Product Description:

The EPP2316-0008 is a compact digital I/O box module manufactured by Beckhoff for the EPP EtherCAT P Box Modules series. Designed for distributed machine architectures, the unit combines communication and power on a single EtherCAT P line so sensors and actuators can be placed directly on moving equipment. By providing bidirectional I/O through industry-standard connectors, the device bridges field-level signals to the real-time EtherCAT network and helps reduce cabinet wiring in assembly lines, packaging machines, and other automated installations.

Its signal front end contains 8 digital inputs that follow Type 3 characteristics under EN 61131-2, and each input passes through a hardware debounce filter of 10 µs, permitting reliable detection of fast-switching sensors without false readings. On the output side, the module supplies eight high-side drivers, each capable of sourcing 0.5 A per channel when the field supply (Up) is held at 24 VDC. The module routes both data and Up power through two M8, 4-pin, P-coded sockets, while additional logic voltage arrives on the Us rails, and all signals are brought to a 25-pin D-sub connector for convenient ribbon-cable harnessing. Despite the integrated electronics, the housing occupies only 30 mm in width and 26.5 mm in depth, easing installation on robot arms or tight tooling plates.

For extended runs between modules, the EtherCAT P branch can span 30 m without repeaters, which simplifies conveyor or gantry layouts. Protective circuitry limits fault energy; a detected short circuit is limited to no more than 1.5 A per channel, and the aggregate load is capped at 3.0 A so trunk wiring can remain compact. The logic domain draws only 100 mA, leaving power budget for downstream devices on the same feed. Mechanical proportions stay fixed at 126 mm in height, and the enclosure permits installation close to actuators, with the D-sub connector plugging straight into valve terminals or sensor blocks.