Description
- GE IC697CPU781 | CE / UL Series 90-70 PLC Processor
- GE IC697CPU781 | Factory-Sealed 16 MHz 32-Bit CPU
- GE IC697CPU781 | 0.8 kg Expandable PLC Processor Spare
- GE IC697CPU781 | OEM-Identity Verified Legacy CPU
Unboxing & Physical Snapshot
- Model & Brand: GE IC697CPU781, GE Fanuc Series 90-70
- Part Type: 16 MHz, 32-bit expandable central processing unit
- Physical dimensions: Approximately 38 × 224 × 292 mm (H × W × D); supplier measurements vary, so use the packed unit for final freight calculation.
- Estimated module weight: Approximately 0.8–0.85 kg.;
- Estimated shipping weight: Approximately 1.2–1.6 kg after ESD protection, cushioning, carton, and documentation. Confirm with the final packed shipment.
- What’s in the box: CPU module; factory packaging where supplied as factory-sealed stock. IC697ACC701 lithium battery and expansion-memory boards are separate catalog items and should not be assumed to be included.
- Physical identity: Record the complete catalog number, board revision, serial/date code, memory board part number, and battery installation state. The CPU uses an expansion-memory board and a replaceable battery arrangement.
Product Introduction
The IC697CPU781 sits in slot 1 of a Series 90-70 rack and serves as the central processing unit for machine, process, and material-handling control. Communication with rack I/O and smart-option modules occurs through the VME C.1 backplane architecture. GE documentation identifies support for IC660/IC661 and IC697 I/O products, as well as LAN interfaces, coprocessors, bus controllers, and communication modules.
This is a long-obsolete processor, so physical identity control is more important than appearance alone. The base CPU accepts expansion memory boards providing 128, 256, or 512 Kbytes of battery-backed CMOS RAM, while the IC697MEM732 option combines 256 Kbytes of CMOS RAM with 256 Kbytes of non-volatile flash. A lithium battery maintains memory and the calendar clock when rack power is removed.
Core Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | GE / GE Fanuc |
| Product Family | Series 90-70 |
| Catalog Number | |
| Module Type | Expandable central processing unit |
| Processor | 16 MHz, 32-bit Intel 80386DX |
| Rack Slots | 1 slot |
| Required Position | Slot 1 |
| Boolean Execution | 0.4 µs per Boolean function |
| Discrete I/O Capacity | Up to 12,000 inputs and outputs, any mix |
| Analog I/O Capacity | Up to 8,000 analog I/O |
| Expansion Memory | 128 / 256 / 512 Kbytes battery-backed CMOS RAM |
| Flash Memory Option | 256 Kbytes RAM + 256 Kbytes non-volatile flash with IC697MEM732 |
| Serial Interface | RS-422/RS-485 compatible programmer port |
| Backplane Current | 1.6 A from 5 V bus, including expansion memory |
| Clock Accuracy | ±3.5 seconds/day |
| Elapsed-Time Clock | ±0.01% maximum |
| Memory Retention | 6 months nominal without applied rack power |
| Battery Shelf Life | 10 years at 20°C / 68°F |
| Operating Temperature | Refer to applicable Series 90-70 system specifications; commonly specified 0 to 60°C |
| Storage Temperature | Supplier references commonly specify approximately −40 to +85°C |
| Configuration | Software-configured; no DIP switches or configuration jumpers |
| Backplane Architecture | VME C.1 |
| Approx. Unit Weight | 0.8–0.85 kg |
The original GE data sheet specifies the 16 MHz 80386DX processor, 12K mixed I/O capacity, 8K analog I/O capacity, 0.4 µs Boolean execution, expansion-memory options, 1.6 A backplane current, six-month nominal memory retention without power, and 10-year battery shelf life at 20°C.
GE IC697CPU781
🚨 Global Compliance & Industry Certifications
The belongs to the older Series 90-70 product family. Certification status must therefore be tied to the specific hardware revision and installation configuration rather than inferred from the catalog number alone.
- CE Mark: Later Series 90-70 CPU revision documentation identifies CE approval for applicable upgraded CPU variants. This should not be interpreted as proof that every early carries the same marking.
