How to select an Inductive Proximity Sensor that suits your application.

Before you buy an Inductive Proximity Sensor, you have to know -at least- the following five factors that will help you make the perfect sensor selection.

SENSING RANGE: The sensing range is one of the key factors of the proper selection of an inductive proximity sensor, because this is the range where your object or target will be present. Worth to mention here is that sensing range depends on the material of your target, so if it is aluminum or copper, this will reduce the sensing range to 60 percent, but if is steel or iron this will allow a longer sensing distance.

FLUSH or NON-FLUSH: "  Why my inductive proximity sensor gives false triggers ?" that is one of the most asked questions about Inductive Sensors we receive, and the answer is that because you are probably using the Non Flush Inductive Proximity Sensor! Selecting a non-flush Sensor means that you want your sensor to detect not only the target that will be facing the sensor, but also from the side because the non-flush sensor type radiates the electromagnetic field from the face to the sides of the sensor allowing wider angle of detection.

OUTPUT FUNCTION: What is the output signal that the Inductive Proximity Sensor should send upon detection of the target?  Analogue current, Analogue voltage, Closed feedback ( normally opened), Opened feedback ( normally closed), NAMUR, SCR "silicon controlled rectifier"? 

SENSOR HOUSING: Is it a cylindrical, Fork or cylindrical Inductive Proximity Sensor? and If it is a cylindrical, what is the housing diameter? normally Ø or M refers to sensor diameter. The bigger the diameter, the wider and longer sensing distance.

NUMBER OF WIRES: Two-wires, three-wires or four-wires. Normally the number of output functions are a key factor for determining the number or wires.