What Is SCADA? Supervisory Control Without Replacing the PLC
SCADA sits above PLCs and RTUs: it acquires field data, alarms operators, and issues supervisory commands across plants and remote assets—without replacing local deterministic control.

Executing high-precision force and weight measurements within hazardous areas is directly enabled by the Beckhoff ELX3351 EtherCAT Terminal. This intrinsically safe (Ex i) input module is designed for the direct connection of strain gauges and resistor measuring bridges in full-bridge configurations. Featuring high-resolution 24-bit analog-to-digital conversion, it guarantees precise signal acquisition even under demanding industrial conditions. The module integrates self-calibration mechanisms and dynamic filters to compensate for thermal drift and high-frequency mechanical vibration, making it a reliable choice for hazardous-area weighing, load cell monitoring, and process vessels.
| Parameter | Specification Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Beckhoff |
| Model Number | ELX3351 |
| Number of Inputs | 1 (Full bridge configuration) |
| Nominal Bridge Resistance | 300 Ohm to 1.5 kOhm |
| Measuring Range UD | Max. -18 to +18 mV |
| Measuring Range UREF | Max. -12 to +12 V |
| Resolution | 24 bit (32 bit internal representation) |
| Conversion Time | Typ. 1.6 ms |
| Internal Resistance | > 25 kOhm (UR, differential), > 1 MOhm (UD, differential) |
| Measuring Error | < +/-0.5% of full-scale value (with active self-calibration) |
| Current Consumption E-bus | Typ. 85 mA |
| Ex Markings (ATEX) | II 3(1)G Ex ec [ia Ga] IIC T4 Gc, II (1)D [Ex ia Da] IIIC, I (M1) [Ex ia Ma] I |
| Ex Markings (IECEx) | Ex ec [ia Ga] IIC T4 Gc, [Ex ia Da] IIIC, [Ex ia Ma] I |
| Operating Temperature | -25 to +60 degC |
| Storage Temperature | -40 to +85 degC |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 12 mm x 100 mm x 68 mm |
| Product Weight | Approx. 60 g |
| Shipping Weight (Calculated) | 2.0 kg (including protective industrial packaging) |
Unlike the standard EL3351 terminal designed for non-hazardous zones, the ELX3351 is built strictly for Ex i intrinsically safe loops. Standard EL series terminals and ELX series terminals cannot be mixed on the same power segment without proper physical isolation. You must use an ELX9560 or ELX9410 power feed terminal to isolate the intrinsically safe power contacts from the standard EtherCAT terminal block segment to maintain Ex certification validity.
When deploying the ELX3351 in high-vibration applications such as mixing vessels or chemical reactors, utilize the built-in dynamic low-pass filters instead of basic averaging. If the self-calibration feature is active, minor fluctuations in loop cycle times may occur during calibration intervals (typically every few minutes). Ensure your TwinCAT control loops allow for these brief, microsecond-level calculation variances, or schedule calibrations during known process idle states.
To minimize measurement noise over long cable runs to the strain gauge, utilize shielded twisted-pair cables with the shield connected to the terminal housing's functional ground. Ensure safe separation distances of at least 50 mm between the intrinsically safe wiring connected to the ELX3351 and any non-intrinsically safe cabling in the control panel to comply with IEC 60079-14 standards.
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| Country of origin |
Germany
|