Product Description:

The EL2624-0000 is a relay output terminal manufactured by Beckhoff within the EL EtherCAT Terminals series. Installed on an EtherCAT I/O strand, it provides four independent electromechanical contacts that let the controller switch external loads without routing high current through the bus coupler electronics. In an automation cell, the module is typically used to energize solenoid valves, signal lamps, or other discrete devices that require galvanic isolation between field wiring and PLC logic.

The terminal supports a rated load voltage of 125 V AC / 30 V DC, so it can handle both mains-level circuits and protective extra-low-voltage wiring. For purely resistive loads, it permits a switching current of 0.5 A AC / 2 A DC. This limit helps reduce contact erosion when driving inductive or capacitive devices. Its relay contacts have an electrical life of 2 × 10⁵ operations at 1 A and 30 V DC, while the mechanical service life reaches 1 × 10⁸ operations because no arcing occurs during dry switching. Internal power contacts can carry up to 10 A, allowing the L and N conductors to be looped through adjacent terminals without separate feed wiring. The outputs are intended for ohmic loads, and the module can still detect signals as small as 10 µA at 10 mV DC, which is helpful for test benches that monitor open-circuit conditions.

The unit measures 12 × 100 × 68 mm and is molded from polycarbonate that withstands typical cabinet temperatures. It latches onto a 35 mm DIN rail for quick replacement and maintains an IP20 ingress rating, so it must be mounted inside a protected enclosure. The terminal uses relay output connection technology, and field wiring lands on push-in spring terminals that actuate its 4 × make contacts. In the process image, the device occupies four output bits, and the looped L/N power contacts simplify daisy-chaining of additional EtherCAT terminals.