EQSP32CE-X – Industrial IoT ESP32 PLC with Ethernet and External Antenna

Description

EQSP32CE-X is a next-generation, industrial-grade ESP32-S3 PLC built around a 240 MHz dual-core ESP32-S3 SoC with 512 kB RAM and 8 MB Flash, combining high I/O density, wired and wireless connectivity, and flexible software-defined functionality for Industrial IoT applications. It shares the complete feature set of the EQSP32CE, with an external SMA antenna for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® Low Energy instead of the internal PCB antenna.

This provides greater antenna exposure and additional positioning flexibility, while retaining integrated 10/100 Ethernet as a reliable wired network interface. Where installation conditions require it, the antenna may also be relocated using a suitable RF extension cable, for example to improve positioning in metal or shielded enclosures.

This controller features 16 EQVersal® I/O terminals with software-defined operating modes. All 16 terminals support protected digital input, configurable switch input with debounce, and 1 A solid-state PWM output, including Smart Coil Drive with automatic pickup-to-hold power derating for relays, contactors and solenoids. Pins 1 to 8 additionally support 0–10 V analog input (AIN), 0–20 mA / 4–20 mA current-loop input (CIN), relative analog input (RAIN) and thermistor-based temperature sensing (TIN). Pins 9 to 16 add high-speed digital output up to 1 MHz and hardware pulse counting for applications such as encoders, flow meters and pulse-train signals. Up to four hardware pulse counters may operate simultaneously, with input frequencies up to 500 kHz.

Wired networking is handled by an integrated 10/100 Ethernet interface on a standard RJ45 connector, with DHCP enabled by default and static IP configuration available from the EQSP32 library or the EQConnect app. The internal network manager continuously monitors both interfaces and gives priority to Ethernet, falling back to Wi-Fi automatically if the cable is disconnected. Where a fixed topology is required, automatic switching can be disabled so that both interfaces stay active simultaneously — for example running Modbus TCP over the wired network while the external-antenna Wi-Fi link carries the internet connection.

Industrial communication is seamless with native RS232, RS485 (half-duplex) and CAN 2.0B interfaces. Together with Ethernet connectivity, these interfaces support widely used protocols including Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP, DMX512, CANopen and SAE J1939, as well as custom serial, network and CAN implementations. This makes EQSP32CE-X well suited for integration into a wide variety of industrial control, monitoring and automation systems.

Its modular EQXpansion system further increases platform flexibility with support for specialized add-on modules including digital I/O expansion (EQXIO), analog input expansion (EQXAI), isolated high-voltage AC/DC input monitoring (EQXHI), relay and analog output expansion (EQXRA), PT100 RTD sensing (EQXPT), thermocouple measurement (EQXTC), 2G connectivity (EQX2G-X) and pH monitoring (EQXPH). Up to 15 modules may be stacked on a single controller for a total of up to 166 I/Os, handled through an internal automatic addressing and characterization architecture, making it easier to scale installations and simplify device mapping. For operator-facing installations, EQSP32CE-X can interface with standard industrial HMIs over Modbus RTU or Modbus TCP, including Erqos 4.3″ HMI and 7″ HMI with resistive resistive-touch HMIs.

The EQSP32 platform was built from the ground up for connected automation: MQTT, HTTP/REST, TCP/UDP, NTP time synchronization, OTA updates and remote diagnostics are native rather than bolt-ons. The built-in MQTT integration features a predefined topic structure, making EQSP32CE-X easily compatible with custom MQTT applications, Node-RED workflows and other MQTT-based systems, and it enables automatic discovery in Home Assistant with no manual entity configuration required. With the EQConnect mobile app, users can provision Wi-Fi credentials over BLE, configure timezone and daylight saving, set MQTT and OTA credentials, and monitor I/O states and modes in real time — digital and analog — standing right next to the panel.

EQSP32CE-X may be programmed via the front-facing USB-C programming port using Arduino IDE and Visual Studio Code, and it is also a supported OpenPLC target, so the same hardware can be programmed in Ladder Diagram, Structured Text or Function Block Diagram with the free, open-source OpenPLC editor and runtime. Enhanced by the intelligent EQ-AI assistant, developers can auto-generate setup code from wiring diagrams or plain-English descriptions, optimize performance, and debug logical or functional issues. With native Hardware-in-the-Loop support, an AI agent can write, compile and flash an entire application and then validate its own work on the real EQSP32, unattended.

EQSP32CE-X offers the power and flexibility of an embedded controller with the convenience and reliability of an industrial-grade PLC, making it an excellent choice for smart automation, connected industrial control, wired plant integration and Industrial IoT applications.

View datasheet.

Key Benefits of EQSP32 with Ethernet and External Antenna (EQSP32CE-X)

• External SMA antenna for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® Low Energy, providing greater antenna exposure and flexible antenna positioning
• Integrated 10/100 Ethernet (RJ45) with DHCP or static IP configuration
• Automatic Ethernet/Wi-Fi failover with Ethernet priority, or simultaneous dual-interface operation
• 16 software-configurable EQVersal® I/O for flexible digital, analog, PWM, high-speed and specialized I/O operation
• 8 analog-capable inputs supporting 0–10 V voltage input (AIN), 0–20 mA / 4–20 mA current-loop input (CIN), relative analog input (RAIN) and thermistor temperature input (TIN)
• 16 protected digital inputs and 1 A solid-state PWM outputs, with configurable switch-input debounce
• Smart Coil Drive with automatic pickup-to-hold power derating for relays, contactors and solenoids
• High-speed digital outputs up to 1 MHz on pins 9–16
• Up to 4 hardware pulse counters, supporting input frequencies up to 500 kHz for encoders, flow meters and other pulse sources
• Integrated RS232, RS485 (half-duplex) and CAN 2.0B interfaces
• Compatible with industrial protocols including Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP, DMX512, CANopen and SAE J1939, as well as custom communication implementations
• Modular EQXpansion system with automatic addressing and device recognition
• Compatible with EQXIO, EQXAI, EQXHI, EQXRA, EQXPT, EQXTC, EQX2G-X and EQXPH expansion modules
• Up to 15 expansion modules and 166 I/Os on a single controller
• Compatible with the 3″ and 7″ resistive HMI displays and other standard industrial HMIs over Modbus RTU / Modbus TCP
• Built-in MQTT integration with predefined topic structures for custom MQTT applications, Node-RED workflows, cloud/IIoT platforms and other MQTT-based systems
• Home Assistant automatic discovery over MQTT
• HTTP/REST and TCP/UDP communication, NTP time synchronization, OTA firmware updates and remote diagnostics
• EQConnect mobile app for BLE-based Wi-Fi provisioning, network and MQTT configuration, timezone setup and real-time I/O monitoring
• EQ-AI assistant for code generation, optimization, and debugging support
• Native Hardware-in-the-Loop support for AI-driven application compilation, flashing and validation on real hardware
• OpenPLC target support for Ladder Diagram, Structured Text and Function Block Diagram programming
• Arduino-compatible C/C++ development using Arduino IDE or Visual Studio Code
• DIN-rail mountable with screw terminals for easy installation and integration
• 240 MHz dual-core ESP32-S3, with 512 kB RAM and 8 MB Flash
• Front-facing USB-C programming and monitoring interface
• CE certified and RoHS compliant

Technical Specifications of EQSP32 with Ethernet and External Antenna (EQSP32CE-X)

EQSP32CE-X Functional Block diagram

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