Radwell International’s Blog

A relay is a switch that activates a current that turns on a separate circuit. A relay is utilized when a separate circuit is needed or if multiple circuits need to be controlled by an individual signal.  An example of a relay in action is starting a car. A car key doesn’t power a car battery directly, but instead, the ignition signals the relay, which then transfers the signal for the car to start.

What is a Photoelectric Sensor?

Photoelectric sensors are able to detect objects using a light transmitter and a photoelectric receiver. These sensors can assess their surroundings and process the distance of an object and recognize if the object is nearby or absent. Also referred to as the “Photo Eye”, these systems detect a change in light instantly and can easily be incorporated into a variety of different equipment. There are three main ways photoelectric sensors utilize target detection; through-beam, retro-reflective, and proximity or diffused mode.