EL6001

Product information

Product Overview

The EL6001 adds an RS232 serial interface to an EtherCAT system, operating in conformity with the CCITT V.28 / DIN 66 259-1 standards. It is a full duplex interface with two data channels, TxD and RxD, at transmission rates from 2400 to 115,200 baud.

It is how a modern controller talks to older equipment: a barcode scanner, a label printer, a weighing terminal, a laboratory instrument, a legacy controller with a serial port and no network.

Why Buyers Specify This Model

RS232 where a network will not fit the job

Some devices simply do not have an Ethernet port and never will: a weighing indicator that is twenty years old and still accurate, a printer that works, a scanner with a fixed RS232 output. Replacing them is often more expensive and riskier than talking to them.

The EL6001 gives the controller a serial port as a normal EtherCAT terminal. The data is moved over the fieldbus and the application reads and writes it like any other process value, so the serial device becomes one more node in the machine’s architecture.

RS232 means short cable, and that matters

RS232 is a point-to-point standard with limited drive capability. The EL6001’s default configuration is 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity and one stop bit, adjustable up to 115,200 baud. Being point-to-point, it cannot be multidropped the way RS485 can.

If the device is more than a few metres away, or if several devices must share one link, RS232 is the wrong electrical interface regardless of the terminal. Beckhoff’s EL60xx range includes RS422 and RS485 variants for those cases; tell us the device and cable run and we will identify the right one.

Framing and protocol stay in the application

The terminal moves bytes; it does not interpret them. Framing, checksums, request/response sequencing and timeouts are implemented in the TwinCAT application, typically using the serial communication function blocks.

That is worth knowing at specification time: adding a serial device is a small software project, not a plug-and-play connection. Budget for the integration, and confirm that the device’s protocol is documented and available.

Technical Specifications (Official Beckhoff Data)

Parameter	Official value
Connection technology	terminal contact
Data transfer channels	2 (1/1), TxD and RxD, full duplex
Transmission rate	2400…115,200 baud; default: 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity and one stop bit
Interfaces	1 x RS232
Bit distortion	< 3%
Cable impedance	–
Cable length	max. 15 m
Providing external supply	–
Power supply	via the E-bus
Distributed clocks	–
Electrical isolation	500 V (E-bus/signal voltage)
Data buffer	864 bytes receive buffer, 128 bytes transmit buffer
Configuration	no address setting, configuration via the controller
Current consumption power contacts	–
Current consumption E-bus	typ. 120 mA
Weight	approx. 55 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 level	for all ESxxxx terminals
Approvals/markings	CE, CCC, UL, ATEX, IECEx, DNV, cFMus
Ex marking	ATEX: / II 3G Ex ec IIC T4 Gc / IECEx: / Ex ec IIC T4 Gc / cFMus: / Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C, D / Class I, Zone 2, AEx ec IIC T4 Gc

Specifications are Beckhoff’s official product data for the EL6001. The connection technology is terminal contact.

Housing, Installation and Wiring

Data	Official value
Design form	compact terminal housing with signal LEDs
Material	polycarbonate
Installation	on 35 mm DIN rail, conforming to EN 60715 with lock
Side by side mounting by means of	double slot and key connection
Marking	labeling of the BZxxxx series
Wiring	solid conductor (s), flexible conductor (st) and ferrule (f): spring actuation by screwdriver
Connection cross-section	s*: 0.08…2.5 mm², / st*: 0.08…2.5 mm², / f*: 0.14…1.5 mm²
Connection cross-section AWG	s*: AWG28…14, / st*: AWG28…14, / f*: AWG26…16
Stripping length	8…9 mm
Current load power contacts	I max : 10 A
Dimensions (W x H x D)	12 mm x 100 mm x 68 mm

Ordering Information and Variants

Beckhoff’s own ordering information for this product:

Order code	Official description
EL6001	EtherCAT Terminal, 1-channel communication interface, serial, RS232
ES6001	EtherCAT Terminal, 1-channel communication interface, serial, RS232, pluggable wiring level

Material Compliance

The following is Beckhoff’s published material compliance data for this product, reproduced unchanged. Beckhoff notes that absence of a substance is not verified by analytical tests.

Item	Official statement
REACH SVHC	no
POP	compliant
RoHS	compliant with exemption
RoHS exemption	7c-I: Lead-containing electrical and electronic components in glass and ceramic materials, excluding dielectric ceramics in capacitors
China-RoHS	www.beckhoff.com/china-rohs-io
CA Prop65	www.beckhoff.com/prop65

Official Documentation

Every figure in the table above is published by Beckhoff. We reproduce it rather than paraphrase it, so that you can check it against the manufacturer’s own documentation:

• Beckhoff official product page — EL6001 — the source of every specification on this page.
• Beckhoff official documentation for EL6001 — downloadable PDF from Beckhoff’s documentation server.
• Canonical Beckhoff documentation link for EL6001.

Ordering This Part

Tell us the model and, where an order code exists, the complete code — Beckhoff variants differ in ways that matter, as set out above. For discontinued models, a nameplate photograph is the fastest way to confirm exactly what you have.

• Exact model or order code (including any suffix such as -0111 or -ES variants)
• Quantity required
• Whether you need the terminal alone or a complete station with coupler and power supply
• For replacements: a photo of the existing nameplate or the old order code

We confirm availability and condition before quoting. We do not publish stock levels or lead times on this page because they change; ask and we will answer specifically for your requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What baud rates does the EL6001 support?

2400 to 115,200 baud. The default is 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, one stop bit. Other baud rates within that range are configurable.

Can I connect more than one device?

No. RS232 is point-to-point. For several devices on one link you need an RS485 or RS422 terminal — Beckhoff’s EL60xx range covers those. Tell us the devices and we will identify the correct terminal.

How do I use it in the PLC program?

The terminal transfers bytes; the protocol is handled in the TwinCAT application using the serial communication function blocks. Implementing a device protocol is a small software task — plan for it rather than expecting plug-and-play.

How far can the cable run be?

RS232 is intended for short point-to-point runs. If the device is more than a few metres from the terminal, use an RS422 or RS485 interface instead, or a serial-to-Ethernet converter at the device end.

Does it need a separate power supply?

No, it is an EtherCAT Terminal and is powered from the E-bus like the other terminals in the station. Connection technology is terminal contact.