Capacitive Sensors Setup Tutorial from AutomationDirect

In this video we will demonstrate how to setup and tune an AutomationDirect CT and CK series capacitive sensors with an adjustable potentiometer for sensing range. AutomationDirect has been offering capacitive sensors for years. We keep adding more sensors to the lineup to offer our customers more features at better prices. These new CT2 and CK2 series of sensors come in 18 and 30mm housings, are available in normally open or normally closed. The 30 mm are available in PNP or NPN with built in cables or with quick disconnects while the 18 mm are only available in PNP with M12 disconnect. They are all DC voltage and have a potentiometer for sensitivity adjustment. Here, I have a 30mm sensor with built in cable, NPN, normally open part number: CT2-AN-2A. The sensor is wired directly to a red indicator light with an audible alarm buzzer. The part number is an ECX2071-24R. Once we setup and adjust the sensor, the red light and alarm buzzer will activate when the sensor detects material. Capacitive sensors can detect material through plexiglass and plastic. In this example, we are detecting marbles through a clear tube. My clear hopper is empty where the sensor detects. When I first power up the sensor, it detects the clear tube and turns the alarm on. I simply adjust the potentiometer down by turning it counterclockwise slowly until the sensor no longer detects the clear tube. I may need to adjust it a little bit further, so we have a defined on and off detection. Now, I will add marbles to the hopper and see if the sensor detects them. If it does, I can test by removing and adding the marbles to make sure the sensor doesn't give a false detection. What other objects can I detect with a capacitive sensor? If this hopper was liquid tight, I could fill it with liquid and be able to detect the level. Here, lets toss in a handful of our terminal blocks. Once we adjust the sensor to detect through the clear tube, we are ready to go. We also offer capacitive sensors that have a Push-to-teach button making setup a little simpler. AutomationDirect offers metal barrel sensors, plastic barrel sensors like these, rectangular capacitive sensors and many accessories. If you have any questions about these capacitive sensors, please contact AutomationDirect's free award- winning technical support during regular business hours. They will be happy to help. Thank you for watching.