GE 516TX 336A4940DNP516TX | 16-Port Ethernet Switch | OEM

• Model & Brand: GE / N-TRON 516TX, GE part number 336A4940DNP516TX
• Series: N-TRON 500 Series Industrial Ethernet Switch
• Part Type: 16-Port Unmanaged Industrial Ethernet Switch
• Physical Dimensions: Approximately 188 × 58 × 88 mm (W × H × D)
• Estimated Shipping Weight: Approximately 0.9–1.0 kg before final export packaging
• What’s in the Box: 516TX Ethernet switch, DIN-rail mounting hardware where supplied, ESD/static protection, protective packaging, and applicable QC documentation. Ethernet cables, power supply, and fiber accessories are not assumed unless specifically included.

Product Introduction

Inside the GE Mark VIe control environment, the 336A4940DNP516TX provides the physical Ethernet switching layer used to connect IONet devices. GE documentation identifies this exact 16-port N-TRON switch as an affected legacy IONet switch and specifies IS420ESWBH3A as the replacement for units requiring replacement. That makes the 516TX important not only as a network component, but also as a lifecycle-controlled turbine spare.

The original 516TX architecture provides 16 × 10/100Base-TX RJ-45 ports, store-and-forward switching, up to 2.6 Gb/s backplane throughput, redundant 10–30 VDC power inputs, and DIN-rail mounting. The unit is an unmanaged industrial switch, so there is no application firmware or controller program to restore in the conventional PLC sense (the network topology and connected Mark VIe configuration remain the critical engineering records).

Core Technical Specifications

The GE/N-TRON documentation gives 10–30 VDC redundant power inputs and approximately 400 mA at 24 VDC, with a documented maximum current around 1.0 A and a 7 A/0.8 ms inrush event. Those values should be included in the cabinet power budget, especially where several switches share a redundant 24 VDC source.

For the Mark VIe application, the critical identity is the 336A4940DNP516TX catalog number. GE’s technical information letter specifically identifies this exact 16-port switch as the older N-TRON unit and directs replacement, where required, to IS420ESWBH3A.

GE 516TX 336A4940DNP516TX

🚨 Global Compliance & Industry Certifications

The 516TX has a much broader historical certification record than many ordinary industrial Ethernet switches, but certification remains configuration-specific.

• CE Mark: The 516TX family is documented with FCC/CE and European EMC requirements, including EN 55011 and EN 61000 series testing.
• UL/cUL: Documented approvals include Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C, D, T4, along with UL 508 and UL 1604 requirements for applicable configurations.
• ATEX: The 500 Series documentation identifies ATEX II 3 G Ex nA certification for applicable products/configurations. Do not assume this applies to every 516TX label or installation without checking the applicable certificate.
• IECEx: Do not infer IECEx approval solely from the ATEX designation; verify the exact certificate for the supplied configuration.
• Marine: The family documentation identifies ABS Type Approval for shipboard applications. DNV GL approval should not be assumed without separate project documentation.
• IEEE 1613: The 516TX family is documented for electric-utility substation applications.
• RoHS: Documented for the applicable N-TRON product family.
• Country of Origin: Establish from actual manufacturing traceability.
• HS Classification: Confirm the final tariff code with the importing country’s customs broker.

The Class I Division 2 / T4 rating is significant because it establishes conditions under which the approved equipment can be installed in specified hazardous locations. It does not mean that an unverified used or modified switch inherits the same approval.

Verify specific lot certifications with OEM.

🚨 Long-Term Storage & Asset Preservation Guide

Keep the 336A4940DNP516TX in an ESD-safe protective package and protect all sixteen RJ-45 ports from dust and moisture. Connector contamination is especially troublesome on a switch because one damaged port can be mistaken for a cable, IONet, or downstream I/O failure.

The 516TX uses an internal power supply with electrolytic capacitors, and GE’s Mark VIe technical information letter identifies capacitor-electrolyte leakage as a known failure mode associated with certain installed 516TX/517FX switches. GE notes that elevated temperature can shorten capacitor life. For stored spares, therefore, record age/date information where available and inspect returned units for swelling, leakage, discoloration, or residue before functional testing.

Keep storage dry and non-condensing. Although the documented operating humidity reaches 95% RH non-condensing, a warehouse target below approximately 60% RH is preferable for long-term inventory preservation.

Do not apply a random DC supply merely to prove the unit powers up. Use a current-limited test source within the documented 10–30 VDC range, and perform a controlled port-by-port functional test.

Physical Installation Prerequisites

Mount the switch on its 35 mm DIN rail using the specified mounting hardware. The documented dimensions are approximately 188 × 58 × 88 mm, so allow sufficient cable space in front of the RJ-45 connectors as well as side access for service.

N-TRON documentation recommends approximately 2 in / 51 mm front clearance and 1 in / 25 mm side clearance. Preserve those clearances in the actual cabinet because tightly packed Ethernet cables can obstruct connector access and restrict enclosure airflow.

For redundant operation, both DC power inputs should be wired according to the approved cabinet design. Do not short the redundant sources together outside the manufacturer’s intended input architecture.

Within a Mark VIe IONet cabinet, preserve the established port mapping and network topology. GE specifically requires GE-approved Ethernet switches in Mark VIe I/O networks; unsupported switching hardware can prevent I/O modules from receiving controller outputs.

Most importantly, GE’s technical information letter identifies the 336A4940DNP516TX as an older switch that can be replaced by IS420ESWBH3A when the documented replacement criteria apply. The same document states that properly functioning switches were not recommended for proactive replacement solely because of the notice.

Buyer’s FAQ — Logistics & Compliance Focus

Q: What HS Tariff Code should I use for 336A4940DNP516TX?
A: Treat it as an industrial Ethernet switching apparatus, but let the importing-country tariff schedule and customs interpretation determine the final Harmonized System classification. The broker should review whether the item is being entered as a network switch or as a GE turbine-control spare.

Q: Does the GE Mark VIe application determine Country of Origin?
A: No. COO must come from manufacturing or traceability documentation for the actual switch or lot. The GE turbine’s location and the seller’s shipping address do not establish manufacturing origin.

Q: Does the 516TX include the latest firmware pre-loaded?
A: The standard 516TX is an unmanaged switch, so it does not require a programmable application image like a Mark VIe controller. Configuration is primarily physical—power connections, Ethernet topology, and port assignments. Managed N-TRON variants in the broader family have different feature sets, so verify the exact 516TX identity before assuming software capability.

Q: What should shipping insurance and preservation cover?
A: Insure the switch for its documented commercial replacement value and photograph the model label, sixteen-port face, power terminals, DIN-rail hardware, and packaging before dispatch. Use rigid connector protection, ESD-safe packaging, moisture control, and internal cushioning; the approximately 0.9–1.0 kg switch should be immobilized during transport. GE’s documented replacement path to IS420ESWBH3A also makes traceability of the removed 516TX particularly valuable for maintenance records.