GE 97590-8 BD-PCI4PORT

Description

Product Description

The GE 97590-8 BD-PCI4PORT is a specialized industrial communication interface card designed for integration into industrial computers and workstations used within GE (now Emerson) automation ecosystems, particularly for supporting legacy CIMPLICITY HMI/SCADA systems. This peripheral component interconnect (PCI) card provides four isolated RS-232/RS-422/RS-485 serial ports, enabling a host computer to communicate directly with a multitude of PLCs, drives, and other serial devices on the factory floor. The GE 97590-8 BD-PCI4PORT is essential for applications requiring direct, reliable multi-drop serial communication where Ethernet networking is not available or suitable. For technical specifications, driver software, and compatibility information, the primary resource is the official Emerson Automation support portal for the GE 97590-8 BD-PCI4PORT. By installing this card, system integrators can create robust SCADA stations capable of polling data from numerous controllers across different serial networks, a configuration where the 97590-8 BD-PCI4PORT acts as a critical communication hub.

Product Parameters

• Manufacturer / Brand: GE (now part of Emerson Automation).
• Model / Part Number: 97590-8 BD-PCI4PORT.
• Form Factor: Standard PCI card (32-bit, 5V).
• Interface Type: 4-port Serial Communication Card.
• Port Specifications: Four independent serial ports supporting RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 electrical standards. Each port is typically configured via software/drivers.
• Isolation: Channels are optically isolated to protect the host computer from ground loops, voltage spikes, and electrical noise common in industrial environments.
• Connectors: Uses high-density DB-9 or terminal block connectors (depending on variant) for field wiring.
• Data Rate: Supports standard serial baud rates up to 115.2 kbps (and often higher).
• Driver Support: Requires specific Windows device drivers (for versions like Windows NT, 2000, XP, 7) to function correctly with host applications.
• Compatibility: Designed for use with GE CIMPLICITY, iFIX, and other SCADA/HMI software for direct driver-based communication (e.g., SNP, SNPX, Modbus RTU).

Advantages and Features

• High Port Density: Consolidates four industrial-grade serial ports onto a single PCI slot, saving space in industrial PCs.
• Robust Isolation: Optical isolation on each port ensures reliable communication in electrically noisy environments and protects valuable computing equipment from field-side disturbances.
• Protocol Flexibility: Supports a wide range of serial protocols used by PLCs and devices from GE, Siemens, Modicon, and others, making it a versatile connectivity tool.
• Deterministic Performance: Unlike USB-serial adapters, a PCI-based card like the 97590-8 BD-PCI4PORT offers stable, dedicated hardware resources for more predictable communication timing, which is crucial for SCADA applications.
• Industrial Durability: Built to withstand the extended operating temperatures and conditions of an industrial control room or enclosure.

Application Cases in Industry

• Water/Wastewater SCADA: Installed in a central SCADA server to communicate via RS-485 multi-drop networks with remote telemetry units (RTUs) or PLCs (e.g., GE Series 90) at pump stations and treatment basins.
• Manufacturing Data Collection: Used in a shop-floor data historian computer to gather production counts, machine status, and alarms directly from a line of older CNC machines or PLCs using serial protocols.
• Building Management Systems: Facilitates communication between a central BMS workstation and numerous HVAC controllers, chillers, and power meters via RS-422/485 networks in a large facility.
• Legacy System Integration: Enables a modern Windows-based HMI to interface with an installed base of non-Ethernet capable PLCs, such as GE Series One, Six, or 90-30 units using the SNP protocol.

Comparison with Competing Products

Competing products include multi-port serial cards from other industrial brands like Moxa or Sealevel, as well as USB-to-serial hub solutions. The GE 97590-8 BD-PCI4PORT differentiates itself through its native integration and certification with GE/Emerson software stacks. Its drivers are explicitly tested and supported for use with CIMPLICITY and iFIX, ensuring compatibility and technical support. Compared to a Moxa card, the 97590-8 may have a premium associated with the Emerson ecosystem. Compared to USB adapters, it offers superior isolation, stability, and performance, as USB solutions can be prone to driver conflicts, disconnections, and lack of industrial hardening.

Selection Suggestions and Precautions

• Selection Suggestions:
  1. Choose the GE 97590-8 BD-PCI4PORT specifically when building or maintaining an Emerson (GE) SCADA/HMI station that requires reliable, multi-port serial connectivity to legacy devices.
  2. Verify the card has an available PCI slot (not PCI-Express) in your industrial computer.
  3. Confirm that the required operating system (e.g., Windows 7 32-bit) and HMI software version have compatible drivers available for this card before purchase.
• Precautions:
  1. Driver Availability: The greatest risk is lack of driver support for modern operating systems (Windows 10/11 64-bit). This card is designed for legacy Windows OS. Ensure you have the correct drivers before deployment.
  2. Hardware Compatibility: Ensure the industrial PC’s PCI bus specification and voltage are compatible. Do not force the card into a PCI-Express slot.
  3. Port Configuration: Each port’s mode (RS-232 vs. 422/485) and termination (for 485) must be correctly configured via software or hardware jumpers (if present) based on the network requirements. Incorrect configuration is a common source of communication failure.
  4. Electrostatic Discharge (ESD): Handle the card by its edges and install it in a properly grounded chassis to prevent damage from static electricity.
  5. End-of-Life Product: As a PCI-based card for legacy systems, it may be nearing or at end-of-life. Secure necessary spares for critical systems and plan for eventual migration to Ethernet-based solutions. Source from reputable industrial automation suppliers.

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