DS3800XEXA - Extender Card

SPECIFICATIONS:

Part Number: DS3800XEXA
Manufacturer: General Electric
Series: Mark IV
Product Type: Extender Card
Function: Signal Extension and Communication Bridging
Backplane Interface: Standard Edge Connector
Supply Voltage: +5 Vdc
Power Requirements: 6 A @ +5 Vdc
Digital Signal Type: TTL Logic
Operating Temperature: 0 �C to 60 �C
Dimensions: 15.9 cm (H) � 17.8 cm (W)
Weight: Approx. 0.8 kg
Repair Turnaround Time: 3�7 Business Days
Availability: In Stock
Country of Origin: United States

FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION:

The DS3800XEXA is an extender card manufactured by General Electric for the Mark IV Series used in GE Speedtronic gas turbine control systems. It is designed to provide signal extension and communication bridging between the CPU, I/O, and peripheral modules. The card functions as a pass-through interface, allowing additional modules to be connected to the Mark IV backplane without altering the core system architecture. It maintains signal integrity, timing accuracy, and logic-level consistency across extended digital channels, ensuring reliable operation of control loops, monitoring functions, and system diagnostics. The DS3800XEXA supports regulated power distribution to connected modules while minimizing the effects of electrical noise and transient disturbances. Its rugged industrial design enables dependable performance under temperature variations, vibration, and harsh electrical environments, supporting modular expansion in turbine and process control applications.

SIGNAL EXTENSION:

The DS3800XEXA extender card facilitates bidirectional transfer of digital and analog signals between CPU modules, I/O modules, and peripheral devices within the GE Speedtronic Mark IV control system. Digital signals are transmitted with controlled voltage levels, defined logic thresholds, and minimal propagation delay, ensuring sequential and synchronous control operations across the extended backplane. The card includes signal conditioning circuits such as buffering, impedance matching, and transient suppression to prevent degradation from line capacitance, cross-talk, or backplane reflections.

Analog signals are routed through precision-conditioned pathways, preserving amplitude fidelity, linearity, and low-noise characteristics critical for feedback loops, process measurements, and turbine control inputs. The card ensures analog voltage and current references remain within specified tolerances, preventing drift or distortion that could affect control accuracy.

COMMUNICATION BRIDGING:

The DS3800XEXA extender card acts as a high-integrity communication bridge between CPU modules, I/O modules, and peripheral devices within the GE Speedtronic Mark IV control system. It provides a reliable pass-through interface that maintains data flow, synchronization, and protocol integrity across extended backplane connections, enabling additional modules to interface seamlessly without disrupting system operation.

Digital communication signals are transmitted with precise timing control and signal conditioning, ensuring that high-speed control, status, and diagnostic data reach their destinations without skew, jitter, or degradation. The card preserves signal polarity, logic thresholds, and propagation delay, maintaining correct sequencing for deterministic control operations and inter-module handshaking.

For analog communication channels, the extender card ensures low-noise, high-fidelity signal transfer, minimizing distortion or attenuation that could affect feedback loops, analog-to-digital conversions, or monitoring accuracy. Signal isolation features reduce the risk of cross-talk and interference from adjacent channels, preserving the integrity of critical analog measurements.

WOC maintains the largest inventory of GE Speedtronic Gas Turbine Control System replacement parts, offering a comprehensive range of unused and rebuilt modules, each thoroughly tested and backed by a warranty to ensure reliable operation. In addition to supplying components, the company provides expert repair services for faulty boards, restoring them to full operational performance and extending system life. Supported by a team of highly experienced automation specialists, 24/7 technical assistance is available to handle OEM requirements, system troubleshooting, and integration support. Clients can easily access detailed information on pricing, availability, and repair options by contacting the team via phone or email, ensuring rapid, professional solutions for all turbine control and automation needs.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is the DS3800XEXA?

The DS3800XEXA is an extender card for the GE Speedtronic Mark IV control system. It provides signal extension, power distribution, and communication bridging between CPU, I/O, and peripheral modules within the control rack.

What is the main function of an Extender Card?

Its primary function is to facilitate signal extension and communication bridging, maintaining digital and analog signal integrity, logic levels, and timing across the backplane while providing regulated power to connected modules.

How is power integrity maintained across multiple connected modules?

Regulated +5 Vdc rails are distributed across all modules with transient suppression, fuses, and filtering capacitors. Voltage drops are minimized through proper PCB trace sizing and backplane design. Isolation between power planes prevents interference. These measures ensure the stable operation of all connected CPU, I/O, and peripheral modules.