DS200ACNAG1ADD: Mark V ARCNET Connection Card

The DS200ACNAG1ADD is a GE SPEEDTRONIC Mark V ARCNET Connection Card — the DS200-series board whose function code, ACNA, stands for Attached Resource Computer Network. Rather than controlling the turbine, this card handles communication: it provides the physical connection between a Mark V node and the ARCNET local-area network that ties the control system together. This unit is offered as new-surplus, open-box hardware with warranty.

On the board itself you will find two connectors for LAN communications plus one 6-pin connector — a compact card whose whole job is to couple a processor cleanly onto the ARCNET bus.

Where ARCNET Fits in a Mark V System

ARCNET is the token-passing LAN standard GE adopted for Mark V communications. Its most visible use is the Stage Link, the network that carries data between the common core <C> in the turbine control panel and the operator interface <I> (the station where operators watch alarms and issue commands). GE's documentation describes the Stage Link as coax cable terminated at both ends, tapped at each processor with a "T" connector so the bus can continue to the next node. The ACNA card is the connection point that puts a Mark V processor onto that network. Exactly which segment your card serves should be confirmed from your system's elementary and network drawings. For background on the panel, see GE Mark V DS200 Boards Explained.

Comms Are Down — Is It Really the ACNA?

When a Mark V loses communication — a core drops off the <I> display, or the Stage Link reports errors — the connection card is an easy thing to blame, but ARCNET is a shared bus and the fault is often in the path, not the board. Work the network before you swap the card:

• Check the media. A damaged coax run, a loose "T" tap or a missing/failed terminator can disturb the entire segment. Inspect the cable, connectors and both end terminators first.
• Look at the far end. The problem may sit at another node — the operator interface's own ARCNET card, or another processor's connection — not at this one.
• Confirm node configuration. An address/node conflict or a mismatched setup can drop a station off the network even with healthy hardware.
• Check power and the driver. Verify the card is powered, and consider the companion ARCNET/communication hardware in the core (for example the DS200STCA board) before condemning the ACNA.

Because one bad tap can take down several nodes, isolating the segment methodically saves swapping good boards.

Reading the DS200ACNAG1ADD Part Number

The code breaks down as DS200 (Mark V DS200 board series) + ACNA (ARCNET Connection function) + G1 (functional group) + A (functional revision) + DD (board artwork/hardware revision). The trailing two letters distinguish this build from other G1A variants such as ABB or ACC, so match the whole string to your installed card and drawings. Our GE Speedtronic Part Number Decoder explains each field.

Boards and Cables That Work With It

Around the ACNA sit the rest of the Mark V communication path: the ARCNET coax, "T" connectors and terminators; the operator interface and its ARCNET card; and the panel's communication boards such as the DS200STCA. If you are looking further ahead, the Mark VI (IS200) generation moved on from ARCNET to newer networking — Mark V vs Mark VI: DS200 to IS200 covers the transition. See more cards under GE Mark V DS200 Boards.

Request a Quote

To quote the right card, send the full part number with suffix (DS200ACNAG1ADD), a photo of the board-edge revision label, your turbine model and Mark V configuration (Simplex or TMR), the quantity and your urgency. We reply within 24 hours, ship worldwide DDP and accept purchase orders. Click Request a Quote, or browse the wider catalogue at GE Speedtronic Turbine Control Boards.