EtherCAT P - Power and Communication combined
What is EtherCAT P actually?
EtherCAT P (EtherCAT + Power) is an addition to the EtherCAT technology on the cabling level. P stands for power and enables one to use the standard 4-wire Ethernet cable not only for data, but also for two electrically isolated, individually switchable 24V/3A power supplies. This technology facilitates the cascading of several EtherCAT devices and therefore only requires one cable to connect and power I/O and field devices.
EtherCAT P is 100% EtherCAT – and adds the power transmission on the very same cable. Licensing is free of charge.
What are the advantages of EtherCAT P and who can benefit from it?
With EtherCAT P, the Us (system and sensor supply) and Up (peripheral voltage for actuators) voltages are directly coupled into the 100 Mbit/s EtherCAT communication line, which leads to reduced cabling, compact, cost-effective wiring, lower system costs and smaller footprint for devices, equipment and machines.
Potential error sources while connecting devices are reduced, too: M8 connectors specially designed for EtherCAT P prevent false connections via mechanical coding and provide reliable connectivity.
How can I implement EtherCAT P into my EtherCAT SubDevice?
All necessary documents and information are available for our members and are enhanced continuously.
This includes the following:
Specifications
The physical layer extension of EtherCAT P is specified in ETG.1000.2P which can be downloaded, as the ETG.1000 series, from our members. EtherCAT P is also part of the international standard IEC 61158-2 (Type 12).
The EtherCAT P-specific M8 connector with P-coding is internationally standardized in IEC 61076-2-114, corresponding connectors are available from multiple manufacturers.
Fully developed test environment
There’s a fully developed test environment for EtherCAT P including the EtherCAT Conformance Test Tool and the according test cases. At the official EtherCAT Test Centers there is an automated hardware test installation which is used for testing the EtherCAT P attachment of the EtherCAT SubDevice.
Consistent documentation
Just as EtherCAT without power supply, EtherCAT P is comprehensively established in all areas and official specification documents are available for EtherCAT P and the corresponding connector. Furthermore, the documents developed by the EtherCAT Technology Group and made available to all members also cover the topics of implementation, conformance, testing and marking for EtherCAT P.
Links to all relevant documents can be found in the menu bar on the right.
