Product Description:

The EL3102 is a two-channel analog input module manufactured by Beckhoff for the EL EtherCAT Terminals series. Installed alongside other terminals on an EtherCAT rail, it acquires low-level sensor voltages and transfers the digitized data to the master through the internal E-bus. The device is used wherever a controller must record or regulate process variables such as pressure, tension, or position with deterministic timing. Its open, high-speed fieldbus connection supports applications in packaging, assembly, and test equipment across many industrial sectors.

Each channel accepts differential voltages of ±10 V. The analog front end uses an input filter set at 5 kHz and digitizes the signal with a resolution of 16 bits. The conversion result is packed into a 2 × 16-bit input data frame that the EtherCAT master retrieves in synchronization with the network cycle. Both channels are sampled simultaneously, and the internal distributed clock aligns the time stamps with a precision of less than 1 µs, enabling phase-accurate acquisition of fast transients. The module draws its logic and signal power directly from the E-bus, eliminating the need for separate supply wiring.

The module has an IP20 housing and is intended for installation inside a control cabinet. Its two input circuits tolerate a common-mode potential of up to 35 V relative to ground while maintaining a differential reference architecture. The input impedance exceeds 200 kΩ, which minimizes the load placed on connected sensors. Each channel supports a maximum current of 40 mA through the signal contacts, helping preserve field wiring integrity. In addition to the primary 32-bit measurement words, the terminal transmits two 8-bit status fields that inform the controller of overrange or wire-break conditions. Differential wiring reduces noise pickup across the two analog inputs, while distributed-clock support keeps conversions aligned throughout the EtherCAT segment.