Omron EE-SX870 — 5mm Slot Sensor, NPN, Light-ON, 2 m
SKU: EE-SX870USD 17.00
EE-SX77/SX87 photomicrosensor with slim cable, standard-body 5mm slot, NPN dark-ON (or Light-ON depending on suffix), infrared LED 870 nm, pre-wired 2 m cable, 5-24 VDC supply, 1 kHz response, ISO 13849-1 PL c / Cat 1.
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 EE-SX870 is the standard-body shape of Omron's EE-SX77/SX87 photomicrosensor family with a slim 2 m pre-wired cable and an NPN open-collector dark-ON output. The slim-cable variant is the modern 'easy-to-route' form factor preferred over the EE-1001 connectorized EE-SX670 for installations where the sensor is mounted in tight spaces and a slim round cable is needed (vs the bulky 4-pole connector on EE-SX670). The 5 mm slot width is the standard EE-SX-series pitch — a 2 × 0.8 mm min opaque object passing through the slot is reliably detected. The NPN open-collector output sinks current (up to 16 mA at 24 VDC) into the PLC input.
Decoding EE-SX870 model logic
The EE-SX77/SX87 family naming: EE = photomicrosensor series; SX = slot type (vs SP = reflective, SA = retro-reflective through-beam); 87 = slim-cable variant (vs 67 = connector variant — i.e., EE-SX670 uses EE-1001 connector, EE-SX870 uses slim pre-wired cable); 0 = operation mode code (0 = standard, A = light/dark selectable, R = light-ON, P = PNP). The 77 family suffix on the analog: EE-SX670 has slim body and connector; SX770 = standard body slim-cable NPN dark-ON; SX770A = same with light/dark selectable; SX870 = the slim-cable variant (no connector on the body, the cable is integral).
ISO 13849-1 PL c / Cat 1 — for light-duty safety applications
The EE-SX77/SX87 family was upgraded in September 2023 to conform to ISO 13849-1 Category 1 / Performance Level c — meaning it can be used as the input sensor in a safety chain for light-duty guard interlocks (e.g., small machine panels where a Cat 1 sensor is acceptable). Category 1 requires single-channel operation with proven components, well-tried safety principles, and a single fault tolerance typically not required — appropriate for low-risk guards on small packaging machines, light-curtain accessory interlocks, and PLe Cat 4 / Category 3 / SIL 3 applications where the EE-SX870 cannot be used.
Wiring, NPN dark-ON vs Light-ON mode
The EE-SX870 is pre-wired with a 3-conductor slim-cable assembly: red = +V (5 to 24 VDC), black = output (NPN open-collector), white = 0 V (ground). NPN output means the output transistor pulls the black wire down to ground when the sensor is in the 'ON' state. Dark-ON mode (the EE-SX870 standard) means the output is ON when the beam is interrupted (slot empty, no target passing through, dark to receiver) — for through-beam counting applications where each 'missed count' should be detected, dark-ON is the natural pick.
Key Features
- EE-SX77/SX87 family photomicrosensor
- Standard-body shape — straight, no L or T mount
- 5 mm slot width, opaque object detection down to 2 × 0.8 mm
- Diff. travel 0.025 mm — precision positioning
- Infrared LED 870 nm light source
- NPN open-collector output, dark-ON standard
- Pre-wired 2 m slim cable, 3-conductor
- Operating voltage 5 to 24 VDC
- SKU: EE-SX870
- Series: EE-SX77/SX87 Photomicrosensor (slim cable)
- Voltage: 5 TO 24 VDC
Best-Fit Applications
- Coin / token / chip counting in vending or casino equipment — EE-SX870 detects each coin or token passing through.
- Sheet-fed paper detection in a printer or copier — EE-SX870 mounted to detect each sheet passing through a slot in.
- Edge position detection on a moving web — EE-SX870 detects the edge of paper, film, or foil exiting a process.
- Tape-and-reel component counting — EE-SX870 mounted in a taping machine to count each component pocket as it passes; the slim.
Buying Checklist
- Pick EE-SX870 for NPN dark-ON slim-cable standard-body 5 mm slot sensor
- Pick EE-SX870A for light/dark user-selectable mode — pick if you need both modes in one SKU
- Pick EE-SX870R for Light-ON NPN output
- Pick EE-SX870P for PNP dark-ON
- Pick EE-SX871 for L-shaped body — pick if you need the emitter/receiver to face perpendicular to the mounting direction
- Pick EE-SX670 for connectorized variant — pick if you prefer replace-the-cable rather than replace-the-sensor maintenance
Technical Specifications
| Model | EE-SX870 |
|---|---|
| Series | EE-SX77/SX87 Photomicrosensor (slim cable) |
| Type | Slot-type photomicrosensor, standard body, NPN dark-ON |
| Sensing Method | Through-beam (slot-type) |
| Sensing Distance | 5 mm (slot width) |
| Sensing Object | Opaque, 2 × 0.8 mm min |
| Differential Distance | 0.025 mm (25 µm hysteresis) |
| Light Source | Infrared LED, 870 nm peak wavelength |
| Output Type | NPN open-collector (sinking), dark-ON |
| Operating Voltage | 5 to 24 VDC ±10 %, ripple 10 % p-p max |
| Current Consumption | 12 mA max |
| Load Current | 16 mA max at 24 VDC |
| Residual Voltage | 0.8 V max at 16 mA load |
| Operating Temperature | -25 to +80 °C (no icing) |
| Storage Temperature | -30 to +80 °C |
Resources & Downloads
FAQ for EE-SX870
What's the difference between EE-SX870 and EE-SX670?
EE-SX870 uses a slim pre-wired cable (the cable is integral to the sensor body) and is the modern slim-cable variant — preferred for tight-mounting installations where a slim cable fits in the routing path. EE-SX670 is the connectorized variant — the sensor body has a slot where you plug in an EE-1001 or EE-1001-1 wiring harness connector; the cable is separate and replaceable. Both have identical electrical specs (5 mm slot, 1 kHz response, 5-24 VDC, NPN dark-ON).
What does the 'slim cable' on the EE-SX870 mean in practice?
Slim cable means the EE-SX870 uses a thinner 4 mm-outer-diameter cable assembly vs the older EE-SX67's connector + standard 6 mm cable. The slim cable fits into narrower cable raceways, smaller cable ties, and tighter wiring ducts — common in compact machine designs where every mm of space matters. The cable is PVC, oil-resistant, and 3-conductor (no shield).
Can the EE-SX870 be used for personnel safety?
The EE-SX870 is rated for ISO 13849-1 Category 1 / Performance Level c only — which is acceptable for light-duty safety applications like small machine guards where a Cat 1 sensor is sufficient and well-tried safety principles are acceptable.
What's the minimum object size the EE-SX870 can detect?
The standard object minimum is 2 × 0.8 mm (length × thickness) — basically, a 2 mm long piece of opaque material as thin as 0.8 mm. The 0.8 mm thickness limit is set by the geometry: the receiver photodetector is recessed inside the U-slot housing, so very thin targets can be missed if they pass through at the wrong angle. The 0.025 mm differential means once the object enters the slot, detection is reliable with margin.
Similar Products
Explore related Omron models often viewed alongside this product.
