Hardware Comparison: Multilin 469 vs. Multilin 369

GE’s Multilin Motor Management Relays provide protection and monitoring for three-phase motors. They also provide protection for their associated mechanical systems.

Close up of a Multilin 369 Motor Management Relay.
GE Multilin 369 Motor Management Relay

Introduction

The GE Multilin 369 Motor Management Relay Series is designed with customizable relays. The units can protect three-phase motors and also offer monitoring applications.

Functional Summary Multilin 369

  • Display: 40 Character, Alphanumeric LCD
  • Status Indicators: 4 Output LEDs. Service LED, 5 other LEDs
  • Keypad: 12-buttons, including Help Key.
  • Interface: RS-232 comm port, Baud rate 120 to 19200
  • Case: Corrosion and flame-retardent
  • Digital Inputs: standard
  • Analog Inputs: Available
  • Current inputs: standard
  • Ground CT inputs: standard
  • Ports: 3 x RS485, Baud rate 1200 to 19200
  • RTD Inputs: available
  • Profibus Port: available
  • Backspin detection: available
  • Fiber Optic Data Link: available
  • Voltage Inputs: available

Protective Functions Multilin 369

Motor protection including:

  • Standard phase overload curves
  • Programmable (custom) overload curves
  • current unbalance

Management functions including:

  • Pre-trip data, to 40 events
  • starts per hour
  • time between starts
  • mechanical stall and jam
  • statistical data
  • backspin detection
  • flash memory
  • power metering (optional)

Technical Specifications Multilin 369

  • Control power: LO = 20 to 60 VDC, 20 to 48 VAC at 50/60 Hz, HI= 50 to 300 VDC, 40 to 265 VAC at 50/60 Hz
  • Power: Nominal: 20 VA, Max 65 VA
  • Fuse: T 3.15 Amp H 250 V, Timelag high breaking capacity
  • Operating Range: -40 to +60 Celsius
  • Operating Range w/Profibus: +5 to +60 Celsius
  • Humidity: up to 95%, non-condensing
  • IP50
  • Overvoltage Cat. II

Close up of a GE 469 Multilin Motor Management Relay
GE Multilin 469 Motor Management Relay

Introduction

The GE Multilin 469 Motor Management Relay is used to manage and protect motors of many HP ratings.

Functional Summary Multilin 469

  • Display: 40 Character, Alphanumeric LCD
  • Status Indicators: 6 Output LEDs, 8 Motor Status LEDs, 8 other LEDs
  • Keypad:Alphanumeric with Help button, plus +/- value keys. Message toggle keys. Enter, Menu, Escape, and Reset Key.
  • Interface: RS-232 comm port
  • Case: draw-out, IP40-X
  • Digital Inputs: 9 opto-isolated
  • Analog Current Inputs: specifications vary
  • Differential Current Inputs: Primary, 1 to 5000 A. Secondary, 1 A or 5A.
  • Ground CT inputs: Primary, 1 to 5000 A. Secondary, 1 A or 5 A.
  • Phase Current Inputs: Primary 1 to 5000 A. Secondary, 1 A or 5 A.
  • RTD Inputs: 3 wire RTD types
  • Voltage Inputs: 273 VAC full scale
  • Ports: 2 x RS485
  • Modbus: Modbus RTU/half-duplex
  • Ethernet: Available
  • DeviceNet: Available
  • Backspin detection: Restart Block can act as a backspin timer

Protective Functions Multilin 469

Motor protection including:

  • Overload Pickup using RTDs
  • Overload Curve
  • Short Circuit Trip
  • Ground Fault
  • Unbalance Alarming
  • Acceleration Trip
  • Stopped/Running Cooling Times
  • Stator and Bearing RTDs
  • Unbalance bias of thermal capacity and K factor
  • Hot/cold curve ratio

Management functions including:

  • Starts per hour
  • Time between Starts
  • Enable Start Inhibit
  • Mechanical jam
  • Remote Switch
  • Vibration & Pressure Switches
  • Remote Start/stop
  • Breaker failure

