EL3204

Product information

Product Overview

The EL3204 connects four resistance temperature sensors directly: Pt100, Pt200, Pt500, Pt1000, Ni100, Ni120, Ni1000, KTY sensors, or plain resistance measurement from 10 Ω to 4 kΩ. Resolution is 0.1 °C per digit and the measured resistance can be output either in ohms or converted to a temperature.

It is the terminal for the temperature measurement most machines actually use — a Pt100 probe in a bearing, a tank, a mould or a cooling circuit.

Why Buyers Specify This Model

Pt100 first, and why the alternatives are also listed

Pt100 is the default industrial RTD: stable, well characterised, and available in every mechanical form from a surface patch to a screw-in probe. The EL3204 handles Pt100 natively and also accepts Pt200/Pt500/Pt1000, Ni100/Ni120/Ni1000 and KTY sensors, plus plain resistance measurement.

That breadth matters when a machine carries a mix of sensor types from different suppliers. One terminal covers them instead of a separate module per sensor family.

2-wire connection — and what it costs you in accuracy

Beckhoff specifies 2-wire connection for the EL3204. In 2-wire mode the resistance of the lead wire is added to the measured value. A Pt100 changes by roughly 0.385 Ω per °C, so a couple of ohms of cable and contact resistance can shift the reading by several degrees.

The practical response is to keep leads short and use a heavy gauge, or to choose a 3-wire input terminal where the run is long. That is a design decision to make before the cable is pulled, not a tuning problem to solve afterwards.

Conversion time, current and range

Conversion time is approximately 85 ms as the default setting, configurable from 2 to 800 ms. A longer conversion time means more filtering and less noise, which is usually the right trade for a temperature loop.

The measuring current is below 0.5 mA and is load-dependent — deliberately low, because the measuring current is itself a source of self-heating error in an RTD. The temperature range is -200 … +850 °C for the Pt sensors and -60 … +250 °C for the Ni sensors. Input filter cut-off frequency is typically 1 kHz.

Technical Specifications (Official Beckhoff Data)

Parameter	Official value
Number of inputs	4
Power supply	via the E-bus
Distributed clocks	–
Input filter cut-off frequency	typ. 1 kHz
Sensor type	Pt100, Pt200, Pt500, Pt1000, Ni100, Ni120, Ni1000, resistance measurement (e.g. potentiometer, 10 Ω…4 kΩ), KTY sensors (types see documentation)
Connection technology	2-wire
Conversion time	approx. 85 ms default setting, 2…800 ms configurable
Measuring current	< 0.5 mA (load-dependent)
Temperature range	-200…+850°C (Pt sensors); -60…+250°C (Ni sensors)
Resolution	0.1°C per digit
Measurement error/uncertainty	< ±0.5°C for Pt sensors
Electrical isolation	500 V (E-bus/signal voltage)
Current consumption E-bus	typ. 190 mA
Current consumption power contacts	–
Bit width in the process image	4 x 32 bit RTD input
Special features	integrated digital filter, limit value monitoring
Weight	approx. 60 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
Pluggable wiring level	for all ESxxxx terminals
Protect. rating/installation pos.	IP20/variable
Approvals/markings	CE, CCC, UL, ATEX, IECEx, 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 EL3204. The ES3204 variant is identical but with a pluggable wiring level.

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
EL3204	EtherCAT Terminal, 4-channel analog input, temperature, RTD (Pt100), 16 bit
ES3204	EtherCAT Terminal, 4-channel analog input, temperature, RTD (Pt100), 16 bit, 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 — EL3204 — the source of every specification on this page.
• Beckhoff official documentation for EL3204 — downloadable PDF from Beckhoff’s documentation server.
• Canonical Beckhoff documentation link for EL3204.

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

Which sensors can I connect to the EL3204?

Pt100, Pt200, Pt500, Pt1000, Ni100, Ni120, Ni1000, KTY sensors, and resistance measurement from 10 Ω to 4 kΩ (for example a potentiometer). The temperature range is -200 … +850 °C for Pt sensors and -60 … +250 °C for Ni sensors.

Does 2-wire connection affect accuracy?

Yes, and it is worth planning for. In 2-wire mode the lead resistance adds to the measured value; a Pt100 moves about 0.385 Ω per °C, so a few ohms of cable and contact resistance can mean several degrees of error. Keep leads short and heavy, or use a 3-wire input terminal for long runs.

What is the resolution and conversion time?

Resolution is 0.1 °C per digit. Conversion time is approximately 85 ms by default and configurable between 2 ms and 800 ms; longer times give more filtering.

Can it output resistance rather than temperature?

Yes. Beckhoff states that the measured resistance value can either be output directly in ohms or transformed into a temperature. That is useful for sensor diagnostics and for non-temperature resistance measurement.

What is the difference between EL3204 and ES3204?

Only the wiring level — the ES3204 has a pluggable wiring level. Both are listed in Beckhoff’s ordering information.