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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.

    6616 Products showing for Photoelectric Sensors

    RS PRO
    Block
    Through Beam
    5 m
    NPN NONC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Red Light
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    1ms
    -
    PC+ABS;Filter: PMMA
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PSE
    RS PRO
    Block
    Diffuse Reflection
    2 m
    Relay
    Terminal Block
    Relay
    240V
    -
    240V
    Terminal
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    3A
    -
    <30ms
    -
    ABS, PC
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PTL
    RS PRO
    Cylindrical
    Through Beam
    20 m
    PNP NO/NC
    PVC Cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    M12 4 Pin Connector
    Infrared
    IP67
    -
    -
    1 ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    55°C
    -25°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Through Beam
    5 m
    PNP NONC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Red Light
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    1ms
    -
    PC+ABS;Filter: PMMA
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PSE
    RS PRO
    Block
    Retroreflective
    0.15 → 10 m
    PNP
    4-Pin M12 Connector
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    LED
    IP67
    100 mA
    -
    2.5 ms
    -
    ABS, PMMA
    +60°C
    -30°C
    Flange Mount
    -
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Diffuse
    200 mm
    PNP
    M12 Connector
    -
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Infrared
    IP67
    100 mA
    -
    6 ms
    -
    Polyamide
    +70°C
    -25°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Through Beam
    20 m
    NPN NONC
    2m Cable
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    -
    Infrared LED
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    1ms
    -
    PC+ABS;Filter: PMMA
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PSE
    RS PRO
    Block
    Through Beam
    5 m
    NPN NONC
    2m Cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    30V
    M8 4 Pin Connector
    Red Light
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    1 ms
    -
    PC+ABS;Filter: PMMA
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PSE
    RS PRO
    Cylindrical
    Through Beam
    20 m
    -
    PVC Cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    2m PVC Cable
    Infrared
    IP67
    -
    -
    1 ms
    -
    Nickel Copper Alloy
    55°C
    -25°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Polarised Retro Reflection
    12 m
    NPN NO+NC
    Terminal Block
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    Terminal
    Red Light
    IP67
    200mA
    -
    <8.2ms
    -
    ABS, PC
    +55°C
    -15°C
    Screw, Bracket
    PTL
    RS PRO
    Block
    Through Beam
    50 cm
    NPN NC
    PVC Cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    2m PVC Cable
    Red Light
    IP65
    -
    -
    1 ms
    -
    Polycarbonate ABS
    55°C
    -25°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Through Beam (Emitter)
    15 m
    PNP
    Cable
    -
    -
    -
    24V
    -
    LED
    IP67
    500 mA
    -
    <500 μs
    -
    ABS, PC
    +55°C
    -25°C
    Flange Mount
    -
    RS PRO
    Rectangular
    Through Beam
    5 m
    PNP NO/NC
    M8 4-Pin Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    -
    Red Light
    IP67
    -
    -
    1ms
    -
    PC, ABS
    55°C
    -25°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Barrel
    Diffuse Reflection
    1 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
    PR30
    RS PRO
    Cylindrical
    Through Beam
    20 m
    -
    PVC Cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    2m PVC Cable
    Infrared
    IP67
    -
    -
    1 ms
    -
    Polycarbonate ABS
    55°C
    -25°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Through Beam
    50 cm
    PNP NC
    PVC Cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    2m PVC Cable
    Red Light
    IP65
    -
    -
    1 ms
    -
    Polycarbonate ABS
    55°C
    -25°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Through Beam
    50 cm
    NPN NO
    PVC Cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    2m PVC Cable
    Red Light
    IP65
    -
    -
    1 ms
    -
    Polycarbonate ABS
    55°C
    -25°C
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Rectangular
    Through Beam
    50 cm
    NPN NO
    2m PVC cable
    Light Switching
    -
    -
    30V dc
    -
    Red Light
    IP65
    -
    -
    1ms
    -
    PC, ABS
    55°
    -25°
    -
    -
    RS PRO
    Block
    Background Suppression
    0.35 m
    PNP 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
    Polarised Retro Reflection
    3 m
    PNP NONC
    M12 Connector
    Light / Dark switching
    -
    -
    30V
    M12 Connector
    Red Light
    IP67
    100mA
    -
    ≤1ms
    -
    ABS
    +60°C
    -15°C
    Screw Nut
    PSR
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