DS3800HCMC1C1C | Full Suffix Mark V Analog Output Card

Description

Product Introduction

This is the fully-featured version. The DS3800HCMC1C1C combines everything GE learned across the HCM platform: 14-bit resolution for smoother control, diagnostic LEDs for instant fault identification, spring-cage termination for faster wiring, 1A fuses for inrush headroom, and current-limiting resistors on the voltage outputs for protection against accidental shorts. If you’re upgrading from an older output board, this is the one that covers all the bases—the only suffix variant that’s arguably over-engineered for the typical application.

We’ve deployed this board on units where the control valves are sensitive to output noise and where maintenance crews have a history of probing the wrong terminals. The 1C1C’s voltage output protection has saved at least three boards that we know of—one tech shorted a 0-10V output to ground while troubleshooting; the board limited current to 5mA, the DAC survived, and the diagnostic LED turned red to flag the fault. On a 1B1B, that would have been a board replacement. The 1A fuses also handle the highest inrush we’ve measured on servo valves—a Fisher DVC6200 draws about 0.7A for 40ms on power-up, which the 1C1C rides through without issue.

Key Technical Specifications

Compatible Replacement Models

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What’s the advantage of the 1C1C over the 1B1B?
A: Two differences. First, the 1C1C has 1A fuses instead of 0.8A—more headroom for inrush on high-capacitance actuators. Second, and more importantly, the 1C1C has current-limiting resistors on the voltage outputs, which protect the board if you short a voltage output to ground. The 1B1B lacks those resistors, so a voltage output short can damage the DAC driver. If you’re using current mode (4-20mA) exclusively, the 1B1B and 1C1C are functionally identical. For voltage mode, the 1C1C is worth the premium.

Q: I’m using 4-20mA outputs exclusively. Does the 1C1C’s voltage protection matter to me?
A: No. The resistor only activates in voltage mode. In current mode, it’s bypassed. So if you’re exclusively 4-20mA, the 1B1B is functionally identical and typically less expensive. The 1A fuses on the 1C1C might be overkill for a 160mA total load, but they don’t hurt. If you ever switch a channel to voltage mode in the future, you’ll have the protection already in place.

Q: The 1C1C has 1A fuses. Is that enough for a bank of servo valves with high inrush?
A: In most cases, yes. The typical servo valve inrush is 0.5-0.7A for 50ms. The 1A slow-blow will ride through that without opening. If you have multiple high-inrush loads on the same field supply (e.g., several valves with large capacitors), they might all draw inrush simultaneously on power-up, potentially exceeding 1A. In that scenario, you’d need the 1.5A variant (1E suffix) or separate power supplies for each board. Measure your aggregate inrush with a scope to be sure. We’ve tested four DVC6200s on one board with a 1A fuse—total inrush was 1.2A for 30ms, and the fuse held.

Q: Can the 1C1C drive a 0-10V output into a 500Ω load?
A: No, not at full 10V. The minimum load impedance for voltage mode is 1.5kΩ. With 1.5kΩ, the load draws about 6.7mA, which causes a 0.67V drop across the internal 100Ω resistor, giving you about 9.3V at the terminals. With a 500Ω load, the drop is 2V (20mA × 100Ω), so you’d get only 8V. If your actuator needs 10V into 500Ω, you need an external buffer amplifier, or you should use current mode with a 500Ω resistor across the actuator input to convert 4-20mA to 1-5V or 2-10V.

Q: The diagnostic LEDs on the 1C1C show red when the output is shorted. Will they show red if the fuse is blown?
A: If the field supply fuse is blown, the output stage loses 24V power. The LEDs will turn off (no green or red). The diagnostic circuit still has 5V logic power, but without the 24V rail, it can’t determine the output state. So a blown fuse results in no LED illumination. This is a useful diagnostic clue: if you have a red LED, it’s a wiring fault (open or short); if the LED is off, suspect the fuse or the 24V supply.

Q: I’m upgrading from an HCMB1C1C. Do I need to change any controller parameters?
A: No. The HCMC accepts the same 12-bit digital values as the HCMB. The HCMC’s internal DAC maps those values to a 14-bit range, giving you finer resolution without any software changes. The output scaling remains identical. No PID retuning is required. The diagnostic features don’t require any configuration or enable flags—they work at power-up automatically.

Q: How do I tell if the voltage protection resistor is present on my board?
A: Look for surface-mount resistors near the output connector on the voltage-configured channels. They’re typically labeled “101” (100Ω) in 0805 size. You can also measure resistance between the DAC output pin and the terminal screw—on the 1C1C, you’ll see 100Ω; on the 1B1B, it’s 0Ω. If the silkscreen is worn, this measurement is your definitive test.

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