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:

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.

Overview of EtherCAT Couplers 1:
EtherCAT coupler communication diagram

Comparative overview of Beckhoff EtherCAT Couplers

  • 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

Overview of EtherCAT Couplers 2:

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.