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Beckhoff introduces ultra-fast control in one cable

EtherCAT P integrates the EtherCAT Industrial Ethernet protocol and peripheral voltage into one cable. In addition, EtherCAT P enables the direct forwarding of a power supply via the devices. 

The combination of high-performance EtherCAT communication and the flexible, unrestricted network topology options make EtherCAT P the ideal bus system for sensors, actuators and measurement technology. 

With this One Cable Automation solution, material and assembly costs are reduced and installation space is minimised for drag chains and control cabinets, which can result in a smaller machine footprint.

The space-saving technology integrates the 24 V DC supply of the EtherCAT P slaves with the signals and data from connected sensors and actuators. In addition, the system electrically isolates the US (system and sensor supply) and UP (peripheral voltage for actuators) from each other, each with up to 3 A of current for the connected components.

All the benefits of EtherCAT are retained, such as: the free choice of network topology, high speed, optimum bandwidth utilisation, telegram processing on-the-fly, highly precise synchronisation and extensive diagnostics. The currents of US and UP are directly injected into the wires of the 100 Mbit/s cable, resulting in a very cost-effective and compact connection.

With the ability to transmit higher currents, EtherCAT P paves the way toward automation without control cabinets. With One Cable Automation, automation components or small terminal boxes receive the necessary control data and power with just one cable and the corresponding branches, helping eliminate large control and electrical cabinets. 

EtherCAT P highlights:

  • EtherCAT plus 2 x 24 V DC (Up, Us) in one 4-wire Ethernet cable
  • daisy-chained power supply through EtherCAT P devices
  • educed material and assembly costs
  • minimised installation space for drag chains, control cabinets and machine footprint
  • scalable connector family from 24 V to 600 V, 64 A
  • lower connection costs with outstanding EtherCAT performance
  • flexible EtherCAT network topology is retained
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