DS3800NFCF1E1C | New Surplus GE Turbine Control Board

Description

Product Introduction

The DS3800NFCF1E1C is the single-channel version of the NFCD1J1C—a long-haul fiber optic board that GE built for installations where 8km isn’t enough. The suffix tells the story: the first “1” indicates a hardware revision. The “E” specifies a 1550nm laser-based transceiver with coherent detection—the same technology used in telecom long-haul links. The second “1” adds the diagnostic suite. The final “C” is the environmental package: dual-layer conformal coating with UV protection. This board was designed for single-link installations where the distance exceeds 8km and single-mode fiber is available.

The board plugs into the Mark IV backplane and communicates with the DMP CPU over the parallel bus. The 1550nm laser transceiver operates at 2Mbps on single-mode fiber with a 28dB optical budget—enough for 12km. Compare this to the NFCF1D1D (8km range, 1300nm APD, multimode fiber). The 1E1C gives you 50% more reach but requires single-mode fiber. If you have single-mode fiber installed and need to cover a long distance, this is the board for you.

Key Technical Specifications

Compatible Replacement Models

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What’s the difference between the 1E1C and the 1D1D?
The 1E1C uses a 1550nm laser and coherent receiver designed for single-mode fiber—same technology as the NFCD1J1C. The 1D1D uses a 1300nm LED and APD receiver designed for multimode fiber. The 1E1C reaches 12km, while the 1D1D reaches 8km. The 1E1C requires single-mode fiber; the 1D1D requires multimode fiber. They are not interchangeable—choose based on your installed fiber type.

Can I use this board with multimode fiber?
No. The 1E1C is designed for single-mode fiber (9/125µm). The laser output is optimized for single-mode coupling, and the coherent receiver expects single-mode launch conditions. It won’t work on multimode fiber. If you have multimode fiber installed, you’ll need a different board (the 1D1D or 1C1C).

Is the laser safe to work with?
The 1E1C uses a Class 1 laser per IEC 60825-1. It’s eye-safe under normal operating conditions, but standard precautions apply—never look directly into the fiber connector with the board powered on. The laser power is below 1mW, but even low-power lasers can cause eye damage if focused into the eye. Use a fiber optic power meter for testing and cover unused connectors with dust caps.

What’s the laser bias monitoring LED?
The Laser Bias LED indicates the health of the laser diode. As the laser ages, the required bias current increases to maintain constant output power. If the bias current exceeds a certain threshold, the LED turns red, indicating that the laser is nearing end-of-life. This feature allows for preventive maintenance—you can replace the transceiver module before the laser fails.

Do I need to upgrade my DMP firmware for this board?
The laser bias monitoring and extended diagnostic suite require DMP firmware v4.2 or later. If you’re running an older firmware version, the board will still work, but the laser bias monitoring won’t be available. We can provide the firmware EPROMs for the upgrade if needed.

Can I use this board with a standard NFCF at the other end?
No. The 1E1C uses a 1550nm laser and coherent detection. The standard NFCF uses 850nm LED and APD detection. The wavelength mismatch means they won’t communicate. Both ends of the link need to be 1E1C (or 1J1C or 1J1D) boards.

What’s the most common failure mode on the NFCF1E1C?
We’ve serviced fewer than five 1E1C boards. The most common failure is the 1550nm laser—it can degrade over time, especially if run at high temperatures. The symptom is reduced optical power output or the Laser Bias LED turning red. We replace the transceiver module. The board is repairable.

What’s your warranty and lead time?
We stock the NFCF1E1C in limited quantities. Lead time is 2-3 business days. We offer a 1-year warranty. We test every board with a 24-hour burn-in, a fiber optic loopback test (with a spool of 12km single-mode fiber), and a diagnostic verification. The test report is included.

Is this board compatible with the Mark VIe?
No. This board is for Mark IV systems only. The backplane architecture is different.

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