The GE IC698CHS017B is a 17-slot rear/front-mount rack designed for PACSystems RX7i and Series 90-70 environments. It provides a rugged backplane that accepts single-width and double-width I/O or CPU modules, reserving slot 0 for the power supply and slot 1 for the CPU. In mixed-vendor brownfield projects, the GE IC698CHS017B lets engineers combine VME, legacy Series 90-70 I/O, and modern RX7i modules in a single chassis, which simplifies retrofit logistics and reduces cabinet clutter.
Installers commonly mount the GE IC698CHS017B on a rear wall or inside an MCC or control cabinet where access to the front LEDs and connectors is convenient. For example, during a mid-shift turnaround at a municipal water plant, technicians swapped a faulty power supply in a GE IC698CHS017B rack and restored full I/O connectivity to local pumps the same day—a small operation that kept the station online without a full system replacement. The rack’s combination of density, standard slot spacing (0.8 in / 20.3 mm), and proven mechanical design makes it a practical choice for teams managing distributed control system parts and industrial automation spare parts inventories.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Product Model | GE IC698CHS017B |
| Manufacturer | GE / PACSystems (RX7i family) |
| Product Type | 17-slot rear/front mount rack (I/O / CPU chassis) |
| Power | Accepts RX7i power supplies (slot 0); supports typical +5V/+12V rails per backplane spec |
| Communication / Protocol | Backplane bus compatible with RX7i, Series 90-70, and VME modules |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 60°C (typical industrial rating) |
| Mounting | Rear-wall or panel mount; front access for modules |
| Protection / Ingress | IP20 (panel enclosure recommended) |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | Approx. 283 × 483 × 190 mm (11.15 × 19.0 × 7.5 in) |
| Weight | ~3–5 kg (depending on blanking plates and accessories) |
| Typical Interfaces | Backplane connectors (0.8 in spacing), module retention clips, front LEDs |
| Compliance | CE, RoHS (model/revision dependent) |
The GE IC698CHS017B focuses on density and compatibility. First, the rack offers 17 numbered slots sized at 0.8-inch centers so you can mix single-width and double-width modules without mechanical interference. This flexibility reduces cabinet footprint and saves on enclosure cost when migrating from Series 90-70 to RX7i modules. Second, slot 0 and slot 1 allocation (power and CPU) follow standard PACSystems conventions, which simplifies module layout planning and spare strategy.
Diagnostics and serviceability are practical advantages. The GE IC698CHS017B gives front access to module LEDs and wiring, enabling technicians to read status at a glance during troubleshooting. In addition, mechanical features such as robust retention clips and keyed connectors reduce the risk of poor seating after maintenance. These elements translate into lower mean time to repair when a module is swapped during off-shift hours.
From an integration standpoint, the rack eases brownfield work. You can place legacy Series 90-70 I/O and modern RX7i processors in the same backplane, so staged migrations—keeping existing ladder code while adding new modules—are feasible. For facilities interfacing to larger control architectures, the GE IC698CHS017B sits naturally among distributed control system parts and links well into higher-level systems. It also plays nicely with mixed racks that contain nodes feeding ABB I/O modules or supervisory systems such as ABB AC 800M when a plant chooses phased upgrades. That interoperability reduces disruption and keeps lifecycle costs predictable.
Finally, stocking the GE IC698CHS017B as an industrial automation spare part is a sensible inventory move. Its universal rack form factor is a common denominator across many PACSystems deployments, meaning one reorder item supports multiple cabinet configurations and speeds emergency replacements.
Power plants and utilities use the GE IC698CHS017B to consolidate turbine controllers, pump racks, and auxiliary I/O within a single cabinet. For instance, an operator might mount a CPU, a high-speed counter module, and mixed discrete I/O in the same rack to centralize trip logic for feedwater and boiler feed pumps. The rack’s density helps keep panel layouts compact while maintaining clear access for maintenance crews.
