EtherCAT Technology Group publishes official EtherCAT P specification documents
February 2017
News
As announced at the Hannover Messe 2016, the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) has published a first draft of the official EtherCAT P technology specification, together with the extension of all corresponding documents on its website. Additionally, there has been finalised an application note as a guideline for the implementation of EtherCAT P slaves.
EtherCAT P is a groundbreaking new industrial Ethernet technology that combines EtherCAT communication and power lines into one standard 4-wire Ethernet cable. Soon after the introduction of EtherCAT P by Beckhoff Automation, 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.
In order to help developers of EtherCAT P devices successfully kick-start implementation, Beckhoff has published an EtherCAT P application note, providing a guideline for designing EtherCAT P slaves. 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. In addition, 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.
When the ETG accepted EtherCAT P as an addition to the EtherCAT standard, the first large users signalled high interest in the technology extension. With the publication of the specification documents and the corresponding application note, EtherCAT P can now be included in the development and implementation of a wide range of new products.
For more information contact EtherCAT Technology Group, +49 911 540 56 226, press@ethercat.org, www.ethercat.org
Further reading:
RX Africa and Messe Muenchen India join forces to strengthen business platforms in Africa
RX Africa
News
Messe Muenchen India has announced a strategic partnership with RX Africa to strengthen the scale, reach and market impact of its premier co-located trade fairs, analytica Lab Africa and IFAT Africa, ahead of their 2027 editions.
Read more...
John Thompson secures order for bagasse-fired boiler
News
John Thompson, a division of ACTOM, has secured an order for a 320 t/h bagasse-fired boiler for what is set to become the world’s largest greenfield sugar mill development in Indonesia.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Consistently not stupid
Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
Over the years I’ve followed Charlie Munger. He’s considered to be one of the greatest investors and thinkers on decision making in the past century, and spent six decades as Warren Buffett’s business
...
Read more...
South Africa’s space balls
Editor's Choice News
South African engineers are preparing to take low-frequency radio astronomy to the Moon with three locally developed B.A.L.L.S. spheres aboard China’s Chang’e-8 mission. This could pave the way for a 55-antenna lunar array and marks another step in the country’s growing space engineering capability.
Read more...
RS South Africa announces 2026 Student Project Fund winners
RS South Africa
News
RS South Africa has awarded 13 engineering students with R10?000 worth of products each through its 2026 Student Project Fund, supporting projects spanning renewable energy, robotics, warehouse automation and STEM education.
Read more...
Certified gas meter module
News
Sensirion’s next-generation SGM5304 gas meter module has completed certification to the harmonised EN 17526 standard, simplifying MID approval and speeding customers’ route to market.
Read more...
Trafo Power Solutions expands market share
News
Trafo Power Solutions is expanding its market share in mining, industrial, infrastructure, data centre and renewable energy applications through technical expertise, application-specific engineering and responsive customer support.
Read more...
Engineering solutions to keep coal power plants viable in a renewables-driven grid
News
Steinmüller Africa showcased engineering solutions at Enlit Africa 2026 that let existing coal-fired power stations run efficiently at much lower loads, helping the grid absorb a growing share of variable renewable energy.
Read more...
Trafo Power Solutions returns to Electra Mining Africa
News
Trafo Power Solutions returns to Electra Mining Africa 2026 with a portfolio that has expanded well beyond dry-type transformers into fully engineered electrical power solutions for mining, industrial and infrastructure operations across Africa.
Read more...
SAIMC INSPIRE conference extends abstract submission deadline
SAIMC
SAIMC News
Following requests from our sponsors, the SAIMC INSPIRE conference has officially extended the abstract submission deadline to 28 August 2026.
Read more...
printer friendly version