For engineers, integrators, and hands-on installers
Pick the right automatic sensors — from smart home to factory floor
Parametric tables, wiring references, and straight-talk selection guides that narrow your shortlist before you ever open a datasheet.
Editor's Top Picks
What we'd buy
Our standout recommendations across every guide. Prices and availability change; we may earn a commission on purchases.
Sensor Switch CMR 10 Contractor Select Extended Range Passive Infrared Ceiling Mount Occupancy Sensor
Lonely Binary 5-Pack HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor I2C UART for Arduino & ESP32 | 4 modes: I2C
SparkFun Ultrasonic Distance Sensor - TCT40 (Qwiic) Ultrasonic Distance Sensor - HC-SR04 Non-Contact Distance Measurement - Operating Voltage 3.3V - Board Dimensions: 1.75 in x 0.85 in
What you'll find here
Every sensor decision, covered end-to-end
Whether you're wiring a single PIR to a Hue bridge or specifying a Keyence photoelectric array for a high-speed line, the guides here match specs to real-world conditions — not the other way around.
Smart Home & Building Sensors
From $15 PIR modules to commercial Lutron occupancy switches, these guides walk through what actually matters — detection angle, neutral-wire requirements, and how published range specs translate to your ceiling height or entryway. Picks are based on published specs and what owners consistently report in the field.
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Industrial & Process Sensors
Inductive, capacitive, photoelectric, ultrasonic, pressure, and flow sensors compared side-by-side on the specs that change your design: switching frequency, output type (NPN/PNP), IP rating, voltage range, and sensing distance. Sourced from manufacturer datasheets and integrator community feedback so you can shortlist faster.
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Touchless & Automatic Fixtures
Sensor-activated faucets, automatic soap dispensers, and retrofit sensor kits for commercial and residential bathrooms — evaluated on flow rate, battery life, and compatibility data from published specs and verified buyer reviews. We flag which kits install without a plumber and which ones reviewers say leak.
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