IE2000 by Beckhoff

The IE2000 is an output extension box manufactured by Beckhoff within the IE Extension Box Units series. Designed for direct installation on machinery, it provides decentralized digital outputs and eliminates the need to route long multicore cables back to the control cabinet. Through its fieldbus backplane, the module links the PLC to local 24 V actuators, providing fast response times and simplified wiring in conveying, packaging, and material-handling equipment.

The electronics operate from a nominal supply of 24 VDC. Each output channel can deliver up to 0.5 A per channel, and this capacity is shared with the integrated sensor feed, allowing load requirements to be calculated accurately. Reverse-polarity protection prevents damage if the supply leads are connected incorrectly. The outputs are short-circuit protected, and only the affected line is disabled during an overload. The channels are not isolated from the control circuitry or from one another, but the control signals are galvanically separated from the bus. Wiring is secured by compact 8 mm snap-on connectors, while the adjacent M8 ports carry signals and auxiliary power between neighboring boxes.

The PLC recognizes the module through a fixed 8-bit process image, allowing each program scan to write one byte directly to the outputs. Its eight digital output channels use switching logic suited to solenoids, contactors, and other devices that require on-off control. An integrated LED indicator beside each socket displays the corresponding channel status, helping users identify output conditions without separate diagnostic tools. Field wiring exits through one 4-pin M8 socket, which provides a compact connection for downstream equipment. Incoming 24 V power passes through one 4-pin M8 feed port, allowing additional IE units to be connected in a daisy chain without external junction blocks.