Omron E3FA-DP21 — M18 Diffuse Sensor, 100 mm, PNP, M12
SKU: E3FA-DP21USD 15.00
M18 cylindrical diffuse-reflective photoelectric sensor, ABS plastic housing, 100 mm sensing distance, red LED, PNP open-collector output, M12 4-pin connector, IP67/IP69K.
1-Year Warranty
Full manufacturer warranty
Global Shipping
Worldwide delivery available
Genuine Omron
100% authentic product
Ready to Ship
Usually ships within 24h
In Stock
This item is available for immediate shipment from our warehouse.
Contact for pricing, bulk discounts, and shipping
Product Overview
The E3FA-DP21 is a 100 mm diffuse-reflective photoelectric sensor in Omron's E3FA cylindrical M18 line, the ABS plastic version of the more rugged nickel-brass E3FB. It uses a 624 nm red LED transmitter and a coaxial photodetector to detect light back-scattered from the target itself, so it requires no reflector on the opposite side — a clear advantage in tight installations where fitting a reflector is awkward. The M18 cylindrical body with 22 mm mounting thread fits the standard 18 mm through-hole bracket, and the threaded barrel allows fine adjustment of the detection distance by rotating the sensor in its holder.
Where this SKU fits in the E3F family
The E3F family splits along three axes: housing (E3FA = plastic ABS, E3FB = nickel-brass), body shape (E3FA / E3FB = axial straight, E3RA / E3RB = right-angle radial), and electrical (DP = diffuse PNP, DN = diffuse NPN, TP = through-beam PNP emitter, TN = through-beam NPN emitter, RP = retro-reflective PNP, RN = retro-reflective NPN). Within the diffuse 100 mm tier: E3FA-DP11 2M (pre-wired 2 m), E3FA-DP21 (M12 connector, this SKU), and the 300 mm tier E3FA-DP12 2M / E3FA-DP22 (M12). Pick E3FA (plastic) for indoor general-purpose detection at a lower cost.
Wiring, range, and pitfall
The M12 4-pin connector pinout is industry standard: pin 1 = brown = Vcc (10 to 30 VDC), pin 3 = blue = 0 V, pin 4 = black = output, pin 2 = white = L-select (tie to Vcc for Light-ON, leave open for Dark-ON). The 100 mm nominal sensing distance is measured against a 300 × 300 mm white paper target; coloured, glossy, or small targets reduce this distance significantly — a black target may detect only at 20 to 30 mm. For long-range diffuse detection or for detecting small features, switch to the 1 m variant (E3FA-DP13 2M / E3FA-DP23 M12).
Mechanical and environmental
The M18 ABS housing is rated IP67 (submersible to 1 m for 30 minutes) and IP69K (high-pressure, high-temperature washdown) at the sensor body, so the E3FA-DP21 survives splash and wipe-down in food-and-beverage, pharmaceutical, and machine-tool applications. Operating temperature is -25 to +55 °C, so outdoor enclosures without additional heating are workable in most climates.
Key Features
- M18 cylindrical ABS plastic housing with M12 4-pin connector
- 100 mm diffuse-reflective sensing distance
- Red 624 nm LED, visible alignment spot, 40x45 mm spot size at 100 mm
- PNP open-collector output, Dark-ON / Light-ON selectable via L-select
- Response time 0.5 ms, suitable for conveyor speeds up to 5 m/s
- 10 to 30 VDC supply, 25 mA max current consumption
- IP67 / IP69K protection — splash and high-pressure washdown resistant
- Operating temperature -25 to +55 °C
- SKU: E3FA-DP21
- Series: E3FA (M18 plastic cylindrical)
- Voltage: 10 TO 30 VDC
Best-Fit Applications
- Detecting cartons or cases on a packaging conveyor at a fixed station
- Confirming closure of a guard door, panel, or access cover before machine start
- Counting bottles, cans, or jars on a filling or capping line
- Verifying presence of a workpiece in a fixture before robot pick-and-place
Buying Checklist
- Pick E3FA-DP21 for plastic M18 diffuse 100 mm PNP with M12 connector
- Pick E3FA-DP11 2M if you need a pre-wired 2 m cable instead of a separate M12 connector
- Pick E3FA-DP22 for 300 mm sensing distance with the same M18 plastic body
- Pick E3FB-DP21 if the sensor will see coolant or mechanical impact
- Pick E3RA-DP21 if the sensor must mount at right angles to the target
- Order the M12 cable XS2F-D421-□□□-A or XS2F-D421-□□□-R separately based on cable length and straight / right-angle exit
Technical Specifications
| Model | E3FA-DP21 |
|---|---|
| Series | E3FA (M18 plastic cylindrical) |
| Type | Diffuse-reflective photoelectric sensor |
| Sensing Distance | 100 mm (white paper 300x300 mm) |
| Spot Size | 40 × 45 mm at 100 mm |
| Light Source | Red LED, 624 nm |
| Output Type | PNP open collector |
| Operation Mode | Dark-ON / Light-ON (selectable) |
| Supply Voltage | 10 to 30 VDC |
| Current Consumption | 25 mA max |
| Switching Capacity | 100 mA at 30 VDC |
| Operating Temperature | -25 to +55 °C |
Resources & Downloads
FAQ for E3FA-DP21
What is the difference between E3FA-DP21 and E3FB-DP21?
E3FA is the ABS plastic housing version; E3FB is the nickel-brass housing version. Same electronics, same 100 mm diffuse range, same M12 connector, same IP67/IP69K rating. Pick E3FB when the sensor will see mechanical impact, coolants, oils, or aggressive cleaning chemicals; the brass housing resists denting and most coolants. Pick E3FA for general-purpose indoor use where cost matters more than impact resistance.
What M12 cable do I need for the E3FA-DP21?
Any M12 4-pin female cable with standard sensor pinout (pin 1 = brown, pin 2 = white, pin 3 = blue, pin 4 = black). Omron's own XS2F-D421 series is the typical match; XS2F-D421-□□□-A for straight exit, XS2F-D421-□□□-R for right-angle exit, length 2 m to 10 m as required. Third-party M12 4-pin cables from Phoenix Contact, Lumberg, or Binder work equally well.
Can the E3FA-DP21 detect a black target at 100 mm?
Usually no. The 100 mm rating assumes a 300x300 mm white paper target with 90% reflectivity. A black target with 5% reflectivity may detect only at 20 to 30 mm. If you need to detect black objects at full 100 mm, switch to a background-suppression (BGS) diffuse sensor like the E3FA-VP11 or use a retro-reflective sensor with a reflector behind the target.
What is the L-select pin (pin 2, white wire) used for?
It selects Dark-ON or Light-ON operation. Leave it unconnected for Dark-ON (output transistor turns ON when the target blocks the beam and no light returns). Connect it to Vcc (pin 1, brown) for Light-ON (output transistor turns ON when a target is present and light is being reflected back). On a pre-wired E3FA-DP11 2M, the white wire is the L-select; on the M12 connector E3FA-DP21, pin 2 is the L-select.
Similar Products
Explore related Omron models often viewed alongside this product.
