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    Photoelectric Sensors

    What are Photoelectric Sensors?

    Photoelectric sensors determine the distance, absence, or presence of physical objects by emitting a field or beam of electromagnetic radiation. An object is detected by measuring alterations in the return signal, this is achieved as sensors have an Emitter for emitting light and a Receiver for receiving light. There are 3 main types of photoelectric sensors, through-beam, retro-reflective and diffuse, which vary slightly in the way they function.

    The basic function of each is to detect the presence or absence of objects or measure the distance to the object. You can learn more in our complete guide to photoelectric sensors.

    Types of Photoelectric Sensors:

    Through-beam Sensors

    Through Beam Sensors (aka thru-beam) rely on two separate housings, one for the transmitter and one for the receiver, with the transmitter providing a continuous beam of light to the receiver. Each time an object passes through the beam this interrupts the signal between the transmitter and receiver, which in turn causes the receiver to send an electrical signal to the output. Through-beam sensors are suited to long-distance sensing and can detect almost any object, irrespective of colour or angular motion.

    Retro-reflective Sensors

    Retro-reflective photoelectric sensors (retroreflective) have both the transmitter and receiver contained within the same housing but require a reflector opposite to the sensor. The reflector bounces the light beam back to the transmitter until an object breaks the beam. Objects which are highly reflective such as aluminium require sensors with polarising filters. The filter allows the sensor to acknowledge that the reflected light from reflecting materials is different from the reflector.

    Diffuse Sensors

    Diffuse sensors (proximity sensor) are easier to install as only one device must be mounted. This is because the transmitter and receiver are contained within one housing. Diffuse sensors use the reflection from the target object within a predetermined sensing range.

    The transmitter sends out a continuous beam of light, once this hits the target it is diffused in all directions, a part of this light is reflected and recognised by the receiver, the receiver then sends an electrical signal to the output. A special type of diffused mode is background suppression which enables the user to precisely control the sensing range.

    Applications of Photoelectric Sensors

    Photoelectric Sensors can be used in various settings, some of which include:

    • Food Industry
    • Pharmaceutical Industry
    • Packaging Plants
    • Automotive Industry
    • Doors & Gates

    Browse the broad range of Photoelectric Sensors RS Components have to offer and order today for next day delivery.

    6689 Products showing for Photoelectric Sensors

    RS PRO
    Block
    Diffuse Reflection
    0.4 m
    NPN NONC
    M12 Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    -
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    100mA
    -
    ≤0.5ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw Nut
    PSM
    RS PRO
    Block
    Through Beam
    0.5 m
    -
    2m Cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    2m PVC Cable
    Red Light
    IP65
    50mA
    -
    1 ms
    -
    ABS
    +55°C
    -25°C
    -
    PSV
    RS PRO
    Block
    Background Suppression
    0.35 m
    NPN NONC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable 2 m
    Red Light
    IP67
    100mA
    -
    3.5ms
    -
    PC+ABS;Filter: PMMA
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PSE
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Through Beam
    20 m
    NPN NO/NC
    2m Cable
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable 2 m
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PR30S
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Through Beam
    20 m
    NPN NO/NC
    2m Cable
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable 2 m
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PR30
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Diffuse Reflection
    0.15 m
    PNP NO+NC
    M12 Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    -
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PR12
    RS PRO
    T Shaped
    Through Beam
    5 mm
    PNP NO/NC
    1m PVC Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    24V dc
    -
    -
    Infrared LED
    IP65
    -
    -
    -
    -
    PBT
    55°C
    -25°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Barrel, Rectangular
    Diffuse Reflection
    0.3 m
    PNP NONC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable 2 m
    Red Light
    IP67
    100mA
    -
    ≤1ms
    -
    ABS
    +60°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PSR
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Retroreflective
    3 m
    PNP NO+NC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable 2 m
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PR18
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Retroreflective
    3 m
    NPN NO+NC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable 2 m
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PR18
    RS PRO
    Rectangular
    Through Beam
    5 m
    NPN NO/NC
    M8 4-Pin Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    -
    -
    Infrared
    IP67
    -
    -
    1ms
    -
    PC, ABS
    55°C
    -25°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Retroreflective
    3 m
    PNP NO+NC
    M12 Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    M12 Connector
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PR18
    RS PRO
    Block
    Through Beam
    20 m
    -
    2m Cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    2m PVC Cable
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    1 ms
    -
    PC+ABS;Filter: PMMA
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PSE
    RS PRO
    Block
    Retroreflective
    0.25 m
    PNP NC
    2m Cable
    Dark Switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    -
    Red Light
    IP67
    50mA
    -
    1ms
    -
    ABS
    +55°C
    -20°C
    -
    PST
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Through Beam
    20 m
    PNP NO+NC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable 2 m
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PR30S
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Through Beam
    20 m
    NPN NO+NC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable 2 m
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PR18
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Through Beam
    20 m
    PNP NO+NC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable 2 m
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PR18
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Through Beam
    20 m
    NPN NO+NC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable 2 m
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    PBT
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PR18S
    RS PRO
    Block
    Polarised Retro Reflection
    3 m
    PNP NONC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Cable 2 m
    Red Light
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    ≤1ms
    -
    PC+ABS;Filter: PMMA
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PSE
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Diffuse Reflection
    1 m
    PNP NONC
    M12 Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    -
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    ≤0.5ms
    -
    PC, ABS
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw Nut
    PSS
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