GE SLN080 IC086SLN080-A | 8 Port Industrial Ethernet Switch

Description

• Brand: GE
• Full Model Number: SLN080 / IC086SLN080-A
• System/Series Family: PACSystems Industrial Ethernet Switches
• One-Sentence Core Function: Unmanaged industrial Ethernet switch for connecting PLCs, HMIs, drives, remote I/O, and other 10/100 Mbps Ethernet devices
• Top 3 Hardcore Specs: 8 × 10/100Base-T(X) ports; 1024-entry MAC table; 4 W typical power consumption
• Switch Type: Unmanaged
• Switching Method: Store-and-forward
• Ethernet Standards: IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3x
• Power Input: Redundant DC power inputs
• Protection: Overload current and reverse-polarity protection
• Enclosure Rating: IP30
• Operating Temperature: -40°C to +70°C
• Storage Temperature: -40°C to +85°C
• Humidity: 5% to 95% non-condensing
• Dimensions: 26.1 × 94.9 × 144.3 mm
• Weight: 391 g
• Stock Status: New Surplus / Fully Tested Refurbished subject to availability

The current PACSystems switch datasheet identifies IC086SLN080 as an unmanaged 8-port switch with eight 10/100Base-T(X) interfaces, a 1024-entry MAC table, redundant input power, and 4 W typical power consumption. The -A suffix should still be verified against the physical nameplate before shipment.

Module 3: Commercial-Technical Deep Dive

A dead industrial switch can be surprisingly expensive operationally: the PLC may still execute logic, yet every downstream Ethernet device appears to disappear at once. The GE SLN080, part number IC086SLN080-A, is an unmanaged eight-port industrial Ethernet switch intended for that layer of plant connectivity. Its eight 10/100Base-T(X) ports support IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, and 802.3x, while store-and-forward switching handles Ethernet traffic without requiring software configuration. There is no managed-switch configuration database to restore, which makes like-for-like replacement much faster when the physical network topology is unchanged.

The useful numbers are straightforward. The switch maintains a 1024-entry MAC address table, draws approximately 4 W, and accepts redundant DC power inputs. GE’s current PACSystems documentation also specifies overload-current and reverse-polarity protection, IP30 enclosure protection, and an operating range of -40°C to +70°C. At only 391 g and approximately 26.1 × 94.9 × 144.3 mm, it fits compact control-panel applications where larger managed switches would add unnecessary hardware. One correction worth making from some third-party listings: IC086SLN080 is not a Gigabit switch; the official specification identifies its eight copper ports as 10/100Base-T(X).

GE SLN080 IC086SLN080-A

Module 4: Compatibility & Installation Traps

Migration/Compatibility

• Architecture: PACSystems industrial Ethernet switch
• Management: Unmanaged; no IP-based switch configuration required for normal forwarding operation
• Port Count: 8 × 10/100Base-T(X)
• Replacement Type: Typically a like-for-like hardware replacement when the existing system uses IC086SLN080
• Configuration Migration: No switch configuration file to restore on an unmanaged unit
• Network Compatibility: Confirm all connected equipment supports 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
• Power Architecture: Verify the installed DC supply wiring matches the switch’s redundant power-input arrangement
• Series Match: IC086SLN080 belongs to the PACSystems industrial Ethernet switch family and is distinct from the managed IC086SLM series.
• Logic Rewrite: None for the switch itself; PLC, HMI, drive, and SCADA logic normally remain unchanged

⚠️ Field Traps (Watch Out)

1. Do not substitute a managed switch merely because the port count looks similar.
The SLN080 is explicitly unmanaged. A managed replacement may introduce configuration, VLAN, spanning-tree, or security behavior that did not exist in the original network. For a direct maintenance replacement, match the original switch type and port architecture.

2. Do not assume 1000 Mbps capability.
The specification is eight 10/100Base-T(X) copper ports. If an attached device requires Gigabit Ethernet, replacing the switch with another 8-port unit of the same physical class does not guarantee link compatibility. The PACSystems family contains separate Gigabit-capable models, but itself is not one of them.

