Sensing range and flush mounting
The XS508B1PAL5 is a flush-mount inductive proximity sensor with a 1.5 mm sensing distance on mild steel. Flush mounting means the face of the sensor can be level with the surrounding metal without causing false triggers — it detects the target approaching from the front, not the sides. That 1.5 mm is the rated range on steel; for aluminum the correction factor drops it to about 0.9–1.0 mm, so if your target is non-ferrous, factor that in before committing the BOM line.
Switching speed and output logic
Switching frequency is 5000 Hz — that's fast enough to catch small parts on a high-speed conveyor or count gear teeth on a spinning shaft. At 5 kHz the output pulse width is about 100 µs; make sure your PLC input filter isn't set higher than that or you'll miss edges. Output is PNP normally open, 200 mA max load current, running on 12 to 24 VDC. Three-wire PNP is the standard sourcing output — it switches the positive side, so the load connects between the output and 0 VDC.
IP68 and cable connection
Rated IP68 — that means the sensor body and the cable entry are sealed against continuous immersion in water beyond 1 meter. For a washdown zone or outdoor installation where the sensor sees hose spray or standing water, this is the right enclosure class. The 5-meter PVC pre-wired cable is permanently attached, so there's no connector to corrode or lose seal integrity over time. Three wires: brown (V+), blue (0V), black (switched output). Nickel-plated brass barrel, 8 mm diameter, with a PPS sensing face — PPS handles mild chemicals and temperatures up to the -13 to 158°F operating range.
Carries UL, CSA, and CE approvals — so it's accepted for panel builds in North America and Europe. The UL listing covers the sensor as a component for use in industrial control equipment. No RoHS or REACH statement is on the record for this specific order code, but Schneider's standard OsiSense line typically complies; confirm with the compliance documentation at RFQ if your project requires it.