ge fanuc

I am new to plcs I bought a ge fanuc off ebay I think it is a 90's series not sure but the last two digits on the side are 94 I got a self tech manual, software and what should be th programming cable the cable has telephone jack on one end and four wires on the other end i found a pinout in one section of the book showing connection to a db 9 serial i hooked it up to a connector i had when attempting to do anything in online mode i get a communication failure rechecked pinout over and over i have had no luck i am running windows xp so i tried booting with a boot disk and runnung the software still no luck i went on ebay and found a cable for 45.00 dollars it said it converted rs232 to plc but i dont even think this is what i need anyway to make a long story short what am i missing

Let's start by taking inventory of what you have. GE Fanuc Series 90-30 part numbers take the format IC693XXXnnny, where XXX is a three character string, nnn is a three digit number, and y is a one or two character string representing the revision level. Valid XXX string include 'CPU' for processors, 'CHS' for racks, 'PWR' for power supplies, and 'MDL' for I/O modules. For example, a 120/240 VAC power supply module might have a part number IC693PWR321R.

Is this a modular unit or a 'brick' type? What is the publication number of the self-teach manual? Is the software named Logicmaster 90, VersaPro, or something else?

Look for part numbers with that format and put together a list of what you have, and I'll be able to offer better advice.

Did the ebay site have a picture?


John

Why dont you post a link to the ebay post, It may still be there if it wasnt too long ago, or give us a detailed invatory of what you got.

more info

the part #on side isIc620mdr014bo604 the the self teach manual is gfk-0811 and the software is G.E. Fanuc Micro plc programming software version 2.42 the part no. for the disk is ic641swp020a this unit is a brick style unit i hope this can help you help me

link from ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...&category=64009&sspagename=STRK:MEBWN:IT&rd=1

That's an old micro. The current micros from GE Fanuc are called VersaMax Micro. Prior to them the product was called Series 90 Micro. Your PLC is the generation before the Series 90 Micro. It was the same product as the Square D micro of the same vintage (1993 - 94).

The software is a DOS application, and I don't expect you'll have any luck running it under XP. Try installing it on a Win 95 or Win 98 machine or something even older running DOS.

Cable pinouts should be:

 PC       PLC

  2       3

  3       2

  5       1

  9       6

Also jumper 4 to 6 and 7 to 8 on the PC side.

Doo youu have a cable? Does it have a part noumber? If the cable you have dosnt have a connector on BOTH ends then you dont have a cable. Your manual might give you the part number for the correct cable, and I,m not sure but you may need an adapter also, The cable/adapter for the 90-30 is about $100.00 if I remember correctly (just for comparison). Your next hurddle is the cable.

Im not famillir with the GE bricks but we use the 90-30. My old Logic Master could be used on the Mirco, but now I'm into Cimplicity Machine Edition these days. (talking about sofware).

See page 130:

http://www.geindustrial.com/support/documents/gfk0803b.pdf

Be sure to get all three manuals, and welcome to the wild world of PLC's


John

While Micro 90's are older, it is probably a newer Micro 90. I have seen several of these "packages" on ebay. His software is antique. I think I had version 5 in 96 and version 7 in 99. I vaquely remember that the plc "firmware" had to match the software within a couple of versions. One problam was that it would not run, another was it would not communicate. I don't rememeber anymore how to upgrade the plc. Distributor Automation Specialist had to walk me through it.

One ad I saw on ebay selling manuals and software mentioned the software was free "for educational purposes only". I had some new micros and current software that I couldn't get to communicate and the problem was settings in logicmaster in the micro.

I guess I have rambled enough, my best advise for PLC's and ebay, is if you aren't familiar with the items and their operation, it may not be a bargain in the long run. I was goinig to bid on some of the Micro 90's, and backed off when the price went way high.

Back to the "CODSACK" threads.... this is one case where the answers are not always in the manual, I spent hours trying to get one Micro 90 to communicate, not sure anymore if it ever did. Goodyear had an unlimited budget, might have just bought anothher for the "stash" to replace it.

The Micro 90 is my favorite all time PLC, only because I haven't used a VersaMax Micro, which is probably about obsolete.

Best Regards To All.......casey