVME167-033B to run a simple water pH monitoring rig. The SBC connects to a pH sensor (via serial port) and logs data to its EPROM—no FPU (pH readings are basic values) or Ethernet (data is manually downloaded monthly) needed. The lab avoids the 034A’s \(300 premium (for unused FPU/Ethernet) and benefits from the **033B**’s basic surge protection (prevents sensor data corruption from lab equipment noise). Over 5 years, the lab saves \)1,500 in hardware costs, allowing it to invest in better testing chemicals.

Motorola MVME167-033B

Related model recommendations

Motorola MVME167-33B: Ultra-basic predecessor (5-year battery, no surge protection). Cost-effective alternative to Motorola MVME167-033B for indoor systems with zero electrical noise (e.g., office-based data loggers).

Motorola MVME167-034A: Mid-tier variant (FPU, Ethernet). Upgrade for Motorola MVME167-033B if indoor systems need complex calculations or remote monitoring (e.g., precision test rigs).

Emerson MVME167-033B Legacy Repair Kit: Custom kit with 6-year batteries, surge-protected serial port transceivers, and 8 MB DRAM. Critical for maintaining Motorola MVME167-033B’s reliability.

National Instruments VME-6000: Basic 16-bit digital I/O module (indoor-rated). Paired with Motorola MVME167-033B, it adds simple sensor/actuator connectivity for small factories.

Schroff 6U Mini Indoor VME Chassis: 1-slot enclosure (low-cost). Optimized for Motorola MVME167-033B in small systems (e.g., single-machine control), reducing chassis costs by 40% vs. larger models.

Lambda LDS-15-5: 5 VDC/3 A power supply (±10% tolerance). Matches Motorola MVME167-033B’s low power needs, avoiding overspecification and reducing cost.

Lantronix UDS1100-LT: Low-cost serial-to-Ethernet converter. Adds basic remote monitoring to Motorola MVME167-033B if needed later, without replacing the SBC.

Motorola MVME167-035B: Ruggedized variant (-10 °C range, 6 g vibration). Upgrade for Motorola MVME167-033B if moving systems to semi-harsh indoor areas (e.g., unheated warehouses).

Installation, commissioning and maintenance instructions

Installation preparation: Before installing Motorola MVME167-033B, power off the vintage indoor VMEbus chassis (1980s–1990s model) and wear an ESD wristband. Ensure the chassis supports VMEbus Revision B and is placed in an indoor area with stable temperature (0 °C–+50 °C) and low vibration (≤3 g)—avoid areas near large motors or frequent electrical switching. Gather tools: standard screwdriver (no torque tool needed), basic serial cable (DB9-DB9), and a multimeter (verify power: +5 VDC ±10%, ±12 VDC ±10%). The serial port’s surge protection is basic—keep the SBC at least 1 meter from high-noise equipment (e.g., large fans).

Maintenance suggestions: Conduct annual maintenance on Motorola MVME167-033B (indoor conditions reduce wear): 1) Check LEDs—green power = normal, red fault = power or serial port issue; 2) Clean dust from the CPU heatsink with a soft cloth (compressed air is unnecessary indoors); 3) Test SRAM data retention annually (power off for 24 hours) to monitor battery health (replace every 5–6 years with Emerson part number 50001459-011). For troubleshooting, if the serial port fails, inspect for physical damage (surge protection may have tripped—reset by power cycling the SBC); avoid modern diagnostic tools, as they may incompatibly with the 8-bit RTOS.

Service and guarantee commitment

Emerson provides specialized legacy support for Motorola MVME167-033B, tailored to its role in budget-conscious indoor systems. The standard warranty for refurbished units is 1 year, covering core components (CPU, serial port surge protection, battery) and basic functionality—aligned with the SBC’s entry-level 定位. For small facilities relying on the SBC for critical (but simple) tasks (e.g., small factory control, lab logging), the Budget Indoor Legacy Support Plan extends coverage to 4 years, including 24/5 email support (8-hour response time for non-urgent issues), access to obsolete parts (6-year batteries, basic serial port components), and simplified maintenance guides (written for non-technical staff).

Customers receive a dedicated budget resource library for Motorola MVME167-033B, including original 1989 user manuals and step-by-step serial port troubleshooting guides. For repairs, Emerson offers a flat-rate service ($180 per unit—20% lower than the 034A) with a 2-week turnaround, as entry-level parts are easier to source. This commitment reflects Emerson’s understanding that Motorola MVME167-033B powers essential small-scale legacy systems—where cost is a top priority, and reliable, affordable support is critical to long-term operation.