Procurement managers rarely finalize EL5102 without reviewing Beckhoff El9410, El9550 Beckhoff and Beckhoff El2809, ensuring that the chosen component meets budget, compliance, and delivery conditions.
EL5102 - Beckhoff EtherCAT Terminal
Beckhoff EL5102 Position Measurement & Communication is a dual-channel EtherCAT Terminal designed for incremental encoder interfaces in automation and motion control.
| Brand | Beckhoff |
| Product Type | EtherCAT Terminal |
| Product | EL5102 |
EL5102 Beckhoff EtherCAT Terminal Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Technology | incremental encoder interface, differential (RS422), single-ended (TTL, open collector), counter, pulse generator |
| Number of channels | 2 |
| Encoder connection | 2 x A, B, Cdifferential inputs (RS422): A, AÌ (inv), B, BÌ (inv), C, CÌ (inv)single-ended connection (TTL, open collector): A, B, Ccounter, pulse generator: A, B |
| Encoder operating voltage | 5 V DC (default), 12 V DC, 24 V DC switchable, 0.3 A per channel (generated from the 24Â VÂ DC power contacts) |
| Distributed clocks | yes |
| Current consumption power contacts | typ. 20 mA + load |
| Current consumption E-bus | typ. 210 mA |
| Electrical isolation | 500 V (E-bus/field potential) |
| Special features | open-circuit recognition, period duration, frequency, speed and duty cycle measurement, microincrements, timestamp on: last incremental edge, zero pulse C, latch input, gate/latch input |
| Weight | approx. 100 g |
| Operating temperature | 0…55°C |
| Storage temperature | -25…+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 |
| Approvals/markings | CE, UL |
| Housing - Design form | HD (High Density) 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 conductors (s): direct plug-in technique; fine-stranded conductors (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 | 32 bit (default), 16/32 bit switchable |
| Additional inputs | latch, gate/latch (24 V DC, TON> 1 µs), status input (max. 5 V DC, negative switching) per channel |
| Limit frequency | RS422: 20Â million increments/s with 4-fold evaluation, corresponding to 5Â MHz,TTL: 4 million increments/s with 4-fold evaluation, corresponding to 1 MHz,open collector: 400 kilo increments/s with 4-fold evaluation, corresponding to 100 kHz |
| Quadrature decoder | 4-fold evaluation (default), 2-fold, 1-fold evaluation switchable |
| Wiring fail indication | yes, for RS422 encoder |
The Beckhoff EL5102 EtherCAT Terminal is an advanced module for position measurement and communication in industrial automation. Supporting two incremental encoder channels, it works with both differential RS422 and single-ended TTL or open collector signals. The device provides high-resolution feedback with 1/256 bit microincrements and a configurable 32-bit counter, making it suitable for precision-driven applications. With limit frequencies up to 20 million increments per second for RS422 and 5 MHz quadrature decoding, the EL5102 ensures accurate and fast signal processing. Its additional features such as open-circuit recognition, duty cycle measurement, timestamping of edges, and latch/gate functions increase versatility and system reliability.
Designed for robust performance, the EL5102 Position Measurement & Communication Terminal operates on a 24 V DC power supply while consuming 210 mA from the E-bus and 20 mA from power contacts. It provides 500 V electrical isolation to protect field and control systems and supports distributed clocks for synchronized motion control. Built in a compact HD polycarbonate housing (24 × 100 × 68 mm), it mounts easily on DIN rails and features diagnostic LEDs for real-time monitoring. The module meets EN 61000-6-2/6-4 EMC standards, is resistant to vibration/shock per EN 60068, and carries global certifications including CE and UL, making it reliable for use in harsh environments.
In real-world applications, the Beckhoff EL5102 EtherCAT Terminal is widely used in CNC machinery, robotics, packaging systems, and process automation where dual-channel encoder inputs are critical. Maintenance engineers appreciate its built-in wiring fault indication for RS422 encoders, while senior automation specialists rely on its precision and scalability within EtherCAT networks. For engineering students and trainees, the EL5102 offers practical insights into motion control, quadrature decoding, and synchronization. Compact, precise, and highly reliable, the Beckhoff EL5102 strengthens industrial automation by delivering accurate position feedback and robust communication for modern manufacturing systems.
Related Products
