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SMC EX600 SI Units (Communication Modules)

SMC EX600 SI Units (Communication Modules)

The SI unit is the communication head of the EX600 manifold - one per system, and the single part that sets your network protocol. Pick your protocol and output polarity below, and the rest of the manifold stays the same.

9 Network Protocols PNP & NPN IP67 Manifold Up to 32 Valve Outputs Up to 9 I/O Units

An EX600 SI unit (serial interface unit) is the communication module that connects an EX600 valve manifold to your PLC's fieldbus or industrial Ethernet network. It performs the network communication and switches the solenoid valve outputs on and off. Every EX600 manifold uses exactly one SI unit, and it is the only protocol-specific part on the manifold - all I/O modules, end plates, and valve plates are shared across protocols. To change networks, you change the SI unit; nothing else on the manifold has to change.

A single SI unit drives up to 32 valve solenoid outputs and up to 9 add-on I/O units, for as many as 1024 total I/O points. Enclosure is IP67 in a complete manifold assembly; units carry CE marking and UL recognition.

How to Read an EX600 SI Unit Part Number

Every EX600 SI unit follows the same pattern. Read it left to right to know exactly what a unit is:

EX600-S EN 7
EX600-S = SI unit (wired) EN = protocol (EtherNet/IP) 7 = output / variant (PNP, IO-Link)

Protocol code (2nd block)

EN EtherNet/IP
PN PROFINET
EC EtherCAT
PR PROFIBUS-DP
DN DeviceNet
MJ CC-Link
CF CC-Link IE Field
PL POWERLINK
MT Modbus TCP

Output / variant code (3rd block)

1 PNP (-COM)
2 NPN (+COM)
3 / 4 PNP / NPN - dual port (EtherNet/IP) or Conformance Class C (PROFINET, EtherCAT)
7 / 8 PNP / NPN - EtherNet/IP with IO-Link master support
31 PNP - PROFINET with IO-Link and OPC UA server

Suffixes: A (PROFIBUS / DeviceNet), X60 (CC-Link IE Field), X26 (POWERLINK), X25 (Modbus TCP).

Example: EX600-SPN4 = SI unit, PROFINET (PN), NPN Conformance Class C (4). EX600-SDN1A = SI unit, DeviceNet (DN), PNP (1), DeviceNet suffix (A).

Shop SI Units by Protocol

Match the SI unit to your PLC network. Current-generation part numbers are listed first; PNP is the most common choice in North America.

Protocol Current SI Unit (PNP / NPN) Notes Shop
EtherNet/IP EX600-SEN7 / SEN8 Dual port, DLR ring, QuickConnect, IO-Link master support, web server SEN7 (PNP) / SEN8 (NPN)
PROFINET EX600-SPN3 / SPN4 Conformance Class C. SPN31 adds IO-Link + OPC UA server SPN3 (PNP)
EtherCAT EX600-SEC3 / SEC4 SEC1 / SEC2 also available SEC1 (PNP) / SEC2 (NPN)
PROFIBUS-DP EX600-SPR1A / SPR2A Legacy fieldbus, still widely installed Shop PROFIBUS
DeviceNet EX600-SDN1A / SDN2A Allen-Bradley legacy networks SDN1A (PNP)
CC-Link EX600-SMJ1 / SMJ2 Mitsubishi CC-Link Shop CC-Link
CC-Link IE Field EX600-SCF#-X60 Gigabit Mitsubishi network Shop CC-Link IE
POWERLINK EX600-SPL#-X26 B&R POWERLINK systems Shop POWERLINK
Modbus TCP EX600-SMT#-X25 Open Modbus TCP/IP Shop Modbus TCP

PNP or NPN - Which Output Do I Need?

PNP (-COM) - codes 1, 3, 7

Sourcing output (switches the positive supply). The most common configuration in North American and European installations. Choose PNP unless your existing controls are NPN.

NPN (+COM) - codes 2, 4, 8

Sinking output (switches the ground/common). Common in Asian-spec machinery and legacy NPN control systems. The output type must match your solenoid valve wiring.

