{"id":1829,"date":"2026-10-26T09:25:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T09:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kaivoy.com\/guides\/inductive-vs-capacitive-proximity-sensor\/"},"modified":"2026-10-26T09:25:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T09:25:00","slug":"inductive-vs-capacitive-proximity-sensor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kaivoy.com\/es\/guides\/inductive-vs-capacitive-proximity-sensor\/","title":{"rendered":"Inductive vs Capacitive Proximity Sensor: Which One for Your Line"},"content":{"rendered":"

Both sensor families detect an object without touching it, but they answer different questions. An inductive proximity sensor<\/a> reacts to metal only; a capacitive proximity sensor<\/a> reacts to almost anything that changes the dielectric constant in front of its face – plastic, granules, liquids, glass. Picking the wrong family is the most common reason a proximity sensor “works on the bench and fails on the line”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Side-by-side comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Property<\/th>Inductive (M18, 8 mm)<\/th>Capacitive (M30, 15 mm)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Detects<\/td>Metals only (ferrous and non-ferrous)<\/td>Any material: plastic, liquid, grain, glass, wood<\/td><\/tr>
Typical range<\/td>8 mm<\/td>15 mm (sensitivity adjustable)<\/td><\/tr>
Through a container wall<\/td>No<\/td>Yes – level detection behind plastic or glass<\/td><\/tr>
Dust \/ moisture sensitivity<\/td>Low<\/td>Higher – face contamination can trigger it<\/td><\/tr>
Typical jobs<\/td>Metal part present \/ position of machine slides<\/td>Fill level, non-metal part presence, jam detection<\/td><\/tr>
Housing \/ connection<\/td>M18 threaded barrel, IP-rated, M12 plug<\/td>M30 threaded barrel, IP-rated, M12 plug<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Selection rules that hold up in practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n