Product Description:

The EL3104 is an analog input terminal manufactured by Beckhoff for the EL EtherCAT Terminals series. The component converts single-ended or differential process voltages into digital words that can be exchanged over EtherCAT. Integrating this module into a control cabinet allows PLCs to monitor field transducers without separate signal conditioners, reducing wiring and enabling synchronized data collection in industrial automation.

Each converter operates with a resolution of 16 bits, so the terminal quantizes the ±10 V span into 65,536 discrete steps for fine voltage discrimination. Acquisition is handled through a multiplexed sampling strategy that sequentially scans each channel. The internal track-and-hold network operates with a cutoff frequency of 5 kHz, which suppresses higher-frequency noise before digitization. The circuitry tolerates up to 35 V of common-mode potential between signal pairs while maintaining a differential ground reference. During operation, the module draws 130 mA from the E-bus. The process image presented to the controller contains four two-byte values plus status bytes, allowing immediate validity checks.

The housing meets the IP20 protection class, so the terminal is intended for enclosed control cabinets and protected indoor environments. The input stages have an internal resistance of >200 kΩ, minimizing sensor loading, and each channel is limited to 40 mA through electronic contacts for fault containment. The terminal offers 4 analog inputs that can be synchronized to microsecond accuracy through the EtherCAT Distributed Clocks service. The unit snaps onto a 35 mm DIN rail and joins the E-bus through its integrated blade connectors. This installation method allows the terminal to become part of a modular I/O chain without requiring additional wiring adapters.