When you need a sensor for an automated door, gate, or control panel, the right choice depends on what the sensor has to do. The EMX Industries Thru-Beam Photometer Sensor IRB-MON 2 photo eye is a thru-beam unit for doors, gates, and barriers. The 1 Pc EC11 360 Degree Rotary Encoder PCB Mount Push Switch D Shaft is a compact encoder for a control board. Both live in the broader sensors-and-machine-safety aisle, but they are built for different jobs: one guards a moving opening, the other gives an operator a way to dial in settings.
Quick Verdict
If your project needs protection on an automatic door, gate, or barrier, choose the EMX Industries IRB-MON 2. If you are designing a PCB control interface, choose the EC11 rotary encoder.
Comparison at a Glance
| Aspect | EMX Industries IRB-MON 2 Thru-Beam Photometer Sensor | EC11 360 Degree Rotary Encoder PCB Mount Push Switch |
| Listed price | USD 45.00 | USD 2.50 |
| Primary job | Monitored thru-beam photoeye for doors, gates, and barriers | 360-degree rotary encoder with push-to-actuate switch |
| Mounting and package | Weather-proof IP65 kit with transmitter, receiver, hoods, and sunshield | Through-hole PCB mount, 7 pins, 15mm D shaft |
| Signal details | UL325 compliant; works with monitored operators and most non-monitored legacy products | 20 pulses per revolution; contacts rated 5V @ 10mA |
Where the EMX IRB-MON 2 Wins
The IRB-MON 2 wins whenever you need a durable presence sensor for an outdoor or indoor gate, door, or barrier. The kit includes everything needed for a thru-beam setup, and its design is forgiving when you are aligning the pair. It is a complete package rather than a bare component, which matters for installations where protection is the main goal.
Where the EC11 Wins
The EC11 wins when you want a simple, compact way to add knob-style input to a PCB. It mounts directly on the board and works with a standard knob, and one small component can cover both rotate and click actions. That makes it a good fit for control panels and operator interfaces where space is tight.
Product Notes
EMX Industries IRB-MON 2 Thru-Beam Photometer Sensor
Choose the IRB-MON 2 when you need monitored entrapment protection in a single package. The kit is complete from transmitter and receiver to protective hoods and lens sunshield, and the IP65 weather-proof enclosure means it can live outdoors. It is UL325 compliant and designed to work with a broad range of monitored operators plus most non-monitored legacy products, so it is easy to slot into an existing gate or door setup. The robust design also reduces fogging and false triggering, which makes alignment less painful. The tradeoff is focus: it is a dedicated safety photoeye, not a general-purpose input device, and its USD 45.00 price is the high point of this pairing.
EC11 360 Degree Rotary Encoder with D Shaft
This part is a board-level input device, not a field sensor. The EC11 uses a through-hole footprint with seven pins and a 15mm D shaft, so it can be soldered into a PCB and paired with a knob. Its mechanical sensing gives 20 pulses per revolution with directional output, and the integrated push-to-actuate switch adds a click function without a separate button. The constraints are the low 5V @ 10mA contact rating and the physical package: it is meant to live inside an enclosure, not survive outdoor weather. For panel input, those limits rarely matter; for door or gate protection, they make it the wrong part.
Final Choice by Use Case
For an automatic door, gate, or barrier that needs entrapment protection, the EMX Industries IRB-MON 2 is the sensor to install. For a PCB-based control interface that needs a compact rotary dial with a click action, the EC11 360 Degree Rotary Encoder is the component to buy.
