Has anyone replaced their Bently Nevada rack mounted vibration modules with another vendors equipment? If so what equipment did you use and could you use the existing BN proximitors and probes? GE/Bently isn't supporting much of their old stuff anymore so I'm looking to update but not to System 1.

If all you are looking to do is replace obsolute BN monitors (like 7200) you can move to the BN 3500 series monitors without going to System 1 if that is your informed decision. You can even keep the existing proximitors and probes, subject to condition and voltage (if really old they might be -18 vDC).

John from PA

We routinely replace older Bently systems and use the existing probes if they are still servicable. Send me an e-mail outlining what the channels & parameters are in the existing rack and I'd be happy to provide options for monitoring. dgallagher at reliabilitydirect dot com.

Clarification:Our exisitng rack modules are BN 3500 series with the older software that is no longer supported by GE/BN. I was thinking about replacing these modules with compatible modules from another manufacturer with new software and still use the prox probes from the existing system. Has anyone gone in this direction?

RGF, are you certain you have 3500 monitors? Also, the current software would only cost you a fraction of monitor replacement and in general is backwardly compatible with "older" 3500 monitors.

John from PA

Even we are going to change only the Modules and adding Key phasor. Our existing is VM 100 and VM 600 on line monitoring with BN3500 for our Gas Turbine and steam turbine. We are going to use existing accelerometers and NCPU's.
You have to check the compatibility of New vendor with GE/BN.