Description
GE 336A4940DNP516TX N-TRON 516TX Industrial Ethernet Switch
Product Introduction
The GE 336A4940DNP516TX is a GE-designated N-TRON 516TX industrial Ethernet switch used as a network infrastructure component in GE turbine control environments. Unlike a PLC I/O module or Mark VI controller board, this device provides the physical Ethernet switching layer required to interconnect control-system network nodes. GE parts documentation identifies the unit as an N-TRON 16-port switch, and equipment records associate it with GE gas turbine control systems.
The GE 336A4940DNP516TX provides 16 copper Ethernet ports and is the non-fiber counterpart to the related 336A4940DNP517FX configuration. Available technical references identify the 516TX platform with 10/100Base-TX copper Ethernet connectivity and a 2.6 Gb/s switching/backplane capacity. For a turbine control cabinet, the switch is not simply a generic office-network component: port assignment, network topology, redundancy requirements, cable routing, and system-specific configuration all affect whether a replacement is acceptable.
The GE 336A4940DNP516TX is also a legacy component with a documented GE replacement path. GE Technical Information Letter TIL 1939-R1 specifically addresses N-TRON switches with part numbers 336A4940DNP516TX and 336A4940DNP517FX and identifies IS420ESWBH3A and IS420ESWBH1A, respectively, as replacement devices for affected switches. GE’s documentation also cautions against proactively replacing properly functioning switches solely because of the legacy part number.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Model | 336A4940DNP516TX |
| Manufacturer / Brand | General Electric (GE) |
| Original Network Platform | N-TRON 516TX |
| Product Type | Industrial Ethernet Switch |
| Port Count | 16 |
| Ethernet Interface | 10/100Base-TX copper Ethernet |
| Fiber Interface | None on the 516TX configuration |
| Switching Capacity | Approximately 2.6 Gb/s |
| Network Function | Industrial Ethernet switching / I/O network connectivity |
| Series | N-TRON 516TX |
| Primary Application | GE turbine control networking |
| System Association | GE Speedtronic Mark VI / related turbine control infrastructure |
| Communication Protocol | Ethernet |
| Mounting | Industrial panel / DIN-rail installation according to cabinet arrangement |
| Power Architecture | Redundant DC power input associated with the 516TX platform |
| Replacement Reference | IS420ESWBH3A identified by GE for affected legacy 336A4940DNP516TX units |
| Fiber Requirement | Not applicable to the base 516TX configuration |
The 16-port and non-fiber identification is supported by GE-related parts records and equipment listings. The 2.6 Gb/s figure and 10/100Base-TX port description are reported in technical product references for the 516TX platform.
336A4940DNP516TX
Main Features and Engineering Considerations
1. 16-Port Copper Ethernet Architecture
The principal function of the 336A4940DNP516TX is Ethernet switching. The 16-port configuration provides copper network connections for control-system equipment without requiring separate fiber transceivers. This makes it particularly relevant where the existing turbine-control cabinet was designed around copper Ethernet connections.
2. GE Turbine-Control Application
The part number appears repeatedly in GE gas turbine spare-parts records as an N-TRON 16-port switch. It is also specifically addressed by GE technical documentation concerning Mark VI/Mark VIe network switch upgrades.
That system context matters during replacement. A switch used inside a turbine control architecture may carry controller, I/O, HMI, or diagnostic traffic that is important to plant operation. Replacing it with a visually similar commercial Ethernet switch is not automatically equivalent.
3. Legacy-to-Current Replacement Path
GE TIL 1939-R1 identifies IS420ESWBH3A as the replacement for affected 336A4940DNP516TX units. The same document identifies IS420ESWBH1A as the replacement for the fiber-equipped 336A4940DNP517FX.
This distinction is useful during procurement because the replacement should be selected according to the actual network configuration rather than simply ordering the closest-looking switch.
4. Copper Versus Fiber Must Be Confirmed
The 516TX designation is associated with the 16-port copper version without fiber. The 517FX designation is the related fiber configuration.
Before approving a substitute, inspect every connected port and confirm whether the cabinet uses copper RJ45 connections, fiber links, or a combination through associated equipment.
5. Do Not Replace a Healthy Unit Solely Because It Is Old
GE’s own technical information is unusually clear on this point: it does not recommend proactively replacing properly functioning N-TRON switches merely because they carry the older part number. The documented replacement program was aimed at switches exhibiting the specified failure symptoms.
For a running turbine, that distinction matters. Planned replacement should be based on condition, availability strategy, engineering approval, or a documented modernization program—not simply on the age of the catalog number.
Application Scenarios
- GE gas turbine control-system Ethernet networks
- Speedtronic Mark VI control cabinets
- Industrial I/O network infrastructure
- Turbine auxiliary control networks
- Industrial Ethernet aggregation within control panels
- Legacy N-TRON network switch replacement
- Maintenance of GE turbine-control communication infrastructure
Engineer’s Guide: Field Pitfalls
Do not treat this as a PLC module. The 336A4940DNP516TX is a network switch. It does not provide conventional analog or discrete I/O.
Do not confuse 516TX with 517FX. The 516TX is the copper configuration, while 517FX is associated with fiber connectivity. The two should not be substituted based only on port count.
Check the network topology before replacement. Record every occupied port and its connected device before removing the switch. This is especially important in turbine control cabinets where a single incorrect connection can interrupt communications with control-system nodes.
Check the replacement designation. GE’s TIL identifies IS420ESWBH3A as the replacement for affected 336A4940DNP516TX units. This does not mean every legacy 516TX installation should be changed without checking the applicable GE system documentation.
Do not assume generic Ethernet equivalence. A commercially available 16-port Ethernet switch may have the same basic port count but different power, environmental, network-management, boot behavior, mounting, or system-qualification characteristics.
Document the existing cabinet. Photograph the switch label, power wiring, port connections, grounding arrangement, and adjacent equipment before removal. For a turbine control system, this record can save considerable troubleshooting time after maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GE 336A4940DNP516TX?
It is a 16-port N-TRON industrial Ethernet switch used in GE turbine control and industrial networking applications.
Is 336A4940DNP516TX a Mark VI I/O module?
No. It is a network switch used within the control-system network infrastructure.
How many Ethernet ports does it have?
The 336A4940DNP516TX is the 16-port 516TX configuration.
Does 336A4940DNP516TX have fiber ports?
The identified 516TX configuration is the copper/non-fiber version. The related 336A4940DNP517FX is the fiber configuration.
What is the replacement for 336A4940DNP516TX?
GE Technical Information Letter TIL 1939-R1 identifies IS420ESWBH3A as the replacement for affected 336A4940DNP516TX switches.
Should a functioning 336A4940DNP516TX be replaced proactively?
Not necessarily. GE’s technical guidance specifically states that properly functioning switches should not be proactively replaced solely because they are the older N-TRON design.
Procurement Note
For purchasing and maintenance records, use the complete identification:
GE 336A4940DNP516TX — N-TRON 516TX — 16-Port Industrial Ethernet Switch — Copper Ethernet / No Fiber — GE Turbine Control Network.
Before replacement, verify the 16-port configuration, copper-versus-fiber architecture, connected-port mapping, power arrangement, cabinet mounting, and applicable GE replacement documentation. If modernization is being considered, specifically check whether the installation falls within GE’s documented transition from the legacy 336A4940DNP516TX to IS420ESWBH3A.
