IG5400 IG-3005-APKG3 Efector Proximity Sensor IG5400 IG3005APKG IG-3005-APKG

IFM IG5400 | Inductive Proximity Sensor — M18 Shielded, 5mm PNP NC, 10–36VDC, High Switching Frequency, IP67, L=80mm

Overview

The IFM IG5400 is a shielded M18 inductive proximity sensor from IFM's IG series — an established product line known in the automation industry for its wide supply voltage tolerance (10–36V DC), high switching frequency, and broad operating temperature capability that covers applications from unheated outdoor installations to heated machine enclosures.

The sensor delivers 5mm sensing range in PNP normally closed output configuration, with the M18 × 1mm threaded body and flush-mountable (shielded) construction that characterises the IG series across its full size range.

The IG5400's PNP NC output is the defining selection criterion for many applications. Normally closed means the PNP output transistor is conducting when no target is in the 5mm sensing field — the output sources current to the connected PLC input, which reads the input as ON.

When a target enters the sensing field, the output transistor switches off — the PLC input de-energises and reads OFF.

This inverse logic relative to NO sensors is the correct choice whenever the control logic requires confirmation that something is absent rather than present, or when a fail-safe circuit must hold an output active during normal operation and switch it off on detection.

The L=80mm overall body length of the IG5400 provides a longer threaded engagement depth than short-body M18 sensors, which is appropriate for installation through thick machine panels, structural members with deep threaded sections, or equipment frames where a short sensor body would leave insufficient thread engagement for secure mechanical mounting and vibration resistance.

Key Specifications

PNP NC — Conducted Fail-Safe and Inverse Logic

Understanding PNP NC in practice requires thinking through two separate characteristics: the transistor type and the contact state at idle.

PNP (sourcing) means the output transistor, when conducting, connects the +V supply potential through the load to the common.

The PLC input sees its terminal brought toward the positive supply voltage — a logic 1 input in PNP-input systems. When the transistor is off, the input terminal floats toward zero (logic 0).

Normally closed means the transistor conducts at idle (no target) and turns off when the target is detected.

So the PLC reads logic 1 when the target is absent and logic 0 when the target is present — the opposite of what a normally open sensor provides.

This configuration is used in several important application contexts. For guard monitoring where the guard being in place (no metal target moving past the sensor) is the normal condition requiring the output to be active: the IG5400 stays ON with the machine running normally, and switches OFF if the guard moves and the target crosses the sensing field. For detection of the absence of a component — confirming that a slot is empty before loading, that a pallet position is clear before indexing — the NC logic aligns naturally with "empty = output active."

10–36V Supply Range — Industry-Leading Voltage Tolerance

The 10–36V DC supply range is notably wider than the 10–30V or 12–24V specifications common in many inductive sensors.

This additional headroom at the upper end accommodates supply rails that rise above 30V under no-load conditions — a situation that occurs in unregulated 24V DC supplies when load current drops during machine idle cycles, and in battery-powered mobile equipment where the nominal 24V battery voltage can reach 28–30V during charging. 

At the lower end, 10V operation provides reliable function when the supply rail sags during peak machine loading or in long cable-run installations where voltage drop reduces the supply at the sensor terminals.

IP67 and IFM's Industrial Robustness

IFM designs the IG series for direct installation in the machine environment — the sensor body threads into the machine structure, sits at the detection point, and is expected to function reliably without enclosure or protection beyond its own sealing. IP67 provides complete dust exclusion and temporary immersion protection.

IFM's additional oil-proof qualification for this series covers the cutting oils, hydraulic fluids, and coolants that are the normal fluid environment in machine tool applications — the compounds that challenge standard IP67 sealing when sustained contact rather than brief immersion is the actual condition.

FAQ

Q1: What does PNP NC mean in practical wiring terms?

Wire the IG5400 as follows: brown wire (+V supply, 10–36V DC), blue wire (0V common), black wire (output — connect to PLC PNP input terminal). With no target in the sensing field, the black output wire sources current to the PLC input at near-supply voltage — the input reads ON. When a target enters the 5mm field, the output turns off — the input reads OFF.

The PLC input card must be PNP-compatible (sourcing input). If the application requires NPN (sinking) output, the NC variant with NPN logic is a different part number in the IG series.

Q2: Can the IG5400 flush-mount in a stainless steel bracket without reducing the 5mm sensing distance?

Yes. The shielded construction (indicated by the flush-mountable design) focuses the electromagnetic sensing field forward from the sensing face, preventing lateral absorption by surrounding metal.

The sensor can be installed with its face flush with the surrounding metal surface and the 5mm sensing distance is maintained.

Metal-free zone requirements still apply around the sensor bore — the bracket's through-hole diameter should match the M18 thread diameter without excess metallic material within the sensing face perimeter.

Q3: How does the extended L=80mm body length affect installation compared to a standard-length M18 sensor?

The 80mm body length provides more thread engagement through thick panels (up to approximately 60mm panel thickness with standard M18 lock nut positioning), better resistance to lateral loads and vibration through the longer support column, and adequate space for cable exit clearance behind the mounting surface.

For thin machine panels or close-fitting installations where a shorter body is physically required, IFM offers shorter-body IG variants. Confirm the available installation depth before ordering the IG5400 in space-constrained locations.

Q4: What is the switching frequency of the IG5400, and does it suit counting applications?

IFM specifies the IG series as having very high switching frequency — the specific value for the IG5400 is confirmed in IFM's product documentation.

The IG series is known for frequency performance that exceeds many competitive M18 sensors, making it suitable for moderate-speed pulse counting and cam-shaft position detection in addition to standard presence/absence sensing.

For precise frequency planning in counting applications, verify the rated Hz from IFM's current IG5400 datasheet.

Q5: The IG5400 has PNP NC output — what is the NC variant's behaviour during a cable fault?

When the output cable is broken or disconnected, the PLC input loses its source current and reads OFF — the same state as target detected. This means a cable fault produces the same control response as target detection, which is the fail-safe characteristic of NC logic.

For guard or interlock circuits where a de-energised output should halt the machine (regardless of cause), this behaviour means cable faults are inherently handled safely — the machine stops.

For presence-confirmation circuits, a cable fault and a present target are indistinguishable, which may require additional diagnostic logic to differentiate.