Overview
The Allen-Bradley 42CA-D1MPAE-D4 is a compact 18mm cylindrical diffuse photoelectric sensor engineered for light- to medium-duty industrial automation and motion control applications. This sensor features standard diffuse sensing technology with a 100mm adjustable range, making it ideal for detecting objects without requiring a reflective background. The model operates on 10–30VDC input with 30mA output current and delivers complementary light-ON/dark-ON logic outputs for flexible system integration.
Key Features
- 18mm plastic cylindrical housing with compact form factor
- 100mm adjustable sensing range with manual sensitivity control
- PNP output with DC complementary LO/DO logic
- IP67 ingress protection for washdown and dusty environments
- 4-pin DC micro quick-disconnect connector for field serviceability
- Stability indicator light that flashes when signal levels approach detection threshold
- 3mm minimum sensing distance for precise object detection
- 1.00ms response time for fast reaction in motion control applications
Technical Specifications
- Supply Voltage: 10–30VDC
- Output Current: 30mA maximum
- Sensing Type: Standard Diffuse (infrared)
- Sensing Range: 0–100mm adjustable
- Minimum Sensing Distance: 3mm
- Response Time: 1.00ms
- Output Logic: DC Complementary LO/DO (PNP)
- Housing Material: Plastic
- Connector Type: 4-Pin DC Micro Quick Disconnect
- Mounting: M18 threaded cylinder
- Protection Rating: IP67
- Operating Temperature: Consult datasheet for full specifications
- Series: Bulletin 42CA PHOTOSWITCH
Typical Applications
The 42CA-D1MPAE-D4 excels in packaging machinery, conveyor systems, material handling, and parts sorting applications where diffuse sensing provides robust object detection without retroreflectors. Common uses include:
- Packaging line start/stop controls and product detection
- Conveyor belt presence sensing and jam detection
- Parts counting and part-of-line verification
- Stack height monitoring and overflow prevention
- Mechanical end-of-travel verification
Compatibility & Replacements
Compatible With
- Allen-Bradley CompactLogix, ControlLogix, and MicroLogix programmable controllers with 10–30VDC I/O cards
- Siemens S7-1200 and S7-1500 systems with appropriate DC input modules
- Third-party industrial controllers accepting 10–30VDC logic inputs
- Distributed and centralized I/O architectures using DC discrete inputs
Replaces / Drop-In Replacement For
The 42CA-D1MPAE-D4 is the standard diffuse model in the Bulletin 42CA line with 100mm range. Verify compatibility with your system integrator before ordering if replacing legacy photoelectric sensors from other manufacturers.
Works With
- Studio 5000 / Studio 5000 Logix Designer for Allen-Bradley PLC programming
- TIA Portal (Siemens automation software)
- Bare DC logic circuits and relay-based control systems
- Discrete input modules from Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Omron, and other standard automation platforms
