Sick VTE18-4P4612 Photoelectric proximity sensor PNP

Sick VTE18-4P4612 photoelectric sensor

The Sick VTE18-4P4612 is a cylindrical photoelectric proximity sensor with a PNP switching output for industrial detection tasks. It operates on a 10 V DC to 30 V DC supply and offers a sensing range of 5 mm to 350 mm using an infrared LED. The housing measures 63.6 mm in length with an M18 x 1 thread and an IP67 enclosure rating. It is suited for automation engineers who need a compact, axial-beam sensor for presence detection.

Installation notes for M18 cylindrical housing

The sensor mounts via its M18 x 1 thread and connects through a 2 m, 4-wire PVC cable with a 0.14 mm² conductor cross-section. A selectable L/D control cable sets light or dark switching without potentiometer adjustment. Wiring errors are the most common issue; the PNP output requires the load between the output and 0 V, and the supply must stay within the 10 V DC to 30 V DC range with ripple below 10 %. The cable diameter is 5 mm, so gland selection should match.

Sustained operation within temperature limits

Under continuous use the sensor maintains a 250 Hz switching frequency with a 2 ms response time and a maximum output current of 100 mA. The plastic PBT/PC housing and PMMA optics are rated for ambient temperatures from –25 °C to +70 °C, and the IP67 seal resists ingress during wash-down cycles. Circuit protection covers reverse polarity, short-circuit, and overvoltage conditions, helping reliability during extended duty cycles. No adjustment drift occurs because the sensing range is fixed.