DC 5V Beam Sensor Pair 30cm

DC 5V Beam Sensor Pair 30cm

Photocell Barrier IR Passage Counting Conveyor Door Window Burglar Alarm Security Vending Turnstile

     The DC 5V Beam Sensor Pair is a through-beam sensor consisting of 1 infrared beam transmitter and 1 infrared beam receiver. The transmitter and receiver are placed facing each other; the receiver output changes the moment an object breaks the beam between them. The output is an open collector NPN; with the output pulled up to 5V it reads 5V with no obstacle in between and 0V when an obstacle occurs. The response time is 2ms; fast passing objects are also caught.

     The transmitter has 2 wires (red 5V, black GND), the receiver has 3 wires (red 5V, black GND, white output) and each has a 30cm cable. Each black plastic body has a screw mounting hole. It operates on 5V; according to seller data it detects up to a beam distance of about 50cm at 5V. The output connects directly to a digital input of the control board, no analog reading or adjustment is needed.

     It is used to detect objects or people passing at windows, doors and passage points, to count products on production lines and conveyor belts, and to check passages in mechanisms such as vending machines and turnstiles. Unlike reflective obstacle sensors, it detects only the breaking of the beam regardless of the colour and surface of the object.

Key features:

     Reliable detection with a through beam: It detects when the beam between transmitter and receiver is broken. The colour and surface of the object do not affect the result; black, matte or shiny objects are detected the same way.

     2ms response time: The output changes as soon as the beam is broken; fast products on a conveyor, falling objects and quick passages are not missed.

     Digital output: With a pull-up the output is 5V with no obstacle and 0V with an obstacle. The output connects directly to a digital input of the control board; the board's internal pull-up or a single 10k resistor is enough, no other circuit is needed for counting and alarms.

     Easy mounting: The black plastic bodies of the transmitter and receiver, about 20mm x 10mm in size, have a screw mounting hole; they are easily fixed to a door frame, the edge of a belt or inside a box.

     Ready wired: Both parts come with coloured 30cm cables (red 5V, black GND, white output on the receiver); they are connected with solder, a terminal or a connector.

Features:

• Product type:    Through-beam (receiver - transmitter) infrared break beam sensor pair
• Parts: 1 transmitter (2 wires), 1 receiver (3 wires)
• Operating voltage: 5V DC
• Detection distance: up to about 50cm at 5V (seller data; distance shortens as the supply drops)
• Output: NPN transistor, open collector (pull-up required); with pull-up 5V with no obstacle, 0V when the beam is broken
• Output current: at most 70mA - 100mA according to seller data
• Response time: 2ms
• Receiving angle: narrower than 10° (seller data)
• Current consumption: about 25mA - 30mA (transmitter about 20mA, receiver about 10mA)
• Compatible boards: Arduino, ESP32, ESP8266, Raspberry Pi, STM32, PLC inputs and all control boards with a digital input
• Environment: indoor use; not waterproof
• Operating temperature: -25°C to +60°C
• Mounting: screw mounting hole on each body
• Wire colours: red 5V, black GND, white output (white only on the receiver)
• Material: black plastic body
• Cable length: 30cm (each part), open ends
• Dimensions: each body about 20mm x 10mm, thickness 7.5mm - 9mm (excluding LED)
• Weight: about 6gr (pair)

Usage information:

• Connect the red wires of the transmitter and receiver to 5V and the black wires to GND. Connect the white wire of the receiver to a digital input of the control board. Connect the transmitter and receiver to the same GND.
• Place the transmitter and receiver facing each other on the same axis; since the receiving angle is narrower than 10°, the two parts must be aligned exactly. After alignment fix the bodies with screws through the mounting holes.
• As the output is open collector a pull-up is required: enable the board's internal pull-up resistor or connect a 10k resistor between the white wire and the board's logic voltage (5V or 3.3V). With no obstacle that voltage is read on the output, when the beam is broken 0V.
• Determine the distance by testing at the place of use; the beam distance changes with alignment, ambient light and supply.

Areas of use:

•  Product counting and passage detection on conveyor belts
•  Door and window passage detection
•  Burglar alarm and security barrier
•  Turnstile and entry - exit counting
•  Product, coin or token drop detection in vending machines and money boxes
•  Obstacle detection for automatic doors and barriers
•  Start / finish line in racing and speed measurement
•  Part presence and passage limit detection on machines
•  Entry counting for animal shelters, coops and bird feeders
•  Education and STEM projects
   

Precautions:

•  The sensor is for indoor use and is not waterproof. Outdoors use it inside a box protected from rain and moisture.
•  Sunlight and strong infrared sources (halogen lamp, heater) reduce the detection distance and can cause false detection; place the receiver so that it does not face the sun directly.
•  Transparent objects that pass infrared light (glass, thin clear plastic) may not fully break the beam and may not be detected.
•  This sensor is not a safety-certified barrier (light curtain) for personal protection. Do not use it alone to protect people at machines, presses or automatic doors.
•  On 3.3V input boards such as ESP32, ESP8266 or Raspberry Pi do not pull the output up to 5V; connect the pull-up resistor to 3.3V or use the board's internal pull-up. If 5V is measured on the idle output, use a voltage divider or level shifter.
•  According to seller data the output current is at most 70mA - 100mA. If you drive a relay coil directly, the coil current must not exceed 70mA and a flyback diode must be fitted across the coil; for higher current loads and relays use a relay module or transistor.

Package contents:

•  1 Piece DC 5V Beam Sensor Transmitter (2 wires, 30cm cable ( Assembled ))
•  1 Piece DC 5V Beam Sensor Receiver (3 wires, 30cm cable ( Assembled ))
•  Note: Control board, pull-up resistor and mounting screws are not included in the package.