H08 / R12 Series M8-M12 Micro Diffuse Photoelectric Switch
The photoelectric upgrade that reuses your inductive-switch holes: standard M8/M12 metal barrels, one-sided sensing out to 300 mm, any material that reflects light.
- Five range variants, 100 mm to 300 mm class
- Standard M8 / M12 threads — drop-in for proximity mounts
- Nickel-plated brass, IP65
- NPN / PNP, NO / NC — 20 models
- 850/940 nm infrared, 10-30 VDC
Same Hole. A Hundred Times the Reach.
Thousands of machines carry M8 and M12 mounting holes drilled for inductive proximity switches — sensors that top out at a few millimetres and only ever see metal. The H08 (M8) and R12 (M12) series put a diffuse photoelectric head into exactly that footprint: unscrew the old sensor, thread in the new one, and the same fixture now detects cartons, plastic trays, wooden pallets or coated parts at up to 300 mm.
The emitter and receiver share one head, so mounting stays one-sided — no reflector, no opposite-side cabling. Five range variants let you pick the tightest window that covers the working gap (shorter range = narrower view = fewer background false trips), and every variant ships in NPN/PNP with NO or NC logic. The nickel-plated brass barrel shrugs off the knocks that crack plastic micro sensors, and IP65 sealing handles workshop dust and hose-down splash.
Note: general-purpose presence detection only. The H08/R12 series is not an IEC 61496-certified safety component and must not be used on its own for personnel protection.
Inductive vs H08/R12 Photoelectric — Reach in the Same Mount
Original schematic: what changes when the M8/M12 hole gets a photoelectric head instead of an inductive one.
Dimension Drawings — M8 and M12 Barrels
H08: M8 x 1 thread, 23 mm threaded section / 25 mm body, 3.8 mm cable. R12: M12 x 1 thread, 63 mm body, 4 mm cable.
Technical Specifications
| Sensing mode | Diffuse-reflective (emitter + receiver in one head) |
|---|---|
| Barrel / thread | H08: M8; R12: M12 — standard proximity-switch dimensions |
| Range variants | H08150: up to 150 mm; H08200: 20-200 mm; R12100: 20-100 mm; R12200: 20-200 mm; R12300: 30-300 mm |
| Light source | Infrared, 850/940 nm |
| Housing material | Nickel-plated brass |
| Supply voltage | 10-30 VDC |
| Ingress protection | IP65 |
| Output codes | N1 = NPN NO; P1 = PNP NO; N2 = NPN NC; P2 = PNP NC |
| Response time | Contact factory |
| Range adjustability | Not confirmed in current documentation — contact factory |
| Certifications | Contact factory (documents on request) |
Selection Table — 20 Models
| Range variant | Barrel | Sensing distance | NPN NO | PNP NO | NPN NC | PNP NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H08150 | M8 | up to 150 mm | H08150N1 | H08150P1 | H08150N2 | H08150P2 |
| H08200 | M8 | 20-200 mm | H08200N1 | H08200P1 | H08200N2 | H08200P2 |
| R12100 | M12 | 20-100 mm | R12100N1 | R12100P1 | R12100N2 | R12100P2 |
| R12200 | M12 | 20-200 mm | R12200N1 | R12200P1 | R12200N2 | R12200P2 |
| R12300 | M12 | 30-300 mm | R12300N1 | R12300P1 | R12300N2 | R12300P2 |
Selection rule of thumb: choose the shortest range that still covers the working distance — a tighter optical window means less background-reflection interference behind the target.
Typical Applications
Retrofit of Inductive-Switch Mounts
Same M8/M12 thread, same brackets and clamps — but where the inductive head sensed 2-4 mm of metal, the photoelectric head sees cartons, plastics and wood out to 300 mm.
Cramped Packaging-Machine Interiors
Carton and product presence checks inside formers, cartoners and flow wrappers, where a rectangular sensor body and its bracket simply do not fit.
Pallet and Fixture Presence on Lines
One-sided detection of the fixture or pallet surface — no reflector to mount, no opposite-side wiring, no re-machining of tooling plates.
Compact End-of-Arm and Slide Sensing
Metal-barrel robustness at low mass for tooling plates and pneumatic slides; the shortest-range variants resist background reflections best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really swap an M8/M12 inductive proximity switch for an H08/R12 without changing the fixture?
In most cases yes: the barrels use the industry-standard M8 and M12 threads, so existing holes, brackets and clamp blocks are reused. Verify hole depth and thread pitch against your fixture drawing, and rewire to the matching NPN/PNP input. The gain is sensing reach — from a few millimetres (inductive, metal-only) to as much as 300 mm on any reflective target.
Which model has the longest range, and which resists background interference best?
R12300 (M12) reaches 30-300 mm — the longest in the family. For interference resistance choose the tightest range that covers your gap: shorter-range variants such as R12100 (20-100 mm) have less risk of picking up conveyor frames or walls behind the target.
Does it detect non-metallic objects?
Yes — that is the core reason to switch from inductive. The 850/940 nm infrared diffuse head detects whatever reflects light: cardboard, plastic, wood, rubber, coated metal. Dark or matte targets return less light and shorten the working distance, so test with the real part.
What output versions exist?
Every range variant comes as N1 (NPN NO), P1 (PNP NO), N2 (NPN NC) and P2 (PNP NC) — 20 models across the two barrel sizes, wiring directly to sinking or sourcing PLC inputs without interposing relays.
How rugged is the housing?
The barrel is nickel-plated brass — noticeably more knock- and abrasion-resistant than plastic-bodied micro sensors — and rated IP65 against dust and water jets. Supply is 10-30 VDC on standard 24 V control power.
Is the sensing distance adjustable on these models?
Adjustability is not confirmed in the current factory documentation for H08/R12. If your application needs a documented adjustable band, look at our H series M3-M6 micro sensors, or contact the factory to confirm the current hardware revision.
Is this a safety sensor? And what about MOQ and delivery?
No — it is a general-purpose presence sensor, not an IEC 61496-certified safety component, and must not be used alone for personnel protection. For MOQ, sample availability and current lead times, contact the factory with the model codes you need; small trial orders for retrofit validation are generally supported.
Specs reviewed by Engineer Cai, Senior Application Engineer. See certificates.
Safety Light Curtain — Customer Cases
Real installations from DAIDISIKE clients. Click any case to view in full. Filter by scenario to quickly find a similar setup.