Description
Key Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | GE Fanuc |
| Product Family | PACSystems RX7i |
| Model | IC698CHS009A |
| Base Catalog Number | IC698CHS009 |
| Revision | A |
| Product Type | Standard 9-Slot Rack |
| Mounting | Rear / Wall Mount |
| I/O Capacity | 9 numbered I/O slots |
| Power Supply Position | Slot 0 |
| CPU Position | Slot 1 |
| Slots 1–8 | 20.3 mm / 0.8 in single-width |
| Slot 9 | 40.6 mm / 1.6 in double-width |
| Power Supply Support | RX7i 100 W or 350 W |
| Backplane | VME64 |
| VME Transfer Width | Up to 64-bit data transfers |
| Compatible Hardware | RX7i CPU/I/O, selected Series 90-70 I/O, VME modules |
| 100 W Supply Capacity | +5 VDC 20 A, +12 VDC 2 A, −12 VDC 1 A |
| 350 W Supply Capacity | +5 VDC 60 A, +12 VDC 12 A, −12 VDC 4 A |
| Approx. Dimensions | 11.15 × 12.60 × 7.25 in. / 283 × 320 × 184 mm |
| Cooling | Optional fan assembly; required for certain high-power configurations |
The GE installation documentation confirms the rack’s VME64 backplane, RX7i power-supply compatibility, slot-sensing capability, and support for selected Series 90-70 and standard VME modules.
Product Introduction
GE Fanuc IC698CHS009A Product Introduction
The GE Fanuc IC698CHS009A is a standard 9-slot rear-mount rack for the PACSystems RX7i PLC family. It provides the mechanical mounting and VME64 backplane connections required by an RX7i CPU, power supply, and I/O modules. Slot sensing and automatic daisy-chaining of interrupt-acknowledge and bus-grant signals reduce the need for manual slot jumpers.
The rack is particularly useful in legacy RX7i installations where the backplane itself has failed or has suffered connector or mechanical damage. It also accepts selected Series 90-70 and VME modules, which makes it important during brownfield PLC maintenance. Verify the exact CPU, power supply, module width, and cooling requirements before replacement.
IC698CHS009A
Application Scenarios & Field Pitfalls (The Engineer’s Perspective)
Engineering Pain Point
A failed RX7i rack is rarely a simple enclosure problem. The backplane carries the system bus, power distribution, interrupt and bus-grant signals, and module identification functions. A damaged connector or poor rack grounding can therefore produce several apparently unrelated I/O or CPU faults. Replacing individual cards without checking the rack can waste a shutdown window.
Typical Applications
- Automotive Manufacturing — RX7i PLC racks controlling assembly lines, conveyors, robots, and material-handling equipment.
- Power Generation — Auxiliary PLC systems handling pumps, valves, fans, and balance-of-plant equipment.
- Water & Wastewater — Central PLC racks for pumping, filtration, chemical dosing, and treatment processes.
- Process Manufacturing — Legacy RX7i systems using mixed RX7i, Series 90-70, and VME modules.
Technical Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not confuse IC698CHS009 with IC698CHS109.
The CHS009 is the rear-mount version, while the CHS109 is the 9-slot panel/front-mount version. The electrical architecture is related, but cabinet installation is not the same. - Respect Slot 0 and Slot 1.
Slot 0 is dedicated to the RX7i power supply. Slot 1 is reserved for the CPU. Some RX7i CPUs with Ethernet daughterboards occupy slots 1 and 2 because of their double-width construction. - Check module width before populating Slot 9.
Slots 1–8 are single-width positions. Slot 9 is double-width. If a single-width module is installed in Slot 9, GE recommends a filler faceplate to close the unused portion. - Do not overlook cooling requirements.
The rack supports an optional fan assembly, and certain high-power CPU/power-supply combinations require forced-air cooling. GE specifically identifies the fan requirement for several RX7i configurations. - Ground the rack correctly.
The installation manual specifies that the rack’s ground studs must be connected to earth ground. Poor grounding can contribute to EMI problems and unreliable communications.
Related Products
- IC698CHS009 — Base catalog number for the same RX7i 9-slot rear-mount rack. The IC698CHS009A identifies the revision-A version. When sourcing a replacement, verify the physical revision and any applicable hardware changes rather than relying only on the base catalog number.
- IC698CHS109 — 9-slot panel/front-mount RX7i rack. It provides a similar slot architecture but is intended for a different cabinet mounting arrangement. It is not the mechanical replacement for a rear-mount CHS009.
- IC698CHS017 — 17-slot rear-mount RX7i rack. Appropriate where a larger number of CPU/I/O modules is required. It uses the same general RX7i rack architecture but provides substantially more module positions.
- IC698CHS217 — 17-slot rear-mount rack with rear I/O access. Useful when cabinet design requires access to the VME64 J2 connectors from the rear.
- IC698PSA350 — 350 W RX7i power supply. It supports the higher-current rack configuration and can provide up to 60 A on the +5 VDC rail, subject to system and environmental limitations.
- IC698PSA100 — 100 W RX7i power-supply option. Appropriate for lower-power rack configurations. The installed module count must remain within the supply’s output capability.
- IC698CPE020 — RX7i CPU with Ethernet capability. Its double-width arrangement can occupy slots 1 and 2, so rack population planning is important. GE also specifies forced-air cooling for this CPU configuration.
- IC698CPE040 — Higher-performance RX7i CPU family member. It is relevant to existing RX7i control architectures where CPU replacement or system maintenance is required.
- IC698CRE020 — RX7i CPU redundancy hardware. Relevant to high-availability RX7i systems where redundant CPU architecture is used; rack slot allocation and cooling requirements must be checked.
- IC697VME Series Modules — Legacy VME modules that can be installed in compatible RX7i rack configurations. Compatibility must be checked at the individual module level; physical VME compatibility does not automatically guarantee application compatibility.
