BE-A401P - Measurement PANASONIC - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Optical Bubble Sensor (PNP output)
Model	BE-A401P
Applicable Tube	Transparent resin tube (flexible PVC equivalent), OD 4 mm × ID 2.4 mm
Detectable Air Gap	0.8 mm or more
Response Time (bubble)	20 μs or less
Response Time (liquid)	80 μs or less
Supply Voltage	5 to 24 V DC ±10%, Ripple P-P 10% or less
Current Consumption	15 mA or less
Output Configuration	2 outputs (Liquid-absent-ON and Liquid-present-ON, switchable)
Short-circuit Protection	Incorporated
Protection Class	IP40 (IEC)
Ambient Temperature (operation)	-25 to +55 °C
Ambient Humidity	35 to 85% RH
Material (Enclosure)	PBT
Material (Tube holder)	Polyamide
Material (Indicator)	Polycarbonate
Cable	0.09 mm² 4-core cabtyre, 1 m length
Weight	Net approx. 15 g
Dimensions (H × W × D)	20 mm × 15.5 mm × 14.8 mm
Mounting Holes	2 × ø3.5 mm
Operation Indicator	Orange LED (lights up with absent liquid)
Emitter Element	Infrared LED, peak wavelength 855 nm
Compliance	EMC Directive, RoHS Directive
Special Feature	Built-in amplifier, no sensitivity adjustment required

Frequently Asked Questions - BE-A401P PANASONIC

What is the BE-A401P sensor used for?

The BE-A401P is an optical bubble sensor for detecting air bubbles and liquid presence in transparent tubes, commonly used in clinical laboratory instruments and liquid dispensing systems.

What type of tube can be used with the BE-A401P?

It is designed for transparent resin tubes (equivalent to flexible PVC) with an outer diameter of 4 mm and inner diameter of 2.4 mm.

How do I install the tube?

Stretch the tube slightly and insert it into the sensor. The one-touch attachment mechanism holds it firmly without tools. Ensure it fits snugly for proper detection.

What is the response time for detecting air bubbles?

The response time is 20 μs or less for air gaps of 0.8 mm or more. For liquid detection, it is 80 μs or less.

What power supply does the sensor require?

It operates on a 5 to 24 V DC supply with ±10% tolerance and ripple P-P 10% or less. Current consumption is 15 mA or less.

How do I connect the sensor?

The sensor has a 4-core cable (0.09 mm², 1 m long). For NPN (BE-A401) or PNP (BE-A401P) output, connect power and ground, then use the two output lines for liquid-absent-ON and liquid-present-ON.

Can the sensor detect very small bubbles?

No, it detects air gaps of 0.8 mm or more spanning the full inner diameter. Tiny bubbles or droplets may not be reliably detected.

How do I maintain the sensor?

Keep the tube clean and free of dirt or residues. Regularly inspect the tube inner wall. The sensor itself requires no sensitivity adjustment.

What is the operating temperature range?

The sensor operates from -25 to +55 °C with no condensation or icing. Storage range is -30 to +80 °C.

What safety features are included?

The sensor has reverse polarity protection and short-circuit protection on outputs, plus IP40 enclosure protection.

USER MANUAL BE-A401P PANASONIC

Fits perfectly with applicable tube sizes!

Detects liquid and air bubbles without fail!

Experience its ease of use!

Optical bubble sensor is handy, simple, and precise!

New proposals for ease of use

One-touch attachment

Simply attach the sensor with your hand!

Hassle-free one-touch attachment without using tools!

In the case of BE-A201□ / BE-A301□

• Push down the tube into the sensor.

In the case of BE-A401□

Stretch the tube and insert it into the sensor. *ø4 tube: Equivalent to flexible PVC

New proposals for ease of use

For small diameter tubes

For 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm tubes

Perfect fit into applicable tubes without obstructing flow rate. Compatible with tubes in inch size

∅2 mm tube type

Close-up of a white electronic component with a red square and black outline, labeled 'BE-A201' below (no other text or symbols visible)

∅3 mm tube type

Close-up of a beige electronic component with a red square and circular top, labeled 'BE-A301' below (no other text or symbols visible)

∅4 mm tube type

Close-up of a white electronic component with a black T-shaped top and orange square on the side (no text or symbols visible)

Model No. : BE-A201 (NPN output type) BE-A201P (PNP output type)
Applicable tube : Transparent resin tube (PFA equivalent) Outer diameter 2 mm 0.078 in × inner diameter 1 mm 0.039 in Output operation: Liquid-absent-ON / Liquid-present-ON (equipped with two outputs)

New proposals for ease of use

High speed response time

New proposals for ease of use

Ultra compact

New proposals for ease of use

For a wide-range of power supply voltages

High speed detection Fingertip size 5 to 24 V DC compliant

0.8 mm 0.032 in air gaps are reliably detected by optical technology at a response time of 20 s^* . Ideal for traceability of the analysis process.

*Refer to the specifications for detection conditions, BE-A201□ has a response time of 30 μs.

Allows for installation in a narrow space.

Close-up of a hand holding a small white and black electronic component (no visible text or symbols)

Allows for direct power supply from PC board.

New proposals for ease of use

Built-in Amplifier

No requirement of sensitivity adjustment

Can be used immediately after installation by built-in amplifier. Equipped with two outputs, Liquid-absent-ON and Liquid-present-ON.

