Datasheet
13
SA1E-L Miniature Laser Photoelectric Switches (Built-in Amplifier)
Indicator and Output Operation 
(Through-beam/Polarized Retroreflective)
Stable LED (green)
Operation LED (yellow)
Sensitivity Control
Operation Mode Switch
The operation LED turns on (yellow) when the control output is  •
on.
The stable LED turns on (green) either at stable incident or stable  •
interruption. Make sure to use the photoelectric switch after the 
stable operation is ensured.
In the light ON operation, the output turns on when the receiving  •
light intensity level is 1.0 or over as shown below.
In the dark-ON operation, the output turns on when the receiving  •
light intensity level is 1.0 or less as shown below.
Receiving Light 
Intensity Level
Light 
Receiving 
Status
Stable 
LED 
(green)
Operation LED (yellow)/
Control Output
Light ON Dark ON
Operation 
Level
1.3 and 
over
Stable 
Incident
ON
ON OFF
1.0
Unstable 
Incident
OFF
Unstable 
Interruption
OFF ON
0.7 and 
below
Stable 
Interruption
ON
Optical Axis Alignment (Light ON)
Through-beam
Fasten the receiver temporarily. Place the projector to face the 
receiver. Move the projector up, down, right and left to find the 
range where the operation LED turns on. Fasten the projector in 
the middle of the range. Next, move the receiver up, down, right 
and left in the same manner and fasten in the middle of the range 
where the operation LED turns on. Make sure that stable LED turns 
on at stable incident and stable interruption.
Polarized Retroreflective
Install the reflector perpendicularly to the optical axis. Move the 
SA1E-L photoelectric switch up, down, right and left to find the 
range where the operation LED turns on. Fasten the switch in 
the middle of the range. Make sure that stable LED turns on at 
stable incident and stable interruption. When installing the reflector 
near the photoelectric switch, adjust the angle and positions of 
photoelectric switch and reflector so that sensing objects can be 
detected reliably.
Background Suppression (BGS)
Place the SA1E-L photoelectric switch where the switch can detect 
the object. Move the switch up, down, right and left to find the range 
where the operation LED tuns on. Fasten the switch in the middle 
of the range. Make sure that stable LED turns on at stable incident 
and stable interruption. 
Sensitivity Adjustment 
(Through-beam/Polarized Retroreflective)
Referring to the table below, adjust the sensitivity of the SA1E- •
L photoelectric switch when necessary, in such cases as the 
through-beam is used to detect small or translucent objects. The 
table explains the status of operation LED when the operation 
mode is set to light ON.
Step
Photoelectric 
Switch Status
Sensitivity 
Control
Adjusting Procedure
1
Receiving light
Through-beam, •
polarized 
retroreflective: 
No object detected
A
Min. Max.
Turn the control counter-
clockwise to the mini-
mum. Then turn clock wise 
until the operation LED 
turns on (turns off with 
dark ON type) (point A).
2
Light is interrupted
Through-beam, •
polarized 
retroreflective: 
Object detected
B
Min.
A
Max.
At interruption status, 
turn the control clock wise 
from point A, until the 
operation LED turns on 
(turns off with dark ON 
type) (point B).
If the operation LED 
does not turn on (turn off 
with dark ON type) even 
though the control has 
reached the maxi mum, 
set the maximum position 
as point B.
3
—
B
C
Max.Min.
A
Set the middle point 
between point A and B as 
point C.
After adjusting the sensitivity, make sure that stable LED turns on  •
at stable incident and stable interruption. For detecting objects too 
small to turn on the stable LED, use an optional slit.
Sensitivity is set to the maximum at the factory before shipment.  •
When adjusting the sensitivity, use the screwdriver supplied with 
the SA1E-L photoelectric switch to turn the control as shown 
below, to a torque of 0.05 N·m maximum.
Adjustment of Sensing Range for 
Background Sup pression (BGS)
When adjusting the sensing range, follow the instruction below. •
Step
Distance Control Adjusting Procedure
1
A
Install the photoelectric switch and the object 
firmly. Turn the control counterclockwise until 
the operation LED turns off (turns on with dark 
ON type). From this point, turn the con trol 
clockwise until the operation LED turns on 
(turns off with dark ON type) (point A).
2
B
A
Remove the object, and confirm that the 
operation LED turns off (turns on with dark 
ON type). Turn the control clockwise until the 
operation LED turns on (detecting the back-
ground) (turns off with dark ON type) (point B). 
(Note 1)
3
B
C
A
Set the middle point between point A and B as 
point C. (Note 2)
Note 1: When the background is far off and not detected, turn the 
control 360°, and set the point as point C.
Note 2: Because the control is multi-turn, it may take more than 
one turn to move from point A to point B.
Turning the control clockwise lengthens the sensing dis tance. •
Operation LED (yellow)
Sensing Range Control
(Note 3)
Stable LED (green)
Operation Mode Switch
Instructions
(12/04/19)