3. Check the DC power redundancy wiring.
The published specification identifies redundant input power along with overload-current and reverse-polarity protection. A maintenance technician should verify both supply paths, polarity, and terminal integrity rather than assuming a single energized feed is equivalent to the original installation.

Module 5: Quality Assurance SOP

Each available GE SLN080 / -A should undergo a documented network-hardware inspection and functional test before shipment:

• OEM anti-counterfeit visual inspection: Verify GE identification, complete -A marking, housing geometry, terminal arrangement, port labeling, front-panel indicators, and manufacturing markings.
• Model verification: Confirm the physical unit is , not IC086SLN050, IC086SLN240, or an IC086SLM managed-switch variant.
• Mechanical inspection: Check housing, mounting features, Ethernet sockets, power terminals, and indicator windows for damage.
• PCB condition inspection: Inspect accessible PCB areas for corrosion, contamination, damaged components, thermal discoloration, and previous repair evidence.
• Power-input verification: Apply the specified DC test supply and verify normal startup on each redundant input path separately.
• Power-on self-test (POST): Confirm expected startup behavior and front-panel status indication after energization.
• Port-link verification: Connect eight controlled Ethernet test endpoints and verify link establishment at 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps where the test fixture supports negotiated-speed testing.
• Communication handshake verification: Pass controlled packet traffic between multiple ports and confirm forwarding without abnormal link drops.
• MAC-learning test: Verify that connected test devices are learned and traffic is forwarded correctly through the switch.
• Redundant-power test: Interrupt one supply input while the second remains energized and verify continued switch operation.
• Protection check: Verify expected behavior under the approved overload/reverse-polarity test procedure; do not exceed the laboratory’s safe test limits.
• Environmental review: Confirm the unit’s specification against the customer’s cabinet environment, particularly the -40°C to +70°C operating range and 5% to 95% non-condensing humidity.
• Final QC record: Document model, suffix, serial/trace information where available, power test results, port test results, and technician sign-off.
• ESD-safe packaging: Package the tested switch in ESD-protective material with mechanical protection for the RJ45 interfaces and power terminals.

The manufacturer documentation provides unusually useful maintenance data for this model: 4 W typical consumption, 1024 MAC entries, redundant power input, IP30 protection, and a -40°C to +70°C operating range. Those values can be recorded directly in the outgoing test report rather than relying on a generic “passed inspection” statement.

Module 6: CRO-Driven Buyer FAQ

Is the GE SLN080 -A obsolete?

It belongs to the legacy PACSystems industrial Ethernet switch family, but the specification remains clearly identifiable in current PACSystems documentation. For replacement procurement, verify the exact nameplate and port configuration rather than ordering by the generic “SLN080” description alone.

Is the -A a managed Ethernet switch?

No. is an unmanaged switch. The official PACSystems datasheet lists “Managed: No” and specifies eight 10/100Base-T(X) ports. That means there is no normal VLAN, SNMP, web-management, or switch-configuration file that must be restored after replacement.

be used in a 10/100/1000 Mbps network?

Yes, but only the switch’s own interfaces operate at 10/100 Mbps. Connected Gigabit-capable devices can negotiate down to a supported 10/100 link where their interfaces permit it; the switch itself does not provide Gigabit throughput. If native 1000 Mbps connectivity is required, select a PACSystems model specifically rated for 10/100/1000Base-T(X).

What should I verify before ordering this exact GE switch?

Confirm , eight copper Ethernet ports, unmanaged operation, the 26.1 × 94.9 × 144.3 mm enclosure size, and the site’s DC power arrangement. Also verify that the existing network does not depend on managed-switch features or Gigabit links. Those checks eliminate most false “replacement” matches before shipment.

What warranty and technical support should I expect?

Warranty duration should be stated for the exact unit condition and test status on the quotation. Technical support should cover model verification, port and power compatibility, installation guidance, network test results, and replacement identification. Application-specific network redesign or managed-switch configuration should not be represented as part of standard support for this unmanaged unit.