EL1814 by Beckhoff

The EL1814 is a digital input terminal manufactured by Beckhoff for the EL EtherCAT Terminals series. It accepts 24 V DC control signals from sensors, limit switches, or push buttons and places their states onto the EtherCAT bus in real time. Installed alongside other EL terminals, it shares common power contacts and fieldbus wiring, giving machine builders a modular way to collect discrete inputs inside control cabinets while eliminating separate input cards in centralized PLCs.

The terminal has four galvanically linked input channels, allowing one slice to supervise several devices while conserving space. A hardware filter of 10 µs removes contact bounce so that only clean edges reach the logic. Each channel meets the EN 61131-2 Type 1/3 profile, which sets current consumption and switching thresholds for PLC compatibility. Field wiring uses a 3-wire layout, and conductors are secured in direct plug-in push-in terminals. Logic power is drawn through the contiguous power contacts, while the 0 V reference is connected to the shared ground rail, simplifying distribution within the I/O rack.

The enclosure is only 12 mm wide, yet 16 terminal points are available for supply, ground, and signals. With an IP20 protection rating, the device is intended for installation in an enclosed control panel. It snaps onto a 35 mm DIN rail, and its orientation can be varied without affecting operation. The power contacts are connected through the terminal so that downstream modules receive the same supply. During cyclic data exchange, the module contributes 4 input bits, giving the controller a one-to-one map of the four channels. Its narrow housing allows dense input clusters to be installed near connected sensors while keeping field wiring organized. The shared supply and ground connections also reduce the number of separate conductors required across the terminal assembly.