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General-purpose photoelectric sensors, in tubular or rectangular body styles, are suitable for many presence sensing applications. They use infrared or visible red light technology and are available in diffuse, diffuse with background suppression, retroreflective, and through-beam sensing styles.
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General Purpose Photoelectric Sensors
Category Selection
- 4mm and 5mm Tubular
- 8mm Tubular
- 12mm Tubular
- 18mm Tubular
- 18mm Tubular - Harsh Duty
- 30mm Tubular - Harsh Duty
- 18mm Threaded Plastic Rectangular
- OPT Series Plastic Square
- F16 Series Metal Rectangular
- RW Series Plastic Rectangular
- QM Series Plastic Rectangular
- FM Series Stainless Steel Rectangular
- C23 Series Plastic Rectangular
- Enhanced 50 Series Plastic Rectangular
- CX Series Plastic Rectangular
General purpose photoelectric sensors from well-known brands such as Contrinex, Eaton, Leuze, and Wenglor, as well as our own AchieVe, AutomationDirect, and ProSense brands, use infrared or visible red light technology to detect a wide variety of materials. Depending on the sensing technology used, these sensors can offer extended detection ranges, making them ideal for numerous industrial applications.
- Diffuse sensors bounce emitted light directly off an object and back to the receiver in the same housing.
- Retroreflective sensors bounce light off a fixed reflector and objects are detected when they break the beam.
- A through-beam photoelectric sensor uses a configuration where the emitter and receiver are in different housings and detect presence when the beam between them is broken. Through-beam sensors provide the longest operating distances since the emitter shines light directly at the receiver.
- General purpose photoelectric sensors are available in basic, standard and harsh duty ratings, and a range of tubular and rectangular form factors and sizes, including the popular 50 x 50mm industry standard. A variety of housing material options are available.
For part listings and specifications, go to Shop Now
4mm and 5mm Tubular
Contrinex 4mm smooth barrel and M05 5mm threaded barrel sensors are perfect for applications requiring a small footprint.
- Diffuse and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 600mm
- IO-Link v1.0 on select PNP models
- Stainless steel housing
- Axial cable or M8 quick-disconnect
- IP67 protection rating
Starting at
$75.00
(LTR-D04MA-NLK-301)
8mm Tubular
Compact 8mm tubular sensors are available in several popular sensing styles.
- AutomationDirect and ProSense brands
- Diffuse, diffuse with background suppression, polarized retroreflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 2.2m
- Stainless steel housing
- Axial cable or M8 quick-disconnect
- IP67 protection rating
Starting at
$101.00
(F8R6-LN-1F)
12mm Tubular
Newest Additions!
- AchieVe FDM series 12mm tubular photoelectric sensors
These 12mm heavy duty metal sensors are ideal for challenging industrial environments.
- AchieVe and Contrinex brands
- Diffuse, polarized retroreflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 10m
- IO-Link v1.0 on select PNP models
- Chrome- or nickel-plated brass housings
- Select models are made in the USA
- Axial cable or M12 quick-disconnect
- IP67 protection rating
Starting at
$35.00
(FDM3-0N-1A)
18mm Tubular
Cost-effective 18mm sensors are well-suited for general applications.
- AutomationDirect, Contrinex, and ProSense brands
- Diffuse, diffuse with background suppression, polarized retroreflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 50m
- Axial or right-angle optical head models
- Plastic or metal housings
- Short-body style available for limited space applications
- IO-Link v1.0 on select models
- Select models are made in the USA
- AC or DC operating voltages
- IP65 or IP67 protection rating
Starting at
$23.00
(LTR-M18PA-PMK-101)
18mm Tubular - Harsh Duty
AutomationDirect harsh-duty 18mm tubular photoelectric sensors feature an IP69K protection rating for food and beverage applications.
- Diffuse, diffuse with background suppression, polarized retroreflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 20m
- 316L stainless steel housing
- M12 quick-disconnect
Starting at
$78.00
(FFR3-BN-1E)
30mm Tubular - Harsh Duty
Eaton E58 series harsh duty photoelectric sensors are built with stainless steel, PVDF, and tempered glass components that are mechanically assembled using Vitron seals to ensure resistance to chemicals and moisture intrusion. From harsh industrial solvents and high-pressure washdowns to heavy vibration and shock, these sensors are designed to withstand the toughest environments.
