LED
LCD
Product Description
A highly adaptive, non-contact photoelectric sensor engineered for smart automation, obstacle detection, and robotic navigation. The E18-D50NK uses a modulated infrared beam to detect objects within an adjustable range of 3 cm to 50 cm, minimizing interference from ambient lighting. It features a multi-turn calibration potentiometer at the rear, allowing you to fine-tune the sensing threshold precisely for your application. Boasting an NPN Normally Open (NO) output configuration, it integrates smoothly with microcontrollers like Arduino or ESP32, as well as industrial PLC digital inputs. Built into a threaded M18 cylindrical plastic housing, it is both mechanically durable and incredibly simple to mount.
Pinout / Layout Connections
The E18-D50NK comes with an integrated 3-wire cable utilizing standard industrial color-coding:
Brown Wire (VCC): Positive power supply input (+5V DC).
Blue Wire (GND): Common system ground reference (0V).
Black Wire (OUT): Active-Low NPN Open-Collector output.
Obstacle Detected: The black wire pulls low to Ground (0V), and the rear status LED illuminates.
No Obstacle: The output floats (Normally Open). Note: Enable the internal pull-up resistor (
INPUT_PULLUP) on your microcontroller pin, or connect an external 10kΩ pull-up resistor between the Black and Brown wires to read a clean high signal when no object is present.
Applications
Robotic Obstacle Avoidance: Excellent for smart cars, mobile platforms, and AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) to detect walls or barriers and plan paths.
Proximity & Position Sensing: Ideal for verifying the presence of objects on a medium-range conveyor line before triggering sorting mechanisms.
Touchless Interactive Switches: Perfect for clean-room doors, automated sanitizers, or touchless kiosks where physical contact must be avoided.
Compatibility
Thanks to its flexible, open-collector design and standard logic compatibility:
Microcontrollers: Fully compatible with 5V Arduino boards and 3.3V ESP32/ESP8266 platforms.
Industrial PLCs: Directly interfaces with sinking PLC inputs that operate on compatible logic ranges.
Actuator Control: Capable of driving low-power 5V relay coils directly when paired with a protective flyback diode.
Technical Specifications
Parameter Value / Specification Detection Principle Infrared Diffuse Reflection (modulated emitter and receiver) Output Type NPN / NO (Normally Open / Active-Low) Sensing Range Adjustable from 3 cm to 50 cm (via rear multi-turn screw) Supply Voltage 5V DC Current Consumption < 25 mA (active detection state) Maximum Output Load 100 mA Response Time < 2 ms Enclosure Size & Material Threaded M18 x 45 mm, ABS Industrial Plastic What’s in the Box
1 x E18-D50NK Adjustable Infrared Obstacle Avoidance Sensor (with integrated 1-meter cable).
2 x M18 Plastic Mounting/Retaining Nuts.
Available now from Pro Tronix with guaranteed quality and fast delivery nationwide.
