Displacement Sensor Topic: Maximum Cable Length

FAQ No. FAQ00473

Question

What is the maximum length that the cable for ZX-L-N Smart Sensor (Laser Displacement Type) can be extended?

Answer

The maximum cable length for a Reflective Sensor Head is 20.6 m (0.6 m at factory shipment + 20 m extension).

The maximum cable length for a Through-beam Sensor Head is 0.1 m (2.1 m at factory shipment + 8 m extension).

The maximum cable length for the Amplifier Unit is 20 m (2 m at factory shipment + 18 m extension).

Explanation

1. Sensor Head Cable Length at Factory Shipment

The cable length of a Reflective Sensor Head at factory shipment is 0.5 m. For a Reflective Sensor, the cable length of the Sensor Head to the Amplifier Unit at factory shipment is 0.5 m + 13.3 cm = 63 cm.

(1) Reflective sensor head

Reflective sensor head

The cable length of a Through-beam Sensor Head at factory shipment is 0.5 m, but there is a Y-shape cable of 1.5 m length for connecting the Sensor Head and Amplifier Unit. For a Through-beam Sensor, the cable length of the Sensor Head to the Amplifier Unit at factory shipment is 0.5 m + 1.5 m + 13.3 cm = 2 m 13 cm.

(2) Through beam sensor head

Through beam sensor head

2. Extending the Cable of the Sensor Head

To further extend the cable from what is provided at factory shipment, use the following ZX-XC-series Extension Cables.

Cables with Connectors on Both Ends (for Extension, Sold Separately)

ZX-XC1A (Cable Length = 1 m)
ZX-XC4A (Cable Length = 4 m)
ZX-XC8A (Cable Length = 8 m)
ZX-XC8A (Cable Length = 9 m)
ZX-XC8A (cable length = 9 m; this 9 m Cable is for Reflective Sensors only.)

Example 1:

To extend the Reflective Sensor Head cable to 20.6 m, use a Cable with connectors on both ends.

Formula:

Sensor Head cable length at factory shipment (0.5 m) + 13.3 cm + ZX-XC9A (9 m) × 2 + ZX-XC1A (1 m) × 2 = 0.5 m + 13.3 cm + 18 m + 2 m = 20.6 m

Example 2:

To extend the Through-beam Sensor Head cable to 10.1 m

Formula:

Sensor Head cable length at factory shipment (2 m) + 13.3 cm + ZX-XC8A (cable length = 8 m) × 1
= 2 m+13.3 cm+8 m
= 10.1 m

3. Amplifier Unit Cable Length at Factory Shipment

There are three types of Amplifier Unit cables. The cable length at factory shipment is shown below.

ZX-LDA11 (Cable Length = 2 m, NPN Output)
ZX-LDA11 (Cable Length = 10 m, NPN Output)
ZX-LDA41 (Cable Length = 2 m, PNP Output)

4. Extending the Cable of the Amplifier Unit

To further extend the cable of the Amplifier Unit from what is provided at factory shipment, always use a shielded cable of the same type. (Shield specifications of the Amplifier Unit: 0.1 mm, 51 shielded lines.)

Maximum length: 20 m

Other Displacement Sensor FAQs

The threshold value cannot be set. What is causing this, and what can be done to resolve it?

How many times can the zero reset be used?

Can Sensor Heads with different measurement distances be used for calculations between adjacent Sensors?