HP E8403A C-Size VXI Mainframe, 13-Slot

The HP E8403A C-size, 13-slot VXI mainframe is the lower-cost, high-power mainframe in Hewlett-Packard's new VXI mainframe family. It delivers innovative cooling technology, improved backplane design, high reliability, easy maintenance, and versatile accessories. The power supply in the HP E8403A VXI mainframe provides 1000 watts of usable power, sufficient for the most demanding automated test applications. The innovative air distribution system provides extremely quiet and efficient cooling. Basic mainframe monitoring of the HP E8403A indicates normal operating conditions at a glance. A front panel diagnostics connector allows continuous local or remote system monitoring. This mainframe also complies with the VXI Specification by providing injector surface rails used by the HP QUIC easy module insertion and extraction system. Superior cooling, reliable design and system monitoring make the HP E8403A an excellent choice for all VXI test system applications.

Refer to the Related Links Section below for instrument driver availability and downloading instructions, as well as for recent product updates, if applicable.

[ Features ]

13-Slot, C-size,
Low cost for general purpose applications
1000 watts of usable power
Efficient, quiet cooling improves VXI module performance
Basic mainframe monitoring for confident measurements
Compliant with VXIbus and VXIplug&play Specifications

[ Specifications ]

Accessories and Configurations

Optional Rack Mounting Kits

Three rack mounting kits are available for the mainframe, providing versatile options
for installation in an HP or a non-HP rack. The following rack mounting kits are
available: Standard Adapter Kit, Flush Mount Adapter Kit and VXIplug&play Compliant
Adapter Kit.

Standard Adapter Kit for Recess, Flush or Forward Rack Mounting

Using the Standard Adapter Kit (Opt. 923 or HP E8400-80923), the mainframe can
be recess mounted up to 10.6 inches in ~1/2 inch increments. (Recess mounting is
required for compatibility with the tinted acrylic door.) The mainframe can also
be mounted extended from the front of the rack from 0 to 5.8 inches in ~1/2 inch
increments, allowing mounting in racks with shallow depths. The Standard Adapter
Kit includes handles and requires the HP E3664A Support Rail Kit or the
HP 1494-0411 Rack Slide Kit.

Flush Mount Adapter Kit

The Flush Mount Adapter Kit (Opt. 924 or HP E8400-80924), the least expensive
of the adapter kits, allows flush rack mounting of the mainframe. It does not
include handles. The Flush Mount Adapter Kit requires the HP E3664A Support
Rail Kit. The Flush Mount Adapter Kit is not compatible with the tinted acrylic
door or with the rack slides.

VXIplug&play Compliant Adapter Kit

The VXIplug&play Compliant Adapter Kit (Opt. 925 or HP E8400-80925) provides
rack mounting compatible with the VXIplug&play VPP-8 Specification for ease of
interconnect with MacPanel, Virginia Panel, or other VXIplug&play-compatible ICA
receivers. The Adapter Kit locates the mainframe in the position prescribed by
the VXIplug&play Systems Alliance and provides four mounting holes for attachment
of the receiver adapter frame. The VXIplug&play Compliant Adapter Kit requires
the HP E3663A Support Rail Kit or the HP 1494-0411 Rack Slide Kit.

Electromagnetic Compliance (EMC) Accessories

The standard mainframe is suitable for the majority of applications. For more
demanding EMC applications, a Chassis Shield Kit, Backplane Connector Shields,
and EMC Filler Panels are available.

Chassis Shield Kit

The Chassis Shield Kit (HP E8400-80919) is used to provide additional isolation
or shielding between noisy or sensitive modules. These newly designed, patent
pending chassis shields are easy to install and are grounded in all four corners.

Backplane Connector Shields

Backplane Connector Shields (Opt. 918 or HP E8400-80918) are useful for
improving the ground connection between a module and the backplane. For a
few modules, they are necessary for EMC compliance to EN55011 and CISPR11.
For the vast majority of modules, they are not necessary. Note that these
shields are only useful if the module includes contacts conforming to VXI
Spec B.7.2.3.

EMC Filler Panels

EMC Filler Panels (HP E8400-60202) are used to provide a continuous
connection across the front opening of the mainframe. All HP modules
include EMC contacts to the adjacent slot. Using EMC Filler Panels in the
empty slots completes the connection and reduces radiated emissions and
increases radiated and ESD immunity.

Optional Air Filter

Air filters are not necessary on these mainframes. However, an optional Air
Filter Kit (Opt. 938 or HP E8401-80938) is available for use in demanding
environments. The airflow is reduced less than 10% with a clean air filter
installed.

Cable Routing

In rack-mount installations, cables can be routed to the front of the mainframe or
from below the mainframe.

The optional Cable Tray (Opt. 914 or HP E8400-80914) allows cable routing under
the mainframe. The Cable Tray may be mounted to provide three different heights:
one EIA rack unit (44.5 mm), two EIA rack units, and halfway between one and two
EIA rack units. It is compatible with the HP E3664A Support Rail Kit and the
HP 1494-0411 Rack Slide Kit. If the mainframe is used on a benchtop, the
mainframe feet may be removed and reinstalled on the bottom of the Cable Tray.

