Introduction

Switch terminals for Ethernet

The switch terminals for Ethernet are used for decentralized connection of random Ethernet devices to the EtherCAT terminal network. The EtherCAT system relays the Ethernet communication of the connected devices fully transparent and collision-free.

The 4 port Ethernet switch terminal EL6614 purposefully forwards the incoming frames from the ports to the destination ports. In full duplex mode, it thus enables collision-free communication of the connected devices with each other.

Any number of EL6601/EL6614 can be used simultaneously and at any position in the EtherCAT terminal network. No configuration is required. In conjunction with the network port at the EtherCAT master the EL6601/EL6614 devices operate like a virtual switch whose ports are distributed in the field. The EtherCAT fieldbus is the backbone of this switch.

Introduction 2: — EL6601 as a virtual, field-distributed switch

Further benefits underline the particular suitability for the application in industrial environments:

Compact design in EtherCAT terminal housing
10/100 MBaud, half or full duplex, with automatic baud rate detection
Autocrossing (automatic detection of crossed lines)

LEDs

LED	Color	Meaning
RUN	green	These LEDs indicate the terminal's operating state:
		off	State of the EtherCAT State Machine: INIT = initialization of the terminal or BOOTSTRAP = function for firmware updates of the terminal
		flashing	State of the EtherCAT State Machine: PREOP = function for mailbox communication and different standard-settings set
		single flash	State of the EtherCAT State Machine: SAFEOP = verification of the Sync Manager channels and the distributed clocks. Outputs remain in safe state
		on	State of the EtherCAT State Machine: OP = normal operating state; mailbox and process data communication is possible
Link/Act	green	Connection / data exchange field bus
*Link/Act X1 - X4	green	Connection / data exchange Ethernet port X1- X4
Eth Err	red	Error message EtherCAT (see Diagnostics)

* only EL6614

Connections

1 x RJ45 with 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX Ethernet (EL6601)
4 x RJ45 with 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX Ethernet (EL6614)