- UL/cUL: Series 90-70 systems were manufactured for industrial-control applications under applicable North American requirements. Verify the actual CPU label and the system-level certification file before using the unit in an audited installation.
- ATEX / IECEx: No reliable evidence was found establishing ATEX or IECEx approval specifically for every revision. Do not enter either certification into a compliance database without the applicable certificate.
- Marine approvals: DNV or other marine classification should be treated as unverified for this exact CPU unless the physical unit and supporting certificate establish the approval.
- Hazardous-location use: Class I Division 2 suitability, where applicable to a Series 90-70 installation, is a system and certification matter. Substituting a processor without checking the marked equipment configuration can invalidate the documented installation basis.
For an audit package, retain the nameplate photograph, hardware revision, certificate or declaration applicable to that revision, supplier COO statement, and purchase record.
Verify specific lot certifications with OEM.
🚨 Long-Term Storage & Asset Preservation Guide
Protect the lithium battery first. The uses IC697ACC701 to maintain program/data memory and the calendar clock when rack power is absent. GE specifies a 10-year battery shelf life at 20°C, but age alone is not a sufficient release criterion for a critical spare. Record the manufacturing/date information where available and plan battery replacement before deployment when the storage history is uncertain.
Never store an exposed CPU on an ordinary metal shelf. Keep the circuit board in an ESD shielding bag with the original anti-static packaging when practical. Avoid condensation, direct sunlight, and repeated temperature cycling.
Protect the memory configuration record. A CPU without its correct expansion-memory board may not provide the same memory architecture as the removed unit. Record whether the spare contains IC697MEM731, IC697MEM732, IC697MEM733, or IC697MEM735 before putting it into controlled stock.
A particularly important warehouse datum is memory retention: the original GE specification gives six months nominal retention without applied power. That figure should not be treated as a six-month storage guarantee for an aged battery.
Physical Installation Prerequisites
The is a single-slot Series 90-70 CPU and is specifically marked for slot 1 only. It engages the rack card guide and backplane connector; this is not a DIN-rail controller.
Provide adequate cabinet clearance for rack ventilation and access to the rack’s grounding hardware. Series 90-70 rack drawings specify dedicated cooling allowance and note that IC697 modules extend approximately 1.7 inches (43 mm) beyond the front of the rack.
Before insertion:
- Isolate rack power.
- Verify the backplane connector is clean and mechanically undamaged.
- Confirm the CPU is being installed in slot 1.
- Check that the memory board is correctly seated.
- Verify the IC697ACC701 battery condition and connector arrangement.
- Confirm the rack ground is bonded correctly.
GE’s installation instructions specifically warn against removing the old battery before the replacement battery is installed because program/data retention and the calendar clock depend on the battery.
Do not hot-pull the CPU as a routine maintenance action. The appropriate removal procedure requires disengaging the rack clips and withdrawing the board from the backplane connector, with the equipment de-energized according to the installation procedure.
Buyer’s FAQ
What HS tariff code should be used for ?
Commercial records commonly classify this type of industrial PLC processor under HS heading 8537.10, with one current supplier database listing 8537109060. Customs classification is country-specific, however, and the final national tariff line should be confirmed against the importing country’s current tariff schedule and the declared product function.
Does Country of Origin need to match the purchase invoice?
Yes. The COO used on the commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and customs declaration should be consistent with the actual unit and the applicable origin determination. A commercial record identifies the as manufactured in the United States, but the actual shipment should be supported by current supplier documentation rather than relying solely on a database entry.
Should I insure this CPU separately?
For a discontinued control processor, cargo insurance should be evaluated against replacement cost and downtime exposure, not merely shipment weight. Use shock-resistant packaging, ESD protection, moisture protection, and accurate declared value; photograph the unit before sealing the carton so any concealed transport damage can be documented.
Does the include the latest firmware?
Not by default. This processor has a long revision history, and later CPU upgrades were issued as separate replacement/revision numbers. GE’s upgrade documentation lists replacement families for earlier CPU781 revisions, with documented board-revision requirements; therefore the plain catalog number does not establish the installed firmware revision.
For a controlled replacement, capture the CPU catalog number, suffix/revision, firmware revision, expansion-memory part number, battery status, serial/date code, COO, certification evidence, and packaging condition before the spare enters maintenance inventory.
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