Overview of EtherCAT Couplers

An EtherCAT coupler is required in order to connect EtherCAT Terminals with E-bus-communication (series ELxxxx, ESxxxx, EMxxxx) to an EtherCAT network. This coupler relays the communication from the higher-level EtherCAT network to the terminals, or functions as a master itself and generates telegrams. Beckhoff offers different components for different application scenarios.

The selection of the correct coupler depends on the following criteria:

is a local small controller needed?
is the coupler to be connected via copper cable or optical fiber cable?
is the coupler to be addressed via IP or is it located in the unswitched network?
is the coupler to be controlled via EAP (EtherCAT Automation Protocol) or EtherCAT Device Protocol?
required protection class: IP20 or higher?
is the coupler to be plugged in at different places at the network using the HotConnect technique?

A coupler connects the added terminals to the right; it can be connected to the higher level network to the left. Couplers that support the EtherCAT Device Protocol ‘to the left’ must be connected there to an EtherCAT master.

Comparative overview of Beckhoff EtherCAT Couplers

EK1100-xxxx | EtherCAT Coupler, IP20,

RJ45 connection
M8 connection

EK1101-xxxx | EtherCAT Coupler with ID switch, IP20

RJ45 connection, extended distance connection or Fast-Hot-Connect,
M8 connection

EK1300 | EtherCAT P Coupler, IP20,

M8 connection, P-coded

EK1501-xxxx | fiber optic EtherCAT Coupler with ID switch, IP20,

2 x SC duplex connection, multi-mode or single-mode,
1 x SC duplex connection, media converter (multi-mode), 1 x RJ45 OUT

EK1541 | POF EtherCAT Coupler with ID switch, IP20, 2 x POF connection

Further EtherCAT Couplers:

EK18xx (EtherCAT Coupler with digital inputs/outputs, IP20)
EK9000 (EtherCAT Coupler for Modbus TCP/UDP, IP20),
EKx000 (EtherCAT Coupler, IP20),
CX8000 (Embedded PC series with integrated fieldbus and I/O interface, IP20)
EPxxxx (EtherCAT Box, EtherCAT Coupler with I/O functions, IP67)

The following tables show a comparative overview of Beckhoff EtherCAT Couplers. An up-to-date, complete product overview can be found on the Beckhoff homepage.

Notice

Device documentation is solely authoritative

The indications may be shortened extracts from the respective documentation, which is decisive and recommended for detailed analysis.

EtherCAT Coupler
Property	EK1100	EK1100-0008
Protection rating	IP20
Higher-level network - technology	100 MBit FastEthernet (100BASE-TX)
Higher-level network – max. connection length	100 m
Higher-level network – connection technology	RJ45	M8
Higher-level network - protocol	EtherCAT Device Protocol (formerly Direct Mode)
integrated PLC	-
supports HotConnect with address setting on the device	-
Note	"Standard" coupler for use directly on the EtherCAT master

EtherCAT Coupler with ID switch
Property	EK1101	EK1101-0008	EK1101-0010	EK1101-0080
Protection rating	IP20
Higher-level network - technology	100 MBit FastEthernet (100BASE-TX)
Higher-level network – max. connection length	100 m	100 m	300 m between two couplers with extended distance connection	100 m
Higher-level network – connection technology	RJ45	M8	RJ45	RJ45
Higher-level network - protocol	EtherCAT Device Protocol (formerly Direct Mode)
integrated PLC	-
supports HotConnect with address setting on the device	yes			yes, Fast-Hot-Connect
Note			max. 300 m length between the stations (copper, Cat. 5, 4-wire)

EtherCAT P Coupler
Property	EK1300
Protection rating	IP20
Higher-level network - technology	100 MBit FastEthernet (100BASE-TX)
Higher-level network – max. connection length	100 m
Higher-level network – connection technology	2 x M8 sockets, shielded, screwable, P-coded
Higher-level network - protocol	EtherCAT device protocol (to 100BASE-TX EtherCAT P networks)
integrated PLC	-
supports HotConnect with address setting on the device	-
Note	Coupling of EtherCAT Terminals (ELxxxx) to 100BASE-TX EtherCAT P networks

Fiber optic EtherCAT Coupler with ID switch
Property	EK1501	EK1501-0010	EK1501-0100
Protection rating	IP20
Higher-level network - technology	100 MBit FastEthernet (100BASE-FX)		100 Mbit FastEthernet (100BASE-FX), (100BASE-TX)
Higher-level network – max. connection length	2 km	20 km	100BASE-FX: 2 km 100BASE-TX: 100 m
Higher-level network – connection technology	SC-Duplex Multi-mode fiber optic	SC-Duplex Single-mode fiber optic	SC-Duplex Multi-mode fiber optic, RJ45 OUT
Higher-level network - protocol	EtherCAT Device Protocol (formerly Direct Mode)
integrated PLC	-
supports HotConnect with address setting on the device	yes

POF EtherCAT Coupler with ID switch
Property	EK1541
Protection rating	IP20
Higher-level network - technology	100 MBit FastEthernet (100BASE-FX) POF
Higher-level network – max. connection length	50 m
Higher-level network – connection technology	Versatile Link POF duplex connector (Polymeric Optical Fiber)
Higher-level network - protocol	EtherCAT Device Protocol (formerly Direct Mode)
integrated PLC	-
supports HotConnect with address setting on the device	yes

Further EtherCAT Couplers
Property	EK18xx	EK9000	EKx000	EPxxxx	CX8000
Protection rating	IP20	IP20	IP20	IP67	IP20
Higher-level network - technology	100 MBit FastEthernet (100BASE-TX)	100 MBit FastEthernet (100BASE-TX)	Various see doc.	100 MBit FastEthernet (100BASE-TX)	100 MBit FastEthernet (100BASE-TX)
Higher-level network – max. connection length	100 m	100 m	see doc.	100 m	100 m
Higher-level network – connection technology	RJ45	RJ45	see doc.	M8	RJ45
Higher-level network - protocol	EtherCAT Device Protocol (formerly Direct Mode)	EAP	see doc.	EtherCAT Device Protocol (formerly Direct Mode)	EtherCAT Device Protocol (formerly Direct Mode)
integrated PLC	-	-	-	-	yes
supports HotConnect with address setting on the device	-	-	-	-	-
Note	The EK18xx devices integrate a coupler for application directly at the EtherCAT master and digital inputs and outputs without additional wiring.	The EK9000 can be controlled in a switched EtherCAT network with directed IP addressing.	If the EK9000 is provided with another fieldbus connection, this gives rise to the appropriate EKx000 Coupler.	Technologically, each EP Box represents a self-contained EtherCAT Coupler with internally added I/O functions.	The CX8000 appears to the higher-level EtherCAT network as an EtherCAT slave while at the same time managing its attached I/Os as a master.