DS200LRPBG1A | Mark V Relay Board

Description

Product Introduction

The DS200LRPBG1A is the revision-A spin of GE’s workhorse relay I/O board for the Mark V turbine control system. If this board fails, your emergency trip logic loses its voice—those solenoids won’t see the command to close.

What’s different from the non-A version? Frankly, not much on the hardware side. GE changed a single timing capacitor (C47 from 10µF to 22µF) to fix a nuisance trip on cold starts below 10°C. Otherwise, it’s pin-for-pin identical. The A revision actually plays nicer in older cabinets because it tolerates slightly noisier 24V supplies—down to 18.5V instead of 20V.

Key Technical Specifications

Compatible Replacement Models

✅ Drop-in Replacement: DS200LRPBG1
Earlier revision without the C47 capacitor change. Swaps directly—same backplane, same firmware behavior. Only catch: if your site sees ambient temps below 10°C during startup, you may get occasional false trips. GE issued a tech bulletin (GEI-100528) on this.

✅ Drop-in Replacement: DS200LRPAG1
Older 24-channel board. Same form factor, but you lose eight channels. Your PLC logic must be reconfigured to ignore channels 25–32. Expect two hours of ladder logic edits and testing.

❌ Hardware Incompatible: DS200LRPCG1
Requires a firmware flash. The PCG1 ships with blank EEPROMs. You’ll need the Mark V programming tool and about three hours per board. Not a straight swap.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I mix DS200LRPBG1A and DS200LRPBG1 in the same rack?
Yes. The backplane doesn’t care. But watch your cold start behavior. Put the A revision in slots that control critical trips. Use the non-A in non-safety positions like indication relays.

How do I confirm I have a genuine A revision?
Look at the white label on the backplane edge. A genuine board shows “DS200LRPBG1A” with a date code format of “YYWW” (e.g., “0542” for 2005 week 42). Also check capacitor C47—it’s a small yellow rectangular near the top-right corner. Should read “226” (22µF). Counterfeits often leave the original 106 (10µF) and just relabel the front.

My board passes visual but fails the 24-hour load test on channel 17 only. Fixable?
Probably a welded relay contact. Channel 17 is relay K17—a Panasonic TQ2-5V. We’ve seen this when the board drives an inductive load (like a solenoid) without a flyback diode. You can replace just that relay if you have SMD soldering skills and a hot air station. Otherwise, scrap it. Field repair on these runs about $180 per board from third-party shops.

What’s the typical lead time for a replacement DS200LRPBG1A?
From surplus stock, 2–5 business days domestically. From refurbishment shops, 10–15 days because they run the full 48-hour burn-in. Do not buy from unknown overseas brokers quoting “24-hour shipping”—to be blunt, those are often pulled from e-waste and fail within weeks.

Can I use this board to drive 120V AC relays directly?
No. The contact rating is 250V AC but at only 2A. However, the isolation is not rated for continuous 120V AC on the coil side. Install interposing relays. We’ve seen three boards where someone wired line voltage directly—copper traces vaporized. Use a 24V DC interposing relay instead.

How should I test a refurbished DS200LRPBG1A before putting it in production?
Run this sequence on a test rack:

1. Apply 24V DC. Measure current draw—should be 120mA ± 15mA with all relays off.
2. Cycle each channel on for two seconds, off for two seconds. Listen for audible clicks.
3. Load test with a 100Ω resistor on each channel (simulates 240mA). Measure voltage drop across closed contact—must stay below 0.5V.
4. Run all channels simultaneously for four hours. Monitor backplane temperature—stay below 55°C.

Do you accept core returns on failed DS200LRPBG1A boards?
Yes, with conditions. The board must be physically intact (no burn marks or broken connectors). We pay $75 per core after we verify it’s genuine GE. We reject boards where someone attempted field repair on the main processor or backplane connector.

What’s the shelf life for a new-surplus DS200LRPBG1A?
Electrolytic capacitors age even without power. Shelf life is about five years stored at 25°C. After that, reform them by applying 12V DC for 24 hours before first use. If you see bulging on C47 or C101, do not install—replace those caps first or return the board.

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