Sensor selection memo — E2K-L26MC1
The Omron E2K-L26MC1 is a capacitive liquid level sensor built for non-contact level detection through plastic pipe walls. It mounts to a plastic pipe 12 to 26 mm in diameter, senses the liquid inside via capacitance change, and switches an NPN normally-open output at 12 to 24 VDC. The 20 x 33 x 34 mm heat-resistant ABS housing carries a 2 m PVC cable; the sensor is unshielded, so keep metal objects clear of the sensing face. Typical application is liquid level in plastic tubing or small-diameter pipes in industrial process or packaging equipment.
Pipe diameter is the first fit check — the sensor mounts only to plastic pipe 12 to 26 mm dia. Metal pipe or conductive conduit will defeat the capacitive sensing field; the unshielded construction means the field extends beyond the housing, so adjacent metal brackets or cable trays within roughly 20 mm can cause false triggers. The NPN output is normally-open, so the load (PLC input or relay) is off when no liquid is present. Supply is 12–24 VDC; no AC supply option exists on this variant.