Panasonic SF2C-H12-N Ultra-Slim Safety Light Curtain

Technical Overview

Type 2 PLc SIL1 ultra-slim safety light curtain for hand protection, featuring 12 beams, 240mm protective height, 20mm beam pitch, NPN output, and IP67 rating.

Key Features

Ultra-slim design with only 13.2mm depth.
Hand protection type with ø25 mm minimum detectable object and 20 mm beam pitch.
12 beam channels providing a 240 mm protective height.
Large, bright built-in multi-purpose LED indicators.
Easy alignment and installation due to ±5° effective aperture angle.
Reduced wiring with only five wires each for emitter and receiver (optical synchronization).
NPN safety rated control output.
Complies with international standards IEC 61496-1/2 (Type 2), ISO 13849-1: 2015 (Category 2, PLc), IEC 61508-1 to 3 (SIL 1).
IP65 and IP67 protection rating for harsh environments.
Polycarbonate alloy enclosure and sensing surface, suitable for secondary battery manufacturing or food production equipment.
Operating temperature range of –10 to +55 °C.

Technical Specification Matrix

Parameter	Value
Part Number	SF2C-H12-N
Product Type	Ultra-slim Light Curtain [Type 2 PLc SIL1]
Protection Type	Hand protection
Number of Beams	12 beam channels
Beam Pitch	20 mm
Minimum Detectable Object	Ø 25 mm
Protective Height	240 mm
Operating Range	0.1 to 3 meters
Current Consumption (Indicator OFF)	Emitter: 30 mA or less, Receiver: 30 mA or less
Current Consumption (Indicator ON)	Emitter: 35 mA or less, Receiver: 35 mA or less
PFHD (Probability of dangerous failure per hour)	3.80 × 10^-9
MTTFD (Mean time to dangerous failure)	100 years or more
Applicable Standards (International)	IEC 61496-1/2 (Type 2), ISO 13849-1: 2015 (Category 2, PLc), IEC 61508-1 to 3 (SIL 1)
Safety Rated Control Outputs	NPN x 1
Safety Control Output Response Time	OFF response: 20 ms or less, ON response: 80 to 100 ms
Supply Voltage	24VDC ±20% Ripple P-P 10% or less
Operating Temperature	–10 to +55 °C
IP Rating	IP65, IP67
Construction Material	Polycarbonate alloy (Enclosure and sensing surface)
Connection Type	Cabled (Integral Cable 3 meter)
Physical Weight (kg)	0.34
Dimensions L x W x H (cm)	26.4 x 3 x 1.32

Industrial Applications

1. Machine Guarding for Small Press or Assembly Machines

This light curtain provides crucial hand protection for operators accessing the hazardous area of small presses, robotic cells, or assembly machines. Its 240mm protective height, 20mm beam pitch, and ultra-slim profile (13.2mm deep) allow for seamless integration into compact machine designs without requiring extensive modifications. The NPN output is compatible with standard industrial safety controllers.

Problem Solved

Prevents accidental hand entry into hazardous machine operating zones, reducing injury risk and ensuring compliance with safety standards in confined spaces.

Machine guardingPress safetyRobotic cellHand protectionNPN outputCompact designISO 13849-1240mm protective height

2. Access Control at Conveyor Transfer Points in Wet/Dusty Environments

The SF2C-H12-N is suitable for safeguarding pinch points or access areas on conveyor systems, particularly in packaging, food processing, or material handling applications where moisture or dust is prevalent. Its IP65/IP67 rating ensures reliable performance in washdown or dusty conditions, while the 240mm protective height effectively monitors potential hand access.

Problem Solved

Ensures operator safety at high-risk conveyor sections by preventing unauthorized hand access, even in challenging environmental conditions, minimizing downtime due to accidents.

Conveyor safetyAccess preventionWet environmentDusty environmentIP67Material handlingPinch point240mm protective height

3. Point-of-Operation Safeguarding for Manual Workstations

Ideal for manual assembly or inspection workstations involving tools or small machinery, this light curtain provides effective point-of-operation safeguarding. Its rapid OFF response time of 20 ms ensures quick machine shutdown upon hand detection, enhancing operator safety during repetitive tasks. The built-in multi-purpose LED indicators offer immediate visual feedback to the operator, improving workflow and safety awareness.

Problem Solved

Protects operators from injury at the point of operation in manual workstations, ensuring rapid machine response to detected intrusions and providing clear status feedback.

Point-of-operation safetyManual assemblyWorkstation safeguardingRapid response timeOperator feedbackSIL 120ms response time