EL1862 by Beckhoff

Beckhoff manufactures the EL1862 within its EL EtherCAT Terminals series. The device is a 16-channel digital input terminal that converts 24 V field signals into the EtherCAT process image for PLCs and motion controllers. It snaps onto the same rail as adjacent terminals and shares power and data through the internal E-bus. Industrial systems use the unit to collect switch, sensor, and interlock states while maintaining the slim footprint associated with Beckhoff I/O modules.

The terminal operates from a nominal field voltage of 24 VDC, and its low input current helps limit heat generation when every channel is active. All channels are mapped as 16 input bits, allowing the controller to read a contiguous word without additional parsing. Status is displayed through 16 diagnostic LEDs on the top of the housing, providing direct visual confirmation of individual input states. Communication with upstream modules draws 100 mA typical from the E-bus, while the sensing circuitry draws 3 mA typical per input. An integrated input filter with a delay of 3 ms typical reduces false transitions caused by mechanical contact bounce without requiring external filtering components. The terminal supply current is typically 4 mA, which also helps control thermal loading in densely arranged EtherCAT stations.

The enclosure has an IP20 protection rating, so the terminal is intended for installation inside a suitable control cabinet rather than on exposed machinery. Field wiring enters through a flat-ribbon cable that terminates at a dual-row connector built according to the IEC 60603-13 standard. The mating header provides a 35 mm rail-mounted interface that supports installation alongside other terminal slices. The channel electronics comply with the electrical limits of EN 61131-2 Type 1/3, allowing compatible field sensors to connect without external resistors. Its variable mounting orientation gives panel designers flexibility when arranging the terminal around cable ducts, power contacts, and nearby I/O components. The contiguous process-data layout also allows all channel states to be transferred efficiently through the EtherCAT network during cyclic control updates.