EtherCAT specification document released

The EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) has published a first draft of the official EtherCAT P technology specification with the extension of all corresponding documents on its website.

By EtherCAT Technology Group December 3, 2016

The EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) has published a first draft of the official EtherCAT P technology specification with the extension of all corresponding documents on its website. Additionally, an application note has been finalized as a guideline to implement EtherCAT P slaves.

EtherCAT P is an industrial Ethernet technology that combines EtherCAT communication and power lines into one standard 4-wire Ethernet cable. Soon after the introduction of EtherCAT P, this technology extension to EtherCAT was included in the work of the EtherCAT Technology Group. Ever since, the ETG has been developing an official specification document and the first draft has now been published. The document, "ETG.1030 EtherCAT P Specification" defines the basics of EtherCAT P as an extension of the physical layer of the EtherCAT technology. As such, all other EtherCAT standard documents in which EtherCAT P will be integrated have also been extended.

An EtherCAT P application note, which provides a guideline for designing EtherCAT P slaves, has also been published. This application note includes the according extension of the EtherCAT implementation including the associated connectors, electrical specifications as well as recommendations for EMC-compliant design. The application note highlights the different design requirements, especially with regard to the usage and connection of supply voltages, and describes calculations on the basis of existing currents and voltages in the network.

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– Edited from an EtherCAT Technology Group press release by CFE Media. See more Control Engineering Ethernet stories.


Author Bio: EtherCAT Technology Group