External Estop VS General Stop

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Hi John,

The main difference between the two types of stops is that the Emergency Stop requires a reset signal (via motor-on PB or "Reset Emergency Stop" system input) once the circuit is closed.  The General Stop does not require a reset signal.  Either type of stop can be configured as Category 0 or Category 1.  I usually connect the cell or system e-stop to the robot general stop.  But also tie the e-stop relay outputs from the robot controller to the cell/system main e-stop circuit.  This ensures that the robot internal e-stop circuit will stop the entire cell.

The integrator is responsible for ensuring that the safety devices necessary to protect people working with the robot system are designed and installed correctly.
When integrating the robot with external devices to a robot system:
• The integrator of the robot system must ensure that emergency stop functions are interlocked in accordance with applicable standards.
• The integrator of the robot system must ensure that safety functions are interlocked in accordance with applicable standards.

Hi Aaron, thanks for the clarification. We will put our Estop on the External Estop because I want the same action that the Estop on the controller.

Good distinction to explore—External Emergency Stop (E-Stop) and General Stop are both safety-related, but they serve different purposes and operate under different levels of urgency.

• External E-Stop: This is a safety-critical function designed to immediately and completely shut down a machine or process in case of an emergency. It typically cuts power to actuators and motors directly, bypassing normal control logic. E-Stops are hardwired, highly visible (usually red with a yellow background), and compliant with safety standards like ISO 13850 or IEC 60204-1.

• General Stop: This is more of a controlled stop, usually triggered via software or an HMI interface. It allows the system to gracefully halt operations using standard shutdown procedures. It’s used for non-emergency conditions, like pausing work, stopping a cycle, or preparing for maintenance.

In short: Use the External E-Stop for emergencies only, and the General Stop for routine or planned halts. Both are essential, but they’re not interchangeable in function or compliance.