Product Description

The EK1814-0000 is an EtherCAT Coupler from Beckhoff Automation designed to serve as a link between the EtherCAT communication protocol and the EtherCAT terminals. This product converts signals received from a 100BASE-TX EtherCAT networks through the Ethernet/EtherCAT cable to E-bus signals, which are then transmitted to the connected Terminals. It is also equipped with four digital inputs and four digital outputs, making it particularly suited for industrial applications with a small number of input/output systems. The combination of this coupler and any number of EtherCAT terminals automatically detected and individually displayed in the process image serves as a station in the communication network.

There are two Ethernet interfaces on this product, these interfaces are RJ45 sockets. The connection of the coupler to the higher communication network is established through the first of these two ethernet interfaces; the second interface allows operators to connect the coupler to other EtherCAT devices in the same communication segment. The EK1814-0000 EtherCAT coupler can be connected to another EtherCAT coupler of the same type over a maximum distance of about 100 meters; it can also be used with more than 65,000 EtherCAT terminals during operation. The transmission of data through this product occurs at an incredible rate of 100 megabits per second, although a minor delay of 1 microsecond can be expected.

The EK1814-0000 EtherCAT coupler operates with a nominal voltage of between 22 to about 27 volts, it also maintains a current supply of 1000 milliamperes through the E-bus. The coupler can be connected to different types of loads, including Ohmic, inductive and lamp loads. It is reliably protected against short circuits and reverse voltage. Also, the breaking energy is less than 150 millijoules.