Description
The Siemens 6ES5318-8MB13, designated as the IM318-B Connection Module, is a specialized PROFIBUS DP slave interface designed to connect ET 200U distributed I/O racks to a PROFIBUS DP network. Unlike interface modules that reside in the S5 central controller rack, the Siemens 6ES5318-8MB13 installs directly in the ET 200U expansion rack, transforming it into a DP slave station capable of communicating with a PROFIBUS DP master—whether that master is an S5 CPU with an IM 308-C, an S7 CPU, or any other PROFIBUS-compatible controller.
The Siemens 6ES5318-8MB13 is the evolution of the IM318-B series, with the “8MB13” variant representing the PROFIBUS DP “Connection” configuration that supersedes the earlier 8MB11 (SINEC L2-DP/TF) and is functionally equivalent to the 8MB12 base DP slave variant. As a spare part now discontinued by Siemens with an end-of-life date of October 1, 2022, the Siemens 6ES5318-8MB13 has become a critical lifeline for facilities operating legacy distributed I/O infrastructure.
Application Scenarios
Imagine a large automotive assembly plant where hundreds of sensors and actuators are distributed across a sprawling production floor. In the 1990s, the system was built using Siemens ET 200U distributed I/O racks connected via SINEC L2 cabling to S5-135U controllers. Today, the plant has migrated to S7-400 CPUs but cannot afford the downtime and expense of replacing all the field I/O. The Siemens 6ES5318-8MB13 provides the solution: installed in each ET 200U rack, it presents the legacy I/O as a standard PROFIBUS DP slave to the new S7 master, preserving the field wiring and I/O modules while enabling modern control.
In a typical configuration scenario, an engineer using COM PROFIBUS V5.1 configures the Siemens 6ES5318-8MB13 as a DP slave with a specific station address and maps the ET 200U’s I/O modules (e.g., an 8DI followed by an 8DQ card) to PROFIBUS data bytes. A critical troubleshooting note: the older 6ES5 318-8MB11 cannot be used in standard PROFIBUS DP networks; the Siemens 6ES5318-8MB13 is the required upgrade for DP compatibility, addressing the pain point of obsolete network protocols that no longer interoperate with modern controllers.
Parameters
| Main Parameters | Value / Description |
|---|---|
| Product Model | Siemens 6ES5318-8MB13 (also 6ES5 318-8MB13, IM318-B) |
| Manufacturer | Siemens AG |
| Product Category | IM318-B Interface Module – PROFIBUS DP Slave Connection |
| Module Role | DP Slave – connects ET 200U rack to PROFIBUS DP network |
| Installation Location | ET 200U distributed I/O rack (NOT S5 central/expansion rack) |
| PROFIBUS Data Rate | Up to 12 Mbps – standard DP speed tiers supported |
| Protocol Support | PROFIBUS DP (DP-V0 level for S5 era) |
| Network Compatibility | Standard PROFIBUS DP – requires 8MB12 or 8MB13 (not 8MB11 SINEC L2) |
| Configuration Tool | COM PROFIBUS V5.1 or higher (SP2+Hotfix 2 recommended) |
| Status Indication | LED indicators for bus fault and module status |
| Product Lifecycle | Discontinued – End of Life since 01/10/22 (Spare Part only) |
| RoHS Compliance | Not RoHS-compliant |
| Net Weight | 0.358 kg |
| Packaging Dimensions | 13.40 x 18.20 x 5.80 cm |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