In oil & gas and petrochemical sites, the GE IC698CHS017B supports rugged distributed control by housing multiple analog and digital I/O modules close to field marshalling panels. This reduces cable runs and allows deterministic local logic to remain in place during phased DCS upgrades. In municipal water treatment, the rack’s compatibility with legacy Series 90-70 modules lets municipalities extend the life of existing PLC logic—saving budget on full system replacement while enabling condition monitoring and remote SCADA integration.
Mining and heavy industry profit from the rack’s modularity: conveyor controls, belt safety interlocks, and crusher drive I/O can be grouped into the GE IC698CHS017B to simplify service during shift handovers. Elsewhere, discrete manufacturing lines that mix old and new control families use the rack to bridge between islands, easing integration of modern instrumentation without discarding functioning PLC code. Across these examples, the GE IC698CHS017B solves practical problems—reducing nuisance wiring, shortening downtime, and enabling staged modernization that pairs well with ABB DO810 or ABB I/O modules when multi-vendor ecosystems are present.
IC698CHS017 — Base 17-slot rack variant without the “B” revision; mechanically equivalent for many installs.
IC698CHS117 — Alternate front/rear configuration for specific panel layouts and mounting preferences.
IC698PSA350 — Companion RX7i power supply module typically installed in slot 0 to provide +5V/+12V rails.
IC698CPUXXXX — Series of RX7i CPUs that occupy slot 1 and provide processing for attached modules.
IC698MDLxxxx — Family of single-width I/O modules commonly placed in the rack for discrete and analog signals.
IC698CHS020 — Higher-slot or different-form factor rack for installations needing more I/O capacity.
Blanking Plate Kit — Rack accessory for airflow management and slot protection during partial populating.
Begin installation by confirming that the chosen cabinet or wall location supports rear/front mounting and offers the clearance needed for module insertion and removal. The GE IC698CHS017B requires a secure mounting surface and sufficient front access to read module LEDs and to insert retention clips. Grounding the rack chassis to the cabinet earth is essential; do this before energizing the backplane and ensure that shielded cables are terminated at common points to reduce EMI on analog channels.
Next, check power allocation: install the RX7i power supply in slot 0 and place the CPU in slot 1, following the specified order to protect bus integrity. Route high-current cabling away from communication and analog runs, and maintain recommended bend radii at connector heads. During commissioning, verify backplane voltages and measure rail currents under load so you can confirm the power supply sizing for your populated module set.
For maintenance, keep a configured spare rack blanking kit and a spare power supply on the shelf to shorten mean time to repair. Periodically inspect retention clips and connector contacts for corrosion, especially in humid or dusty environments, and verify that module LEDs match expected status after power cycles. Back up CPU program files and document module population and firmware revisions; record serial numbers for traceability. Use event logs and trending at the supervisory level to spot intermittent bus errors that may indicate loose seating or cabling degradation, and schedule targeted inspections accordingly.
Xiamen Xiongba E-commerce Co., Ltd. Branch provides a one-year warranty and free replacement service for the GE IC698CHS017B purchased through our channels. This warranty is offered and administered by Xiongba (not the OEM). To initiate a claim, customers should contact Xiongba support with proof of purchase and the product serial number; we provide pre-shipment testing, datasheet verification, and serial-number traceability to expedite assessment. Our team will validate the reported fault and arrange replacement or repair under the warranty terms.
Shipping Details:
Delivery within 7-28 business days via DHL/FedEx/UPS.
Ships from Xiamen, China.
Return Policy:
Returns accepted within 7 days of receipt.
Items must be unused and in original packaging.
Buyer pays return shipping unless the product is defective.
Xiamen Xiongba E-commerce Co., Ltd. Branch specializes in industrial automation distribution and global procurement. We provide a one-year warranty and free replacement service, sourcing DCS, PLC, MVME modules, Anybus converters, RTU modules, industrial PCs, low-frequency displays, and SCSI HMIs to solve procurement challenges with competitive pricing. Our stocked distributed control system parts and spare inventories help teams accelerate brownfield upgrades while keeping lifecycle costs predictable.
Contact Xiamen Xiongba today for pre-shipment testing, datasheet verification, serial-number traceability, and fast global delivery for GE IC698CHS017B. Our technical team will confirm fit, availability, and logistics so you can plan a low-risk replacement or retrofit.
