This detector makes detection of locomotives or rolling stock easy and reliable.  Just place the sensor where its invisible light beam will reflect off the object of interest and you're done - no time-consuming or frustrating adjustments!  Based on modern silicon technology, this reflective infrared proximity sensor is tolerant of ambient (background) lighting conditions, be it completely dark or under full lights, with no false triggering.  Combined with cross-track installation, this low-profile sensor solves many of the challenges that plague other optical detector products

Once a train or carriage goes infant of the sensor, it reflects the light  into an integrated sensor.  This is an all-in-one detector system which does not require separate transmitters and detectors to be mounted at peculiar angles to make it work.  The Detectors stay on as long as they "see" an object.

Electrical Connections:

It is designed to be used with the Lamplighter® DFL (Dedicated Flasher).  The detector comes with a QWIIC connector attached to 8ft of wire.  Just plug the output from the unit (the white wire) into the trigger port on the Lamplighter DFL unit, and the power (red and black) into the power output on the DFL unit.

Multiple detectors can be added to the Lamplighter DFL unit  You can mix and match this Side-on detector with Vertical ones.

Placement:

Place up to 1" away from the object being detected for reliable pick-up.

This IR Detector is compatible with all model train gauges.  It is elegantly simple to mount and operate.  For greatest reliability, mount it within ~1" from the edge of the rail   Use a 3/8" drill hole.

This detector comes with "electrical Box" mounts that are designed to hide the detector.  There are two different size "electrical boxes" that come with each package.  The smaller (5/8" high) is for N scale layouts or to align with the trucks on HO trains.  The larger (1" high) aligns with HO bodies of engines / cars or with the O Gauge trucks.

Multiple Tracks:

For N scale, it is possible for a single detector to cover 2 tracks at once.  However, for HO scale you will need to add extra detectors for the second track.  Three main factors affect this, 1) the distance from the nearest track, 2) the spacing of the tracks from each other, and 3) how reflective the trains are.   E.G. Passenger cars are quite reflective, but matte black coal cars are far less so.  

Dimensions:

Length:  2"

Width: 1/4"

Drill holes:  3/8" 

Wires:  3 of 8ft long wires (Red, black and White) attached via a QWIIC connector to the detector.