GE DS3800DVRC1A

Technical Specifications

• Product Type: Digital Voltage Reference & Calibration Board (Revision 1A)

• Part Number: DS3800DVRC1A

• Manufacturer: General Electric (GE)

• System Compatibility: GE Speedtronic Mark IV Turbine Control Systems

• Reference Outputs: 4 precision voltage references (±1V, ±5V, ±10V, and 0-10V)

• Accuracy: ±0.01% of full scale at 25°C; ±0.005% per °C drift

• Temperature Stability: < 5ppm/°C (typical)

• Long-Term Stability: < 50ppm/year

• Load Regulation: < 0.005% for 0 to 10mA load

• Line Regulation: < 0.001% for ±10% input variation

• Protection: Short-circuit protected outputs

• Isolation: 1500Vrms isolation from backplane

• Temperature Range: 0°C to +60°C

• MTBF: > 250,000 hours (MIL-HDBK-217F)

Key Features & Advantages

• High-Precision References: The GE DS3800DVRC1A provides extremely stable reference voltages with ±0.01% accuracy, essential for calibrating the Mark IV’s 12-bit analog-to-digital converters.

• Four Common Reference Values: Offers ±1V, ±5V, ±10V, and 0-10V, covering the full input range of most Mark IV analog boards.

• Low Temperature Drift: < 5ppm/°C ensures calibration remains valid across the operating temperature range.

• Long-Term Stability: < 50ppm/year minimizes the need for frequent recalibration.

• Short-Circuit Protection: Protected outputs prevent damage during calibration setup.

• Diagnostic LEDs: Front-panel LEDs indicate reference output status and fault conditions.

• External Test Points: Provides test points for external voltmeter verification during routine maintenance.

Typical Application Cases

• Analog Input Calibration: Calibrates DS3800DVIA voltage input boards for accurate field signal readings.

• Analog Output Verification: Verifies accuracy of output boards by comparing against reference.

• System Diagnostics: Provides known-good signal source for troubleshooting faulty boards.

• Preventive Maintenance: Used during annual maintenance to check all analog board calibrations.

• Commissioning: Essential during initial startup to verify all analog channels meet specifications.

Competitive Comparison

The GE DS3800DVRC1A is functionally identical to the base DS3800DVRC but with minor component changes. It remains the primary calibration reference for the Mark IV system.

Selection Guidelines & Precautions

1. Reference Verification: Verify outputs with a calibrated external voltmeter before use. If drift is observed, the board requires factory recalibration.

2. Load Conditions: Accurate only when load current is below 10mA. For higher loads, use external buffer amplifier.

3. Warm-Up Time: Allow the GE DS3800DVRC1A to stabilize for at least 30 minutes after power-up before performing critical calibrations.

4. Short-Circuit: While protected, prolonged shorting may degrade accuracy over time.

5. Calibration Interval: GE recommended recalibration every 2 years. Send to qualified calibration lab if internal capability is unavailable.

6. ESD Handling: Use ESD-safe practices; contains precision reference components.

7. Sourcing: Obsolete. Request functional test report including:

   • All 4 reference outputs verified for accuracy (±0.01%)

   • Temperature drift test (< 5ppm/°C)

   • Load regulation test (< 0.005%)

   • Isolation verification

8. Spare Strategy: Keep one spare GE DS3800DVRC1A on-site if regular analog board calibrations are performed. For critical sites, consider NIST-traceable external calibrator as backup.