Menu

Omron E3FA-RN11 Retro-Reflective Photoelectric Sensor NPN 3m IP69K — front face showing red LED, sensitivity adjuster, and 4-wire cable gland

Omron E3FA-RN11 — Retro-Reflective Sensor, NPN, Pre-Wired 2m

SKU: E3FA-RN11

USD 18.00

E3FA M18 retro-reflective sensor, 0.1–4 m with E39-R1 reflector, NPN open-collector, ABS barrel, pre-wired 2 m cable.

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.

Request Quote

Contact for pricing, bulk discounts, and shipping

Product Overview

The Omron E3FA-RN11 is a compact M18 cylindrical retro-reflective photoelectric sensor in the E3FA series — ABS plastic barrel, 25 mA NPN open-collector output, pre-wired 2 m cable. It detects a target by sensing the beam it returns from a separate reflector, so a single sensor-head / reflector pair watches for the presence or pass of almost any opaque object — boxes, bottles, trays, machine parts — at ranges up to 0.1–4 m with the standard E39-R1 reflector.

The E3FA family was designed as a direct upgrade to the older E3F2/E3F3 line: same M18 mount, brighter red LED for fast alignment, IP67/IP69K sealing for food-and-beverage and washdown areas, and visible status LED from long distances and wide angles. The 0.5 ms response time handles standard conveyor and packaging-machine cycles without flicker at modest line speeds.

Where it fits on a machine

Retro-reflective sensors are typically mounted opposite a reflector across the working area — a conveyor belt crossing, a door guard, a pallet exit. When the target breaks the light beam between the head and reflector, the sensor output switches and signals the PLC. The E3FA-RN11 suits general conveyor detection on packaging lines, end-of-stroke confirmation on sliding guards, and pass-counting on small-parts assembly stations where a through-beam pair would be awkward to install.

Picking this variant over its siblings

The "R" code is non-polarised retro-reflective — the standard, all-purpose choice for opaque targets. The "B" siblings (E3FA-BN11 2M and friends) add polarising filters for detecting transparent or shrink-wrapped objects, and the "D" diffuse-reflective siblings (E3FA-DN11) detect off the target itself with no reflector — useful at very short range when a reflector is hard to mount. "N11" specifies NPN output with a 2 m pre-wired cable; the "N21" is the same body with an M12 4-pin connector for quick-disconnect wiring.

Before ordering

Order a reflector separately — E39-R1 is the standard match (4 m range); for clear bottles, switch to the E39-RP1 polarised reflector with the E3FA-BN11. Make sure the controller input is NPN sinking; for PNP sourcing PLCs, use the E3FA-RP11 instead. Wire dark-on or light-on by choosing which lead goes to the load — the wiring diagram is in the datasheet.

Key Features

  • E3FA M18 retro-reflective sensor, ABS plastic barrel
  • 0.1–4 m range with E39-R1 reflector (0.1–3 m typical)
  • NPN open-collector, dark-on / light-on selectable by wiring
  • DC 12–24 V supply
  • Pre-wired 2 m cable (4-wire)
  • IP67 and IP69K sealing
  • 0.5 ms response time
  • Red LED beam for fast alignment
  • Operating temperature -25 to +55 °C
  • SKU: E3FA-RN11
  • Series: E3FA-RN11
  • Voltage: 24 V

Best-Fit Applications

  • Conveyor pass-detection on packaging, sorting, or bottling lines
  • End-of-travel confirmation on a sliding door or guard, paired with an E39-R1 reflector
  • Box or tray counting at a palletiser exit
  • Pallet-overrun check at end-of-line stretch wrap stations
  • Generic pass / block detection on small-parts assembly machines

Buying Checklist

  • Order an E39-R1 reflector with the sensor — it is not included and a retro-reflective head cannot work without one.
  • Pick the E3FA-RN11 for an NPN PLC or relay input; switch to the E3FA-RP11 if your controller expects a PNP sourcing signal.
  • Use the BN11 + E39-RP1 polarised pair if your line runs clear bottles, PET, or shrink-wrap — non-polarised retro fails on shiny surfaces.
  • Mount the sensor and reflector at the same height with a clean line-of-sight; shiny or angled reflective backgrounds can fool the beam.
  • Allow 1 m of straight cable plus service loop on the 2 m pigtail; if a connector is needed, order the RN21 (M12) instead and pair it with a standard XS3 cordset.

Technical Specifications

Model E3FA-RN11 (E3FA series, M18 cylindrical)
Sensing Method Retro-reflective (non-polarised)
Sensing Range 0.1–4 m with E39-R1 reflector
Output NPN open collector, dark/light-on selectable
Supply Voltage DC 12–24 V
Connection Pre-wired 2 m PVC cable, 4-wire
Response Time 0.5 ms
Light Source Red LED (visible)
Protection Rating IP67, IP69K
Housing Material ABS plastic
Operating Temperature -25 to +55 °C

FAQ for E3FA-RN11

Does the E3FA-RN11 include a reflector?
No. Order an E39-R1 separately — it is the standard reflector for this head and gives the headline 0.1–4 m range. The retro-reflective head cannot detect without a reflector in the beam path.
E3FA-RN11 or E3FA-DN11 — which do I need?
The RN11 (retro-reflective) works across an open area and watches for anything that breaks the beam between the head and a reflector — typical 1–3 m working distance. The DN11 (diffuse) detects off the target itself with no reflector, useful at very short range (≤100 mm) and on machines where mounting a reflector is awkward.
Can the E3FA-RN11 detect clear bottles or PET?
Not reliably. For PET, clear glass, or shrink-wrapped trays use the polarised E3FA-BN11 2M with the E39-RP1 reflector — its polarising filter rejects the specular reflection from shiny surfaces that fools non-polarised retro sensors like the RN11.
What PLC does the NPN output work with?
Any controller with NPN sinking inputs — most Omron CP1, CJ, and NX-series digital inputs are NPN by default. If your PLC expects PNP sourcing input, order the E3FA-RP11 2M instead; do not wire an NPN sensor into a PNP input.

Similar Products

Explore related Omron models often viewed alongside this product.