DS3800NFEC | GE Speedtronic Fiber Optic Comm Board

Description

Product Introduction

The DS3800NFEC is a single-channel fiber optic communications board with expanded diagnostics—the “E” in the suffix indicates enhanced diagnostic features beyond the basic NFCF. The “C” is a manufacturing revision. The board mounts in the Mark IV rack and provides a single electrically isolated, noise-immune communication link over distances up to 2 kilometers. It was used in installations where only one remote link was needed and where diagnostic feedback was important for preventive maintenance.

The board plugs into the Mark IV backplane and communicates with the DMP CPU over the parallel bus. The fiber optic channel operates at 2Mbps with an 850nm LED-based transmitter. The expanded diagnostics provide more detailed status reporting than the basic NFCF—including optical power monitoring, link quality trending, and error logging. Compare this to the DS3800NFCF (single-channel fiber, no expanded diagnostics). The NFEC gives you the same basic functionality with more visibility into link health.

Key Technical Specifications

Compatible Replacement Models

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What’s the difference between the NFEC and the NFCF?
The NFEC adds expanded diagnostics—optical power monitoring, link quality trending, and detailed status reporting—that the basic NFCF doesn’t have. The NFCF has only basic link status LEDs. If you need diagnostic feedback for preventive maintenance, choose the NFEC. If you only need basic link status, the NFCF is sufficient.

What’s the “Detailed Status” LED?
The Detailed Status LED indicates that the board has additional status information available. This includes optical power level, link quality trending data, and error logs. The status information can be accessed through the Mark IV diagnostic interface. If the LED is green, the status information is available and within normal parameters. If it’s red, there’s a diagnostic alert—check the detailed status.

Do I need to upgrade my DMP firmware for the expanded diagnostics?
The expanded diagnostics require DMP firmware v3.0 or later. If you’re running an older firmware version, the board will still work as a standard fiber link, but the expanded diagnostics won’t be available. We can provide the firmware EPROMs for the upgrade if needed.

Can I use single-mode fiber with this board?
No, the NFEC uses 850nm LED transceivers designed for multimode fiber. Single-mode fiber won’t work. You’ll need 62.5/125µm multimode fiber with ST connectors.

What’s the protocol used on the fiber link?
GE uses a proprietary protocol that’s not compatible with standard industry protocols. The NFEC is for GE-to-GE communication only.

Can I hot-swap this board?
No. Mark IV backplanes are not hot-swappable. Power down the cabinet, lock out the breaker, and wait 60 seconds before removing or installing the board.

What’s the most common failure mode on the NFEC?
We’ve serviced about 15 NFEC boards. The most common failure is the LED transceiver—it degrades over time, reducing optical power output. The symptom is intermittent link drops or the Optical Power Good LED turning red. We replace the transceiver module. The edge connector is the second most common failure—corrosion from humidity. The board is repairable.

What’s your warranty and lead time?
We stock the NFEC in limited quantities. Lead time is 1-2 business days. We offer a 1-year warranty. We test every board with a 24-hour burn-in, a fiber optic loopback test, 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.

SIEMENS 6ES7716-0AA15-0BA4
GE VMIVME-7700-110000
SIEMENS 6ES7716-1CA10-0BA1
Triconex 3721