How to choose a photoelectric sensor - Professional manufacturer of sensors

Why do I need to choose photoelectric sensors for my application?

There are many reasons, including that these sensors can detect objects relatively far away, provide fast and accurate results, do not need to come into contact with other objects, and have a long service life.

Why choose photoelectric sensors for sensing applications?

The sensor has extremely high environmental tolerance and can adapt to harsh working conditions、
Directly detect the existence state of an object without the need for physical contact with the target
Super long service life, no mechanical moving parts
Long-distance detection capability
It can be used under harsh environmental conditions
It can detect or inspect very small target features with great precision
Supports switching frequencies at the kilohertz level to meet the requirements of high-speed counting
The sensor operates with low power consumption when in operation
Diversified output configuration, providing interfaces such as NPN/PNP/ relay

What variables should be considered when choosing a photoelectric sensor?

1.Detect the characteristics of the object

Material: Transparent, semi-transparent, opaque or reflective (such as glass, metal, plastic).
Color: Dark objects may absorb more light, so an appropriate wavelength should be selected (for example, infrared has stronger anti-interference ability).
Size: For small objects, high-precision sensors (such as optical fiber type) are required, while for large objects, ordinary through-beam type can be selected.
Surface characteristics: A smooth surface may produce specular reflection. The installation Angle needs to be adjusted or a diffuse reflection type should be selected.

2.Detection distance

Evaluate the distance between the sensor surface and the target in order to select the specific sensor model for the application

3.Environmental requirements

Dust/Oil stains: Select IP67/IP65 protection grade to avoid contamination of optical Windows.
Temperature range: Industrial-grade sensors typically support -25°C to +70°C.
Strong light interference: Use modulated light or a light shield to resist interference.
Vibration/Shock: A sturdy casing (such as metal packaging) and anti-vibration design are required.

4.Beam size

Check the beam size of the selected sensor and the size of the minimum target object. Confirm that the target is large enough to fully block the beam, thereby generating detection.

5.Sensor output requirements

Two-wire sensor：It is a simple switch that can directly turn on or off the output device
Three-wire sensor：
- When the sensor output is turned on, the PNP output sensor will provide a positive voltage signal to the output circuit.
- When the sensor output is turned on, the NPN output sensor will provide a ground signal to the output circuit.
- Some photoelectric sensors have both NPN and PNP outputs simultaneously.

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