Allows for close proximity attachment

Staggered pattern

(10 mm 0.394 in pitch)

Close-up of black and white electrical connectors with metal pins (no visible text or symbols)

Parallel pattern

(15.5 mm 0.610 in pitch)

Close-up of multiple black and white electrical connectors with metal pins (no visible text or symbols)

Model No. : BE-A301 (NPN output type)
BE-A301P (PNP output type)

Applicable tube : Transparent resin tube (PFA equivalent)

Outer diameter 3 mm 1/8 in × inner diameter 2 mm 1/16 in

Output operation: Liquid-absent-ON / Liquid-present-ON (equipped with two outputs)

Model No. : BE-A401 (NPN output type) BE-A401P (PNP output type)

Applicable tube : Transparent resin tube (equivalent to flexible PVC) Outer diameter 4 mm 5/32 in × inner diameter 2.4 mm 3/32 in

Output operation: Liquid-absent-ON / Liquid-present-ON (equipped with two outputs)

Applications

graph TD
    A["Liquid dispensing instrument"] --> B["BE-A series"]
    B --> C["Air bubble detection before liquid dispensing"]
    C --> D["Precise liquid dispensing"]
    D --> E["Reagent/cleaning fluid tank"]
    E --> F["Be-A series"]
    F --> G["BE-A series after pumping"]
    G --> H["Air bubble detection after pumping"]
    H --> I["To dispensing nozzle"]
    I --> J["Be-A series BE-A series"]
    style A fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style F fill:#ccf,stroke:#333
    style G fill:#cfc,stroke:#333

SPECIFICATIONS

Item\Model No.	Type		for ø2 mmø0.078 in tube	for ø3 mmø0.125 in tube	for ø4 mmø0.156 in tube
	NPN output		BE-A201	BE-A301	BE-A401
	PNP output		BE-A201P	BE-A301P	BE-A401P
Detectable air gap (Note 2) 0.8 mm 0.032 in or more
Sensing object Liquid (Note 3)
Applicable tube dia.(OD×ID)(Note 4)			ø2 mm × ø1 mmø0.078 in ×ø0.039 in	ø3 mm × ø2 mmø1/8 in ×ø1/16 in	ø4 mm × ø2.4 mmø5/32 in ×ø3/32 in
Applicable tube type (Note 4)			Transparent resin tube (equivalent to PFA)		Transparent resin tube (equivalent to flexible PVC)
Supply voltage 5 to 24 V DC ±10 % Ripple P-P 10 % or less
Current consumption 15 mA or less
Output(Incorporated with 2 outputs)
			NPN open-collector transistor•Maximum sink current: 50 mA•Applied voltage: 30 V DC or less (between output and 0 V)•Residual voltage: 2 V or less (sink current at 50 mA) 1 V or less (sink current at 16 mA)	PNP open-collector transistor•Maximum source current: 50 mA•Applied voltage: 30 V DC or less (between output and + V)•Residual voltage: 2 V or less (source current at 50 mA) 1 V or less (source current at 16 mA)
			Output operation	Switchable either Liquid-absent-ON or Liquid-present-ON
			Short-circuit protection	Incorporated
Response time(Note 5)			When detecting bubble	30 μs or less 20 μs or less
			When detecting liquid	80 μs or less
Operation indicator Orange LED (lights up with absent liquid)
Protection circuits			Power supply reverse polarity protection, Output reverse polarity protection
Environmental resistance	Protection IP40 (IEC)
	Ambient temperature (Note 6)		-25 to +55 °C -13 to +131 °F (No dew condensation or icing allowed), Storage: -30 to +80 °C -22 to +176 °F
	Ambient humidity 35 to 85 % RH, Storage: 35 to 85 % RH
	Ambient illuminance Fluorescent light: 1,000 fx at the light-receiving face
	Voltage withstandability		1,000 V AC for between one min. between all supply terminals connected together and enclosure
	Insulation resistance		20 MΩ, or more, with 250 V DC megger between all supply terminals connected together and enclosure
	Vibration resistance		10 to 150 Hz frequency, 0.75 mm0.030 in double amplitude or maximum acceleration49 m/s2, in X, Y and Z directions for two hours each
	Shock resistance		100 m/s2acceleration in X, Y, and Z directions three times each
Emitter element			Infrared LED(Peak emission wavelength: 855 nm0.034 mil, non-modulated)
Material Enclosure: PBT, Tube holder: Polyamide, Indicator: Polycarbonate
Cable			0.09 mm24-core cabtyre cable 1 m3.280 ft
Cable extension (Note 7)			Extension up to total 100 m328.084 ft is possible with 0.3 mm2, or more, cable.
Clamping torque			0.5N·m or less
Weight			Net weight: 15 g approx., Gross weight: 25 g approx.
Compliant regulation			EMC Directive compliance, RoHS Directive compliance

Notes: 1) Where measurement conditions have not been specified precisely, the conditions used were an ambient temperature of +23 °C +73.4 °F.
2) Sensing air gap refers to the width of an air bubble formed in the entire area of the inner diameter of the tube. Please note that this product cannot sense very small air bubbles or water drops. Refer to the figure 1 and 2.
3) Sensing is affected by dirt or residues adhered to the inner wall of the tube. Please maintain the tube regularly.
4) When using a tube out of specifications or it doesn't have a smooth surface, please test sensing on the actual machine before use.
5) Actual response time may differ from specification (typical example using applicable tube) due to dimension, light transmission or surface state of test tube in use.
6) Liquid being detected should also be kept within the rated ambient temperature range.
7) Confirm that the power supply voltage at the end of cable is more than 4.5 V when using an extension of over 20 m 65.167 ft.

fig.1

fig.2

DIMENSIONS (Unit: mm in)

The CAD data can be downloaded from our website.

BE-A201□
For 2 mm 0.078 in tube

BE-A301□
For 3 mm 0.125 in tube

BE-A401□
For 4 mm 0.156 in tube

Right side dimension (in common)