TL-Q5MC1 Photoelectric Sensor NPN NO, Unshielded, DC 10–30V, 5 mm Sensing Distance

The TL-Q5MC1 features a Normally Open (NO) NPN output. This means the output transistor is off (open circuit) when no object is detected. When a target is within the 5mm range, the transistor turns on, sinking current (up to 200mA) from the load to the sensor's common ground (0V). An NPN NC (Normally Closed) output would have the opposite logic, conducting when no target is present.

Connect the sensor's brown wire to your DC positive supply (10-30V), the blue wire to DC negative (0V/common), and the black wire to your PLC's digital input. The PLC input should be connected to the positive supply via an internal pull-up resistor. When the sensor detects an object, the black wire (NPN output) will pull the PLC input low to ground, signaling detection. For 5V microcontrollers like Arduino, use an opto-coupler or level-shifter to protect the logic pins.

No, the TL-Q5MC1 has a fixed sensing distance of 5mm with a ±10% tolerance. It is an unshielded diffuse sensor, meaning the detection range is determined by the internal optics and emitter strength and is not user-adjustable. For different ranges, you would need to select a different model from the same series with a specified fixed distance.

'Unshielded' means the sensor does not have a mechanical barrier or shield between the infrared emitter and receiver. This allows it to detect objects from a wider angle but also makes it slightly more susceptible to background reflections compared to a shielded (or 'thru-beam') sensor. It is a diffuse-reflective type, relying on light bouncing directly back from the target object itself.