Technical Specifications Multilin 469

  • Control Power: LO = 20 to 60 VDC, 20 to 48 VAC at 48 to 62 Hz, HI= 90 to 300 VDC, 70 to 265 VAC at 48 to 62 Hz
  • Power: 45 VA (max) 25 VA (typical)
  • Fuse: 2.50 A 5 x 20 mm SLO-BLO HRC Littelfuse, high breaking capacity
  • Operating Range: -40 to +60 Celsius
  • Humidity: up to 90%, non-condensing
  • Altitude: up to 2000 m
  • Pollution degree: 2
  • IP: check case
  • Overvoltage: check case

Other differences you may want to consider. While the Multilin 369 can be used for small or medium induction motors and induction motors with a cyclic load, they cannot be used for large induction motors or induction motors via VFD as the 469 Multilin can. Additionally, the 469 offers synchronous motor protection that the 369 doesn’t have.

Also keep in mind the 469 has trip/close coil supervision. The 369 doesn’t offer that.

Both Multilin options are extremely versatile. Since they both offer a wide operating temperature range (-40 C to +60 C) they are suitable for a number of climate conditions. So even if your factory has to deal with Canadian cold or Australian heat, these motor management relays should work well inside its walls.

Have more questions? Se our GE Multilin FAQs blog.

Fuji Electric: History

The Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. has been producing electrical equipment for close to 100 years.  Established in 1923, the company sprouted from Furukawa Electric and Siemens AG.  The company’s name is a portmanteau of the first syllable of Furukawa and the first syllable of Siemens’ Japanese pronunciation, jiimensu.    

The Fuji company has manufactured many different products. This includes transformers from as early as 1925. The company started producing rectifiers, turbines, and circuit breakers in the 1930s. Then in the 1950s, magnetic switch components started rolling off their assembly lines.   By the 1970s, the company had moved into developing integrated circuits and inverters. Research into solar cell technology began soon after. 

GE FANUC
The IC620 Micro is a GE FANUC I/O unit.

In 1935,  part of Fuji Electric spun off as Fuji Telecommunications Equipment Manufacturing.  Eventually, this became Fujitsu Limited.  In 1955, Fujitsu Ltd. was instrumental in creating FANUC. This group of companies created automation products and services using numerical control and servos.  Some may be familiar with equipment made by GE FANUC, a joint venture that began in 1982. 

Continue reading “Fuji Electric: History”

Serial to Ethernet Converters: What to Know

3050 EGW1
This Square D PowerLogic 3050 Ethernet Gateway is a type of Serial to Ethernet Converter.

A Serial to Ethernet converter is typically used when you need to connect a device with a serial interface to a remote computer. These remote connections are common in industrial settings where constant, reliable connectivity is important.

Serial device servers can extend the lifespan of industrial control systems. Additionally, through the use of these systems legacy serial devices maintain their usefulness. Manufacturers can improve device management and data acquisition through the addition of Ethernet serial servers.

There are three types of Serial to Ethernet adapters. They are:

RS-232 to Ethernet, RS-422 to Ethernet, RS-485 to Ethernet Converter

Use devices like this to convert TCP/IP packets to serial data and back. They work in both directions. This allows serial devices like barcode scanners, sensors, or serial printers to communicate with a central (remote) computer. Conversely, it allows the computer to communicate with those serial devices. RS-232 to Ethernet uses software to identify itself as a virtual COM port to the computer.

57C414
The Automax 57414 is a Modbus Interface gateway.

Modbus TCP/IP gateways

Simply, a Modbus TCP/IP gateway is a Modbus RTU protocol running on Ethernet with a TCP interface. These devices use MODBUS messaging and TCP/IP protocols to connect PLCs, Input/Output modules, and gateways to simple field buses. Modbus data transactions are resistant to noise disruption.

Serial Bridge or Serial Tunnel connections

It’s also possible to use two device servers as a pair connection through an Ethernet TCP/IP network. Serial Bridge connections are protocol independent and don’t require routing configuration. Serial Bridge/Serial Tunnels will typically have Rx and Tx outputs. They may be powered over Ethernet or through a DC jack.

Mainframe computers, servers, or serial devices without Ethernet capability use Serial Bridge and Serial Tunnel connections. Configurations allow fixed-function controllers to be used in various ways (USB to SPI, USB to UART) without any user-developed firmware.

If you have questions about connectivity devices for your industrial location, reach out to our team today. We can help!