Predictika · EtherCAT I/O station orders

An AI sales agent's EtherCAT I/O station, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares an order for an EtherCAT terminal station: an EK1100 coupler, digital and analog I/O terminals, optional EL9410 E-bus refresh terminals, the end cover and the rail length. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the figures on the public Beckhoff product pages and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: EK1100 coupler stations with EL1008, EL2008, EL3004 and EL4004 terminals, EL9410 E-bus refresh and the EL9011 end cover: E-bus current, power-contact current, output load, end cover and rail length. See everything this validator covers

This validator models orders for EtherCAT terminal stations built from the six Beckhoff parts below, not just the scenarios shown.

  • E-bus current — the EK1100 supplies 2000 mA to the E-bus, and each EL9410 refresh terminal supplies another 2 A (2000 mA). The terminals draw typically 90 mA (EL1008, 8 digital inputs), 110 mA (EL2008, 8 digital outputs), 130 mA (EL3004, 4 analog inputs) and 140 mA (EL4004, 4 analog outputs); the total draw is compared with the total supply.
  • Power contacts and outputs — the power contacts are rated at most 24 V DC and 10 A; the terminals add their own contact current (typically 2 mA for an EL1008, 15 mA for an EL2008, 40 mA for an EL4004) to the output load. Each EL2008 channel is rated 0.5 A, so 4 A per terminal.
  • Station size — every station must end with an EL9011 end cover (5 mm). The width is the EK1100 (44 mm), 12 mm for every terminal and refresh terminal, and the end cover; it is compared with the rail length. Stated E-bus current and stated width are compared with the model.

Any EK1100 station order that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (no public price list was found, so this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), other couplers and terminals, EtherCAT topology beyond the station, where each refresh terminal sits along the station, and the 24 V supply current of the coupler. Assumptions: the E-bus supply is compared in total, as if the terminals are placed so that each segment stays within its supply; the current figures are the typical (typ.) values on the product pages.

The AI sales agentBuilds the station order from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
A total current draw that must stay within a supply that grows with refresh terminalsOnly with care
Each terminal carries its own current figure, and the supply depends on how many refresh terminals are on the order, so the totals have to be rebuilt as the order changes.		The terminals and refresh terminals are in one request, and the draw is compared with the supply on every call.
Power-contact current made of fixed contact currents plus an external loadOnly with care
A sum over terminal types has to be kept in step with the load figure typed elsewhere on the order.		The counts and the load are in one request and the sum is checked together.
A stated E-bus current or width that disagrees with the terminals orderedOnly with workarounds
The figure the agent states is a free-entry field, so it takes an extra rule that recomputes it from the part counts.		The stated figures travel with the order and are compared with the computed figures on every call.
A refresh terminal the order does not needOnly with workarounds
Usually no rule exists; a rule has to decide whether a surplus part is an error, a warning or a question for a person.		The order is sent to approval with a plain-English reason.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the order is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The terminals draw 2,010 mA from the E-bus; the EK1100 coupler and the EL9410 refresh terminals supply 2,000 mA.
2The terminals draw 4,010 mA from the E-bus; the EK1100 coupler and the EL9410 refresh terminals supply 4,000 mA.
3An EL9410 E-bus refresh terminal is ordered, but the terminals draw only 1,960 mA and the EK1100 supplies 2,000 mA; a person should confirm it is needed.
4The power contacts would carry 10,001 mA; they are rated for at most 10 A (10,000 mA) at 24 V DC.
5The output load of 8,001 mA is above 8,000 mA, which is 0.5 A on each of the 8 channels of every EL2008 ordered.
6The output load of 100 mA is above 0 mA, which is 0.5 A on each of the 8 channels of every EL2008 ordered.
7The station has no EL9011 end cover; each bus station must be terminated on the right-hand side with an end cap.
8The station is 265 mm wide; the rail is 264 mm long.
9The station has 0 I/O terminals; at least 1 is needed.
10An EL9410 E-bus refresh terminal is ordered, but the terminals draw only 0 mA and the EK1100 supplies 2,000 mA; a person should confirm it is needed.
11The quote states 1,500 mA of E-bus current; the terminals ordered draw 1,960 mA.
12The quote states 2,100 mA of E-bus current; the terminals ordered draw 1,960 mA.
13The quote states a width of 240 mm; the coupler, terminals, refresh terminals and end cover make 265 mm.
14The quote states a width of 300 mm; the coupler, terminals, refresh terminals and end cover make 265 mm.
15The station is 277 mm wide; the rail is 200 mm long.
16The quote states a width of 100 mm; the coupler, terminals, refresh terminals and end cover make 277 mm.
17The terminals draw 2,930 mA from the E-bus; the EK1100 coupler and the EL9410 refresh terminals supply 2,000 mA.
18The power contacts would carry 14,045 mA; they are rated for at most 10 A (10,000 mA) at 24 V DC.
19The output load of 14,000 mA is above 12,000 mA, which is 0.5 A on each of the 8 channels of every EL2008 ordered.
20The station is 325 mm wide; the rail is 100 mm long.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. A 36-terminal station: A 36-terminal station with no end cover and more E-bus current than the coupler supplies

