EtherCAT cable redundancy

EtherCAT cable redundancy 1:

EtherCAT cable redundancy can be realised in the CX50x0 systems through the two independent Ethernet ports. Minimum requirements:

  1. EtherCAT redundancy supplement
  2. EK1110 (bus extension)
  3. EK1100 (Bus Coupler)

The supplement product on the Beckhoff website at

https://www.beckhoff.com/TS622x

can be downloaded. The required licence key can be ordered from our sales division. The required couplers are ordered together with the other hardware. These components can then be used to configure the controller. The upper figure shows a minimum configuration example for cable redundancy. Once the hardware has been wired and commissioned, the supplement must be installed on the device, for example via a USB stick or the IT network. During the installation the system asks for the licence key. The cable redundancy can be set up in the System Manager. The first step involves reading the terminal configuration. Then select "Advanced Settings" under the "EtherCAT" tab in the EtherCAT device properties. The second adapter can be set under the "Redundancy" menu. Use the "Search" button to open the selection menu. Select "Local Area Connection 2 (Intel(R).....)" for the lower network connection (X001). Click "OK" to complete the configuration.

EtherCAT cable redundancy 2:
EtherCAT cable redundancy 3:

The supplement only supports CABLE REDUNDANCY

This supplement only supports cable redundancy, which means that only the cable sections can be regarded as fail-safe, i.e. connections between the couplers. Failures of individual terminals are not covered.Further details can be found in the Beckhoff Information System under EtherCAT cable redundancy.

Cases of failure

The two possible failures are described in the example below.

EtherCAT cable redundancy 4:

In this example the supply line for coupler EK1100 is faulty. The EK1100 terminals continue to run despite the cable failure. The System Manager indicates the failure as follows:

EtherCAT cable redundancy 5:

The interruption is indicated by "LNK_MIS B" and "LNK_MIS A".

The next example shows a failure of the "return line":

EtherCAT cable redundancy 6:

In this case the second cable is faulty. The terminals at the coupler continue to run without malfunction. The System Manager indicates the behavior as follows:

EtherCAT cable redundancy 7:

The interruption is indicated by "LNK_MIS C" at coupler EK1100.

The EtherCAT ring is expandable. The number of devices in the ring is controlled by licenses: up to 250, up to 1000, more than 1000. A master is only able to bridge one failure. In the event of two failures the ring components will continue to run up to the breaking points.