Optional Door

An optional Tinted Acrylic Door (Opt. 915 or HP E8400-80915) is available for
use in rack-mount installations. All of the modules installed in the mainframe
are accessible when this door is open. The door hinges on the right so that its
latch mechanism occupies the space outside Slot 0, allowing the door to close with
the minimum recess into the rack. Its hinges are a lift-off type so that the door
may be easily removed when open. It is fabricated of acrylic to provide adequate
strength and superior scratch resistance when compared to polycarbonate.

The Tinted Acrylic Door Kit requires and is compatible with the Standard Adapter
Kit (Opt. 923 or HP E8400-80923) only.

Warranty

Hewlett-Packard provides a standard 3-year return-to-HP warranty on this mainframe.
Opt. W01 converts the standard warranty to 1-year on-site.

Available Current

Voltage Peak Current I_MP (Amps) @ 55 °C: Dynamic Current I_MD (Amps) @ 55 °C:
+5V: 90 A 9 A
+12V: 15 A 2.5 A
–12V: 15 A 2.5 A
+24V: 15 A 5 A
–24V: 15 A 5 A
–5.2V: 60 A 8 A
–2V: 30 A 5 A

E8401A/02A/03A/04A Cooling Specification Charts

VXI-8 Specification Draft 2.0. Fixture revision 1.7.

VXI-8 Standard Modules installed in all other slots.
Performance shown for Worst Slot (slot 1) and Best Slot (slot 10).
Front-to-Rear Variance 13% worst case. Typically 10%-12% in most slots.
Fans on Full Speed. Minimum airflow is approximately 50% with fans on Variable Speed.
Air Filter Kit not installed. Airflow is reduced approximately 10% with clean air filters installed.
Measurements taken at 1,500 m altitude.

All other slots blocked. Airflow decreases as additional slots are opened.

Performance shown for Worst Slot (slot 2). Airflow is greater in all other slots.
Fans on Full Speed. Minimum airflow is approximately 50% with fans on Variable Speed.
Air Filter Kit not installed. Airflow is reduced approximately 10% with clean air filters installed.
Measurements taken at 1,500 m altitude.

Backplane Specifications

Solid-state automatic daisy-chain jumpering for BUS GRANT and IACK signals.
Full differential distribution of CLK10.
ACFAIL* and SYSRESET* in full compliance with the VMEbus and VXIbus Specifications.
Surface mount construction and no sockets for maximum reliability.

Basic Monitor Specifications

Indicators:

Power-on or Standby status
Power supply output voltages monitor
Power supply temperature monitor
Fans status monitor
Backplane activity monitor
Backplane SYSFAIL monitor

Switches:

On/Standby
Fan Mode: Switches all fans between Full Speed and Variable Speed modes
Reset: Asserts backplane signals SYSRESET and ACFAIL

Diagnostic connector:

Output all 7 backplane voltages for monitoring
Output + 5V and + 12V for remote applications. 1A max each
Input +5VSTDBY to backplane. 1A max total for pins 5 and 18
Remotely operate On/Standby
Power supply temperature output
Reference temperature output
Fans OK output, same as Fans indicator
Backplane voltages OK output
SYSRESET*, input or output
ACFAIL*, output
Ground

VXI Characteristics

VXI device type: Mainframe
Data transfer bus: All per VXIbus Specification, Rev 1.4
Size: C
Slots: 13 available
Connectors: P1/P2
Shared memory: n/a
VXI busses: All per VXIbus Specification, Rev 1.4

[ Ordering ]

HP E8403A 13-Slot, C-Size VXI Mainframe, medium performance, with 1000 W power supply and Basic Monitoring Opt 500 Module Installation Using Standard Settings Opt 914 Cable Tray Kit Opt 915 Tinted Acrylic Door Kit Opt 918 Installed Backplane Connector Shields Opt 923 Standard Rack Mount Adapter Kit Opt 924 Flush Rack Mount Kit Opt 925 VXIplug&play (VPP-8) Compatible Rack Mount Kit Opt 938 Air Filter Accessory Kit Opt W01 Convert 3 yr. Return-to-HP to 1 yr. OnSite Warr. HP E8401-90000 User and Service Manual (if ordered separately) HP E8400-80914 Cable Tray Kit HP E8400-80915 Tinted Acrylic Door Kit HP E8400-80918 Backplane Connector Shields Kit HP E8400-80919 Intermodule Chassis Shield Kit HP E8400-60202 EMC Filler Panel, 1-slot HP E8400-00204 Replacement VXI Slot Filler Panels: 1-Slot HP E8400-00205 3-Slot HP E8400-00206 7-Slot HP E8400-80923 Standard Rack Mount Adapter Kit HP E8400-80924 Flush Rack Mount Kit HP E8400-80925 VXIplug&play (VPP-8) Compatible Rack Mount Kit HP E8400-80938 Air Filter Accessory Kit HP E3664A Support Rail for Standard Rack Mount Adapter or Flush Rack Mount Kit HP E3663A Support Rail Kit for VXIplug&play (VPP-8) Rack Mount Kit HP 1494-0411 Rack Slide Kit for Standard Adapter Kit or VXIplug&play (VPP-8) Compatible Rack Mount Kit HP 0950-3277 Replacement 1000 W Power Supply for HP E8403A

[ Key Literature ]