In most procurement cycles, EL5101 is considered with Beckhoff El9410, El9550 Beckhoff and Beckhoff El2809, giving decision-makers confidence that they’ve chosen the most dependable component.
EL5101 - Beckhoff EtherCAT Terminal
Beckhoff EL5101 Position Measurement & Communication is a compact EtherCAT Terminal designed for incremental encoder interfaces in industrial automation.
| Brand | Beckhoff |
| Product Type | EtherCAT Terminal |
| Product | EL5101 |
EL5101 Beckhoff EtherCAT Terminal Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Technology | incremental encoder interface, differential (RS422), single-ended (TTL), counter, pulse generator |
| Number of channels | 1 |
| Encoder connection | 1 x A, B, C: differential inputs (RS422): A, AÌ (inv), B, BÌ (inv), C,CÌ (inv), single-ended connection (TTL): A, B, C, counter, pulse generator: A, B |
| Encoder operating voltage | 5 V DC/max. 0.5 A (generated from the 24Â VÂ DC power contacts) |
| Distributed clocks | yes |
| Current consumption power contacts | typ. 100 mA + load |
| Current consumption E-bus | typ. 130 mA |
| Electrical isolation | 500 V (E-bus/field potential) |
| Special features | wire breakage detection, latch and gate function, period duration and frequency measurement, microincrements, timestamping of edges, filters |
| Weight | approx. 100 g |
| Operating temperature | -25…+60°C |
| Storage temperature | -40…+85°C |
| Relative humidity | 95%, no condensation |
| Vibration/shock resistance | conforms to EN 60068-2-6/EN 60068-2-27 |
| EMC immunity/emission | conforms to EN 61000-6-2/EN 61000-6-4 |
| Protect. rating/installation pos. | IP20/variable |
| Pluggable wiring | for all ESxxxx terminals |
| Approvals/markings | CE, CCC, UL, ATEX, IECEx |
| Ex marking | ATEX:II 3 G Ex ec IIC T4 GcIECEx:Ex ec IIC T4 Gc |
| Housing - Design form | compact terminal housing with signal LEDs |
| Housing - Material | polycarbonate |
| Housing - Dimensions (W x H x D) | 24Â mm x 100Â mm x 68 mm |
| Housing - Installation | on 35 mm DIN rail, conforming to EN 60715 with lock |
| Housing - Side by side mounting by means of | double slot and key connection |
| Housing - Marking | labeling of the BZxxxx series |
| Housing - Wiring | solid conductor (s), flexible conductor (st) and ferrule (f): spring actuation by screwdriver |
| Housing - Connection cross-section | s*: 0.08…2.5 mm², st*: 0.08…2.5 mm², f*: 0.14…1.5 mm² |
| Housing - Connection cross-section AWG | s*: AWG28…14, st*: AWG28…14, f*: AWG26…16 |
| Housing - Stripping length | 8…9 mm |
| Housing - Current load power contacts | Imax: 10 A |
| Resolution | 1/256 bit microincrements |
| Counter | 1 x 16/32 bit switchable |
| Nominal voltage | 24 V DC (-15%/+20%) |
| Additional inputs | status input 5Â VÂ DC, gate/latch input 24Â VÂ DC |
| Limit frequency | 4 million increments/s (with 4-fold evaluation), corresponding to 1 MHz |
| Quadrature decoder | 4-fold evaluation |
The Beckhoff EL5101 EtherCAT Terminal is engineered to provide high-performance position measurement and communication through its incremental encoder interface. Supporting both differential RS422 and single-ended TTL signals, it connects seamlessly to encoders and counters for precise motion monitoring. With a limit frequency of 4 million increments per second and 4-fold quadrature decoding, the EL5101 ensures accurate speed and position tracking even in high-speed industrial applications. Integrated microincrement technology with a resolution of 1/256 bit enables fine control, while latch and gate functions, period and frequency measurement, timestamping, and wire breakage detection further enhance reliability.
The module operates on a 24 V DC supply, consuming 130 mA from the E-bus and 100 mA plus load from the power contacts. With 500 V electrical isolation, it safeguards communication between the field and control systems. Built with a robust polycarbonate housing (24 × 100 × 68 mm), designed for DIN rail mounting, and equipped with diagnostic LEDs, the EL5101 simplifies installation and troubleshooting. Its compliance with EN 61000-6-2/EN 61000-6-4 EMC standards, vibration and shock resistance, and approvals including CE, CCC, UL, ATEX, and IECEx ensure suitability for demanding environments where reliability is critical.
In application, the EL5101 Position Measurement & Communication EtherCAT Terminal is trusted across industries such as packaging, robotics, CNC machining, and process automation. Maintenance engineers value its diagnostic features for quick fault detection, while senior automation specialists rely on its scalability within EtherCAT systems for large-scale machine networks. For engineering students and trainees, the module provides an ideal learning platform to understand encoder feedback, motion control, and distributed clock synchronization. Compact, precise, and reliable, the Beckhoff EL5101 remains a key component for industries seeking accuracy and efficiency in real-time position monitoring.
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