Product Description:

The EP2028-0001 is an eight-channel digital output block manufactured by Beckhoff for the EP Digital Output Modules series. It installs on the machine frame and links distributed actuators to the controller through the EtherCAT network, removing the need for a protective control cabinet. By energizing 24 V field loads directly in harsh areas, the module shortens cable runs and helps build compact, deterministic automation segments. This decentralized design suits machine sections where sensors and actuators are mounted away from the main cabinet and where local I/O helps keep wiring organized.

Each channel sources a nominal 24 V DC and can deliver up to 2 A, while the device limits the combined load of its eight outputs to 4 A. Logic electronics draw only 120 mA from the bus, so most of the available current reaches the connected loads. Two shielded 4-pin M8 sockets form the EtherCAT bus interface, and every output is routed to an M8 × 1 three-pin plug coded A for secure polarity. The load supply enters and leaves through matching 4-pin M8 male and female connectors, allowing simple daisy-chain wiring. Separate bus and load connections help keep network communication isolated from the output supply path across distributed machine sections. The drivers use matched 200 µs turn-on and turn-off periods for ohmic, inductive, and lamp loads, and all electronics are housed in an enclosure that measures 30 × 126 × 26.5 mm.

The housing carries a protection rating of IP65/66/67, sealing the electronics against dust ingress and high-pressure water during washdown. During fault conditions, the output stage limits short-circuit current to 15 A, and the channel recovers automatically when the overload is removed. Rise and fall delays remain matched even when multiple outputs toggle at the same time. This arrangement supports installation in areas exposed to moisture, airborne dust, and routine cleaning while keeping networked output control close to the point of use. On the communication side, the module uses EtherCAT, so process data update times match the microsecond-level cycle of other Beckhoff terminals in the same segment.