Product Description:

The EL6731 is a communication terminal manufactured by Beckhoff for the EL EtherCAT Terminals series. It functions as a PROFIBUS master that attaches directly to the EtherCAT I/O system, letting a controller exchange cyclic and acyclic data with distributed PROFIBUS-DP slaves in an automation cell. By combining master functionality with a single fieldbus channel and drawing its logic supply from the E-bus, the unit streamlines gateway tasks without adding a separate coupler or power stage.

The terminal supports a maximum transfer rate of 12 Mbit/s, matching the upper limit of the PROFIBUS-DP protocol, and its internal architecture can refresh process data every 200 µs to minimize telegram latency during fast machine cycles. Each connected slave may contribute up to 244 bytes of input or output, and the master index table allows as many as 125 subordinate stations before addressing limits are reached. Galvanic separation between the PROFIBUS side and the backplane is rated at 500 V, reducing common-mode noise transfer when long cable runs pass near power conductors. A 9-pin D-Sub socket provides the bus interface, status LEDs report run and error conditions, and the single-channel layout simplifies line topology planning.

Environmental and mechanical parameters match typical cabinet installations. The housing carries a protection rating of IP20, so it should be mounted in an enclosure where contact with internal components is controlled. Latching feet clip onto a 35 mm DIN rail, and the permissible installation position is variable, allowing horizontal or vertical alignment beside other EL terminals. Reliable operation is maintained at a relative humidity of up to 95% without condensation. The process image capacity reaches 1.4 kB in + 1.4 kB out, giving the host PLC predictable memory allocation for cyclic data exchange.