Upgrading an older EtherNet/IP SI unit?

The current EX600-SEN7 (PNP) / SEN8 (NPN) replace the prior EX600-SEN1/SEN2 (single port) and EX600-SEN3/SEN4 (dual port). The SEN7/8 add dual Ethernet ports, DLR ring redundancy, QuickConnect (~0.5s startup vs ~10s), a built-in web server, IO-Link master module support, and EtherNet/IP Conformance Composite 18 (vs. 11 on the SEN1).

It is a drop-in swap - same mounting, unit connector, end plates, valve plates, and I/O modules. Remove the old SI unit, snap in the new one, load the new EDS file. One check before you order: the SEN7/8 carry a 1.0W-per-solenoid load rating vs. 1.5W on the SEN1, so confirm your valves draw 1.0W or less.

Need IO-Link master support?

IO-Link master modules require a newer SI unit: SEN7/8, SPN3/4, SEC3/4, or SEN3-X80. Pair them with EX600-LAB1 / LBB1 masters.

Shop IO-Link Masters

Wireless SI unit (EX600-W)

The EX600-WEN1 wireless master runs EtherNet/IP over a 2.4 GHz link, eliminating I/O cabling between base and remote units.

Shop Wireless Units

Functional safety?

For safety-rated outputs, the EX600 CIP Safety unit runs CIP Safety over EtherNet/IP to IEC 61508/62061 and ISO 13849-1.

Shop CIP Safety

EX600 SI Unit Resources

EX600 Series Catalog (PDF)  |  EDS / GSD Configuration Files  - network description files for setting up the SI unit in your PLC programming environment.

EX600 SI Unit FAQs

What is an EX600 SI unit?

An EX600 SI (serial interface) unit is the communication module that connects an EX600 valve manifold to a PLC fieldbus or industrial Ethernet network. It handles network communication and switches the valve outputs. Each manifold uses one SI unit, and it is the only protocol-specific part - all other modules are shared across protocols.

How do I read an EX600 SI unit part number?

The format is EX600-S followed by a two-letter protocol code and an output/variant number. For example, EX600-SEN7 is a wired SI unit (S), EtherNet/IP (EN), PNP with IO-Link support (7). Protocol codes: EN EtherNet/IP, PN PROFINET, EC EtherCAT, PR PROFIBUS-DP, DN DeviceNet, MJ CC-Link, CF CC-Link IE Field, PL POWERLINK, MT Modbus TCP. Output codes: 1 PNP, 2 NPN.

Which EX600 SI unit do I need for EtherNet/IP?

The current-generation units are the EX600-SEN7 (PNP) and EX600-SEN8 (NPN). They provide dual Ethernet ports, DLR ring topology, QuickConnect, a built-in web server, and IO-Link master support. They replace the older EX600-SEN1 through SEN4.

What is the difference between PNP and NPN SI units?

PNP (-COM) units source the output by switching the positive supply and are the most common choice in North America and Europe. NPN (+COM) units sink the output by switching the common, and are typical of Asian-spec and legacy NPN machinery. The SI unit output type must match your solenoid valve wiring.

Can I upgrade an EX600-SEN1 to a SEN7?

Yes. The SEN7 is a drop-in replacement using the same mounting, unit connector, end plates, valve plates, and I/O modules. Remove the SEN1, snap in the SEN7, and load the new EDS file - no rewiring. Confirm your solenoid valves draw 1.0W or less, since the SEN7 has a 1.0W per-solenoid rating versus 1.5W on the SEN1.

How many I/O units and valves can one SI unit support?

One EX600 SI unit drives up to 32 valve solenoid outputs and up to 9 add-on I/O units, for as many as 1024 total I/O points (512 inputs / 512 outputs).

Not Sure Which SI Unit to Order?

Automation Distribution carries EX600 SI units across all nine protocols in both PNP and NPN, plus every I/O module, end plate, and valve plate to complete the manifold. Give us your PLC network and valve series, or an existing part number, and our application engineers will confirm the exact SI unit and configuration.

Contact Application Engineering