The EK1101 EtherCAT Coupler is the link between the EtherCAT protocol at fieldbus level and the EtherCAT Terminals. The coupler converts the passing telegrams from Ethernet 100BASE-TX to E-bus signal representation. A station consists of a coupler and any number of EtherCAT Terminals that are automatically detected and individually displayed in the process image.

Special features:

• Connection technology: 2 x RJ45 socket
• Connection lengths: up to 100 m
• Three ID switches for implementing variable topologies
• Number of EtherCAT Terminals in the overall system: up to 65,535

The EK1101 has two RJ45 sockets and three hexadecimal ID switches. The upper Ethernet interface is used to connect the coupler to the network; the lower socket serves for the optional connection of further EtherCAT devices in the same segment. A group of EtherCAT components can be assigned a unique ID via the hexadecimal ID switches. This group can then be located at any position within the EtherCAT network. Variable topologies are therefore easily implementable. In addition, an EtherCAT junction or an EtherCAT extension can be used for the extension or for setting up a line or star topology.

The system and field supply, each 24 V DC, is provided directly at the coupler. The attached EtherCAT Terminals are supplied with the current required for communication from the supplied system voltage. The coupler can supply a maximum of 5 V and 2 A. If higher current is required, power feed terminals such as the EL9410 have to be integrated. The field supply is forwarded to the individual I/O components via the power contacts with up to 10 A.