Product Description:

The EL3074 is a four-channel analog input terminal produced by Beckhoff for the EL EtherCAT Terminals series. It installs on the EtherCAT I/O rail and converts voltage or current signals from field devices into digital values. The terminal places these values in the controller’s process image, allowing precise measurement tasks within industrial automation cells.

This terminal accepts 4 simultaneous analog sources, with each channel selectable for voltage or current through the parameterizable U/I input mode. A resolution of 12 bits provides detailed digital values, while the internal input filter attenuates frequencies above 1 kHz to reduce high-frequency noise. The EtherCAT interface can refresh data every 500 µs, matching applications that need fast closed-loop behavior. The internal sampling time is fixed at 1 ms, so new measurements appear in the process image once per scan cycle. Signals are referenced to a single-ended ground, and multiplex sampling sequentially processes all channels through shared converter hardware. The enclosure has an IP20 protection rating suitable for cabinet mounting. The terminal exports a 16-byte process image containing raw values, status information, and diagnostic bits.

When EtherCAT distributed clocks are enabled, the module synchronizes its conversions with network events while maintaining a clock accuracy of well below 1 µs. This timing precision supports deterministic data acquisition across remote terminals. Support for Distributed Clocks and NoCoeStorage allows startup parameters to be retained locally without a separate configuration tool. The input stage presents a voltage input resistance above 200 kΩ, minimizing the electrical load placed on connected transducers. It tolerates a maximum common-mode voltage of 35 V without damage. Each channel is single-ended, so proper grounding is required to prevent offset errors and preserve measurement quality in electrically noisy installations.