Meggitt Vibro-Meter VM600 IRC4 – Relay/Interface Card for Machinery Protection Racks

The VM600 IRC4 is a relay and interface card designed for the Meggitt Vibro‑Meter VM600 rack. From my experience, it’s the piece that bridges protection logic to the outside world—bringing clean, dependable relay contacts and status signals to your DCS, ESD, or annunciation panels. You might notice that users typically pair the IRC4 with protection cards in the same rack to implement trip, alarm, and “OK/fault” signaling with clear, fail-safe behavior.

One thing I appreciate is how the IRC4 streamlines integration: no external power supply, no awkward adapters—just plug into the VM600 backplane and wire through the rear terminal base. In many cases, it’s the simplest way to get SIL-minded trip relays and status contacts out of the VM600 system with minimal panel space.

Our Order Placement Process and Guarantees

• Warranty period: 365 days
• Delivery time: 1 week for in-stock; no more than one month at the latest
• Payment: 50% advance payment; full payment before delivery
• Express delivery: FedEx, UPS, DHL

Key Features

• Purpose-built for VM600 racks – Seamlessly plugs into the VM600 backplane; no external power supply required.
• Relay outputs for alarms and trips – Dry contacts for alerting, shutdown, and “OK/fault” status to DCS/ESD, typically with fail-safe behavior.
• Clean, galvanically isolated I/O – Helps reduce ground loops and electrical noise when interfacing with plant systems.
• Works alongside protection cards – Typically paired with machinery protection modules to implement alarm logic and voting schemes.
• Front-panel status indication – Clear LEDs for quick diagnostics during commissioning and routine checks.
• Structured wiring via rear terminal base – Straightforward field-terminals for relay contacts and status signals.
• Backplane communications – Receives status/commands from VM600 modules over the rack bus; zero extra network cabling on the card.

Technical Specifications

Related or Supporting Products

• VM600 MPC4 – Machinery protection card used for alarm/trip logic; the IRC4 typically exposes its trip and status outputs.
• VM600 IOC4T – Rear I/O terminal module commonly used for bringing relay contacts and status signals to field wiring.
• VM600 XMV16 – Condition monitoring card for dynamic vibration/phase inputs; focuses on measurements rather than relay interfacing.
• VM600 XIO16T – General-purpose digital/analog I/O expansion; helpful when you need additional non-protection I/O.
• VM600 CPUM (or CPUM Mk2) – Processor/communications module for data handling, configuration, and Ethernet-based connectivity.
• VM600 Power Supply (e.g., RPS) – Rack power module providing the backplane voltages for all VM600 cards including the IRC4.

Installation & Maintenance

• Cabinet & environment – Install in a VM600 19-inch rack inside a clean, ventilated cabinet. Maintain airflow and keep ambient within the VM600 temperature range.
• Grounding & wiring – Use shielded control cables for long runs to DCS/ESD. Tie shields at one end to avoid loops. Verify relay contact ratings against your plant’s control voltage.
• Power & backplane – Ensure the VM600 power supply is sized for the total card count. Seat the IRC4 firmly; check backplane connectors for dust/debris.
• Configuration & proof tests – Configure alarm/trip mapping via the VM600 tools. Perform functional checks of all relays during FAT/SAT and on a periodic proof-test interval (commonly every 6–12 months).
• Routine care – Lightly clean front panels and check terminal tightness on the rear base during scheduled outages. Firmware/config changes usually reside in the system controller (e.g., CPUM), not the IRC4 itself.
• Spares – Keeping at least one spare IRC4 on-site is a practical choice for critical trains; swap time is typically short if the rack is prepared.

Brief field note: a combined-cycle plant in the Middle East swapped legacy interposing relays for the IRC4 in a VM600 rack and reported cleaner wiring plus easier trip testing—no external relay boards to maintain, which simplified their turnaround procedures.

Quality & Certifications

• CE marked; designed and tested to applicable EMC/safety standards for industrial environments
• RoHS compliant build in most cases
• Manufactured under ISO 9001 quality systems (manufacturer)
• 365-day warranty from our side; OEM policies may vary by region

Note: Specific relay counts, contact ratings, and detailed environmental limits can vary by VM600 configuration and revision. If you share your rack build (slot plan and rear modules), we can confirm contact types and wiring maps before shipment.