    
The agent's request. Please quote an EtherCAT station on an EK1100 coupler with 16 EL1008 digital input terminals, 8 EL2008 digital output terminals, 8 EL3004 analog input terminals, 4 EL4004 analog output terminals, without an end cover, on a 700 mm rail, with an output load of 9,000 mA on the 24 V power contacts. The quote states an E-bus current of 3,920 mA and a station width of 481 mm. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • E-bus current above what is supplied. The terminals draw 3,920 mA from the E-bus; the EK1100 coupler and the EL9410 refresh terminals supply 2,000 mA.
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  • End cover missing. The station has no EL9011 end cover; each bus station must be terminated on the right-hand side with an end cap.
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2. A 36-terminal station: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote an EtherCAT station on an EK1100 coupler with 16 EL1008 digital input terminals, 8 EL2008 digital output terminals, 8 EL3004 analog input terminals, 4 EL4004 analog output terminals, 1 EL9410 E-bus refresh terminal, with an EL9011 end cover, on a 700 mm rail, with an output load of 9,000 mA on the 24 V power contacts. The quote states an E-bus current of 3,920 mA and a station width of 493 mm. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Station summary. EK1100 coupler with 36 I/O terminals and 1 EL9410 refresh terminal; 493 mm wide; E-bus draw 3920 of 4,000 mA; power contacts 9,312 mA.
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3. Output load and stated current: A station with an output load above the power-contact rating and a wrong stated E-bus current

    
The agent's request. Please quote an EtherCAT station on an EK1100 coupler with 8 EL1008 digital input terminals, 4 EL2008 digital output terminals, 4 EL3004 analog input terminals, 2 EL4004 analog output terminals, with an EL9011 end cover, on a 700 mm rail, with an output load of 11,000 mA on the 24 V power contacts. The quote states an E-bus current of 1,500 mA and a station width of 265 mm. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Power-contact current above 10 A. The power contacts would carry 11,156 mA; they are rated for at most 10 A (10,000 mA) at 24 V DC.
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  • Stated E-bus current does not match. The quote states 1,500 mA of E-bus current; the terminals ordered draw 1,960 mA.
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4. Output load and stated current: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote an EtherCAT station on an EK1100 coupler with 8 EL1008 digital input terminals, 4 EL2008 digital output terminals, 4 EL3004 analog input terminals, 2 EL4004 analog output terminals, with an EL9011 end cover, on a 700 mm rail, with an output load of 9,000 mA on the 24 V power contacts. The quote states an E-bus current of 1,960 mA and a station width of 265 mm. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Station summary. EK1100 coupler with 18 I/O terminals and 0 EL9410 refresh terminals; 265 mm wide; E-bus draw 1960 of 2,000 mA; power contacts 9,156 mA.
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5. A rail that is too short: An input station with an EL9410 refresh terminal on a rail that is too short

    
The agent's request. Please quote an EtherCAT station on an EK1100 coupler with 12 EL1008 digital input terminals, 6 EL3004 analog input terminals, 1 EL9410 E-bus refresh terminal, with an EL9011 end cover, on a 250 mm rail. The quote states an E-bus current of 1,860 mA and a station width of 277 mm. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Station wider than the rail. The station is 277 mm wide; the rail is 250 mm long.
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  • E-bus refresh terminal may not be needed. An EL9410 E-bus refresh terminal is ordered, but the terminals draw only 1,860 mA and the EK1100 supplies 2,000 mA; a person should confirm it is needed.
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6. A rail that is too short: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote an EtherCAT station on an EK1100 coupler with 12 EL1008 digital input terminals, 6 EL3004 analog input terminals, 1 EL9410 E-bus refresh terminal, with an EL9011 end cover, on a 300 mm rail. The quote states an E-bus current of 1,860 mA and a station width of 277 mm. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • E-bus refresh terminal may not be needed. An EL9410 E-bus refresh terminal is ordered, but the terminals draw only 1,860 mA and the EK1100 supplies 2,000 mA; a person should confirm it is needed.
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  • Station summary. EK1100 coupler with 18 I/O terminals and 1 EL9410 refresh terminal; 277 mm wide; E-bus draw 1860 of 4,000 mA; power contacts 24 mA.
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7. A rail that is too short: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote an EtherCAT station on an EK1100 coupler with 12 EL1008 digital input terminals, 6 EL3004 analog input terminals, with an EL9011 end cover, on a 300 mm rail. The quote states an E-bus current of 1,860 mA and a station width of 265 mm. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Station summary. EK1100 coupler with 18 I/O terminals and 0 EL9410 refresh terminals; 265 mm wide; E-bus draw 1860 of 2,000 mA; power contacts 24 mA.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares an order for an EtherCAT terminal station: an EK1100 coupler, digital and analog I/O terminals, optional EL9410 E-bus refresh terminals, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the figures on the public Beckhoff product pages and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
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  3. The agent says. Please quote an EtherCAT station on an EK1100 coupler with 16 EL1008 digital input terminals, 8 EL2008 digital output terminals. The quote states an E-bus current of 3,920 mA and a station width of 481 mm. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with two findings, all in one answer. The terminals draw 3,920 mA from the E-bus; the EK1100 coupler and the EL9410 refresh terminals supply 2,000 mA. The station has no EL9011 end cover; each bus station must be terminated on the right-hand side with an end cap.
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  6. The validator returned two blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
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  7. What this shows: for a stated E-bus current or width that disagrees with the terminals ordered, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the EL9410 refresh terminals to 1, the EL9011 end cover to yes and the stated station width as to 493 mm.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. This time the validator clears it.
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  12. Both earlier findings are cleared.
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  13. Two problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer.
    14.