Beckhoff EL47 Series Documentation Download

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Appendix

EL47xx

161

Version: 2.7

• In addition, each EtherCAT slave has a memory chip, a so-called

ESI-EEPROM

, for storing its own

device description (ESI: EtherCAT Slave Information). On power-up this description is loaded and the
EtherCAT communication is set up accordingly. The device description is available from the download
area of the Beckhoff website at (

https://www.beckhoff.de

). All ESI files are accessible there as zip files.

Customers can access the data via the EtherCAT fieldbus and its communication mechanisms. Acyclic
mailbox communication or register access to the ESC is used for updating or reading of these data.

The TwinCAT System Manager offers mechanisms for programming all 3 parts with new data, if the slave is
set up for this purpose. Generally the slave does not check whether the new data are suitable, i.e. it may no
longer be able to operate if the data are unsuitable.

Simplified update by bundle firmware

The update using so-called

bundle firmware

is more convenient: in this case the controller firmware and the

ESI description are combined in a *.efw file; during the update both the firmware and the ESI are changed in
the terminal. For this to happen it is necessary

• for the firmware to be in a packed format: recognizable by the file name, which also contains the

revision number, e.g. ELxxxx-xxxx_REV0016_SW01.efw

• for password=1 to be entered in the download dialog. If password=0 (default setting) only the firmware

update is carried out, without an ESI update.

• for the device to support this function. The function usually cannot be retrofitted; it is a component of

many new developments from year of manufacture 2016.

Following the update, its success should be verified

• ESI/Revision: e.g. by means of an online scan in TwinCAT ConfigMode/FreeRun – this is a convenient

way to determine the revision

• Firmware: e.g. by looking in the online CoE of the device

NOTE

Risk of damage to the device!

Note the following when downloading new device files

• Firmware downloads to an EtherCAT device must not be interrupted
• Flawless EtherCAT communication must be ensured. CRC errors or LostFrames must be avoided.
• The power supply must adequately dimensioned. The signal level must meet the specification.

In the event of malfunctions during the update process the EtherCAT device may become unusable and re-
quire re-commissioning by the manufacturer.

6.4.1

Device description ESI file/XML

NOTE

Attention regarding update of the ESI description/EEPROM

Some slaves have stored calibration and configuration data from the production in the EEPROM. These are
irretrievably overwritten during an update.

The ESI device description is stored locally on the slave and loaded on start-up. Each device description has
a unique identifier consisting of slave name (9 characters/digits) and a revision number (4 digits). Each slave
configured in the System Manager shows its identifier in the EtherCAT tab: