Product Description:

The EL3602-0010 is an analog input terminal manufactured by Beckhoff as part of the EL EtherCAT Terminals series. Mounted beside other networked slices, it forwards millivolt-level measurements from sensors directly onto the EtherCAT bus so that PLCs can supervise forces, tensions, or other process variables in real time. This product bridges field signals and control logic within industrial automation architectures while keeping channel density high and panel space modest. Its layout is suitable for low-level sensor signals that need direct acquisition close to the machine interface.

Each measurement channel on the terminal accepts differential voltages up to ±75 mV, enabling direct connection of bridge-type transducers without external attenuators. The front-end converts these signals with 24-bit signed resolution, so very small changes remain visible after digitization. Before conversion, an analog stage applies a 10 kHz input filter that suppresses higher-frequency noise. The terminal provides 2 differential inputs, and the circuitry scans them in a multiplex sequence so both signals are processed through the same conversion path. The differential signal reference helps reduce the influence of supply offsets, and operating power is supplied through the E-bus backplane rather than a separate feed.

In service, the module must stay inside its electrical and mechanical limits. A 35 V common-mode window protects the input amplifiers, and internal spacing withstands up to 45 V dielectric stress between field and system potentials. The enclosure, molded from polycarbonate, carries an IP20 rating and measures 12 mm × 100 mm × 68 mm, allowing dense stacking on the 35 mm DIN rail used for the series. Through-fed power contacts can conduct 10 A to adjacent terminals, which helps reduce the need for separate distribution blocks. These limits help determine acceptable wiring practice, insulation spacing, and cabinet arrangement for the terminal.