Photo Electric Switches

Photoelectric switches

Light sensor sensor

Photoelectric switches are a type of sensor. They are used to measure the distance, the presence or absence of an object. This happens by means of a light transmitter, which is most often a photoelectric and infrared receiver. Photoelectric switches are most widely used in industrial production.

Types of Photoelectric Switches according to the mode of operation

There are three main operating modes for photoelectric switches:

• Opposites
• Reflective
• Scattered

Opposite (by ray)

Advantages

• Most accurate of all
• Largest range
• Extremely reliable

Disadvantages

• They are installed in two places in the system, since they consist of a transmitter and a receiver
• They are more expensive as both a transmitter and receiver must be purchased.

Reflective

Advantages

• Very accurate
• Greater range than distance sensing photoelectric switches
• Very reliable

Disadvantages

• They are installed at two points of the system
• They are slightly more expensive than distance sensing photoelectric switches
• Shorter range than opposite photoelectric switches

Distance sensing (dispersed)

Advantages

• They are installed only at one point of the system
• They are cheaper than reflective photoelectric switches

Disadvantages

• Their readings are less accurate
• Take longer to set up