DS3800NSWA1A1B | OEM GE Turbine Control Ethernet Communication Board

Description

Product Introduction (Anti-Template)

Two Ethernet ports are only as reliable as the board they’re mounted on—if the connectors break or the PCB warps in heat, redundancy doesn’t help you. The DS3800NSWA1A1B addresses that by ruggedizing the dual Ethernet board. The “1A” revision adds mechanical reinforcement to the RJ-45 connectors, preventing the cable from torquing the jack off the board. The “1B” revision upgrades the PCB to high-Tg (170°C) material and extends the operating temperature range to -25°C to +70°C.

What you get is a board that survives repeated cable insertions, vibration, and temperature cycling. The reinforced RJ-45 jacks have extra solder anchors, making them about 3x more resistant to mechanical stress than standard jacks. A pulp and paper mill with frequent cable changes in their turbine control room found that standard NSWA boards would have connector failures after about 500 insertions. The reinforced connectors on the 1A1B are still going strong after 2,000 insertions.

Key Technical Specifications

Compatible Replacement Models

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What’s the difference between the 1A1B and the standard NSWA?
Two upgrades:

• The “1A” revision adds mechanical reinforcement to the RJ-45 connectors—through-hole solder anchors that prevent the jacks from pulling off the board when you unplug a cable.
• The “1B” revision extends the operating temperature range to -25°C to +70°C and upgrades the PCB to high-Tg material (170°C).

The electrical performance, 1500V isolation, and dual-port capability are identical.

What’s the benefit of reinforced RJ-45 connectors?
The reinforced connectors have additional through-hole solder anchors that make them about 3x more resistant to mechanical stress. If you’re frequently plugging and unplugging Ethernet cables—during maintenance, testing, or reconfiguration—the standard connectors can develop cracked solder joints. The 1A’s reinforcement eliminates that problem.

Can I use the 1A1B in a high-vibration environment?
Yes. The 2.0mm PCB and reinforced connectors make it suitable for turbine decks, compressor stations, and other high-vibration locations. The high-Tg material also helps with thermal cycling resistance.

What’s the maximum cable length?
100 meters (328 feet) per port for Cat5 or better cable. The two ports are independent.

Does the 1A1B support network redundancy?
The board provides the physical layer—the redundancy is handled by the Ethernet communication module. The 1A1B supports dual-homed configurations.

Can I hot-swap the 1A1B?
No. Power down the rack before swapping.

What’s your test procedure?
Our inbound test:

• Visual: inspect RJ-45 connectors for the additional through-hole solder anchors. Verify 2.0mm PCB thickness.
• Mechanical test: plug/unplug a cable 100 times—verify the connectors remain secure and no solder cracks appear.
• Isolation: 1500V DC between each Ethernet port and the module side—must exceed 10MΩ.
• Communication test: connect both ports to a switch and verify link at 10/100 Mbps.
• LED test: verify LEDs illuminate correctly per port.

We reject about 4% of inbound 1A1B boards—mostly for poor through-hole soldering on the RJ-45 connectors or damage to the isolation transformers.

What’s the most common field issue?
Using poorly terminated Ethernet cables. The reinforced connectors won’t help if the cable’s retention clip is broken—the cable will fall out. Use cables with intact clips. Also, for shielded Ethernet cables, make sure the shield is properly grounded at the panel end. A floating shield can act as an antenna and couple noise into the system. Finally, if you’re connecting the 1A1B to an outdoor network segment, consider adding external Ethernet surge protectors—the 1500V isolation protects against transients, but a direct lightning hit on the outdoor cable can still damage the board.

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