- Diffuse reflective with background suppression, retroreflective, polarized reflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 800ft
- High excess gain allows accuracy despite contamination in the environment
- AC or DC operating voltages
- AC micro ½"-20 UNF thread or M12 quick-disconnect
- IP69 protection rating
Starting at
$355.00
(E58-30RS18-GLP)
18mm Threaded Plastic Rectangular
Plastic rectangular photoelectric sensors offer flexible mounting options, featuring a threaded lens for flush mounting and rugged through-holes for direct mounting (select models also feature 18mm bottom threads).
- AutomationDirect and Leuze brands
- Diffuse, diffuse with background suppression, polarized reflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 20m
- 52.6 x 19.1 x 36.1mm or 15 x 46.5 x 31.8 mm plastic housings
- Axial cable or M12 quick-disconnect
- IP67 protection rating
from
$47.50
(GXP-AN-1E)
OPT Series Plastic Square
Wenglor OPT series plastic square photoelectric sensors provide long range and small spot diameter, simple potentiometer sensitivity adjustment, and visible red-light emission for easy targeting set-up.
- Diffuse with background suppression, retroreflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 20m
- Rugged 50 X 50 X 20mm plastic housing
- IO-Link compatibility
- M12 quick-disconnect
- IP67 protection rating
Starting at
$76.00
(OPT2133)
F16 Series Metal Rectangular
ProSense F16 series metal rectangular photoelectric sensors are ideal for 8 and 10mm rail profile mounting, featuring a compact 8 X 8mm square cross section.
- Diffuse, diffuse with background suppression, retroreflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 2.2m
- Rugged 8 X 8 X 44mm die-cast zinc housing
- M8 quick-disconnect
- IP67 protection rating
Starting at
$102.00
(F16R6-LP-1F)
RW Series Plastic Rectangular
ProSense RW series rectangular photoelectric sensors are ideal for limited space applications, providing reliable position detection and precisely detecting small, flat, or highly reflective objects. The compact light spot provides accurate detection over long distances.
- Diffuse, diffuse with background suppression, retroreflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 3m
- Compact 14 X 8 X 28mm plastic housing
- Axial cable or M8 quick-disconnect
- IP65/67 protection rating
Starting at
$46.00
(RWRT-LP-0A)
QM Series Plastic Rectangular
AutomationDirect QM series plastic rectangular photoelectric sensors feature a small footprint, selectable light-on/dark-on outputs, and a simple potentiometer sensitivity adjustment.
- Diffuse, diffuse with background suppression, standard and polarized retroreflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 30m
- Compact 21 X 12.8 X 31.2mm plastic housing
- Axial cable or M12 quick-disconnect
- IP67 protection rating
Starting at
$41.00
(QMRB-0N-0A)
FM Series Stainless Steel Rectangular
AutomationDirect FM series harsh-duty rectangular photoelectric sensors have an IP69K protection rating for food and beverage applications.
- Diffuse, diffuse with background suppression, polarized retroreflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 10m
- 21 X 34.8 X 13mm 316L stainless steel housing
- Axial cable or M8/M12 quick-disconnect
Starting at
$51.00
(FMR6-0P-0A)
C23 Series Plastic Rectangular
Contrinex C23 series standard photoelectric sensors with exceptional accuracy, reliability, and affordability are ideal for position and presence sensing in limited space applications.
- Diffuse, diffuse with background suppression, polarized reflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 25m
- Compact 20 X 30 X 10mm plastic housing
- Ecolab approved for use in hygienic areas
- IO-Link on all PNP models
- Axial or M8 quick-disconnect
- IP67 protection rating
Starting at
$32.00
(LTR-C23PA-PMK-603)
Enhanced 50 Series Plastic Rectangular
Eaton Enhanced 50 series photoelectric sensors offer outstanding features, flexibility, and durability at great price. Choose from a wide selection of models, all designed in a rugged, industry standard, rectangular package.
- Diffuse, polarized reflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 500ft
- Rugged 72 X 48.5 X 46mm or 73 X 48.5 X 46mm plastic housings
- AC/DC output choices include robust 3A SPDT relays
- Sensitivity adjustment on all models
- Cabling choices include mini-connector, micro-connector, pigtail micro-connector or a 6 ft integrated cable
- IP67 protection rating
Starting at
$131.00
(1451E-6517)
CX Series Plastic Rectangular
AutomationDirect CX series plastic rectangular photoelectric sensors offer exceptional value and performance in a small package.
- Diffuse, diffuse with background suppression, polarized retroreflective, and through-beam sensing styles
- Sensing distances up to 6m
- Compact 30 X 15 X 30mm plastic housing
- Adjustable sensitivity
- Axial cable or M8 quick-disconnect
- IP65 protection rating
Starting at
$63.00
(CX3-AN-1A)
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