The IRB-RET2 is a universal, UL325-compliant retroreflective photoeye with the transmitter and receiver on one side of the roadway and a passive reflector on the opposite side bouncing the beam back. That means no cabling to the far side, considerably simplifying installation at wide passages.
Model: IRB-RET2
Type: Retroreflective infrared photoeye, monitored (transmit/receive unit + reflector)
Standard: UL325-2018 compliant, Type B1 entrapment protection
Monitoring interfaces: normally closed, 2- and 4-wire pulse (2- and 3-frequency), 10K resistive
Range: up to 18 m
Power supply: 6-40 VDC or 12-24 VAC
Alignment indicator: red LED on receiver
Mounting: ball-and-socket bracket, 1/2" threaded conduit connection
Housing: NEMA 4X, suitable for indoor and outdoor use
Extra feature: selectable stealth mode (LED off after 30 sec.)
Weight: 0.3 kg
With a thru-beam photoeye, both the transmitter and receiver need power, meaning cabling has to be run to both sides of the roadway. For wider passages, or situations where the far side of the road is hard to reach, that's a significant installation complication. The IRB-RET2 solves this with a retroreflective principle: the transmitter and receiver sit together on one side, and a reflector on the opposite side simply bounces the beam back.
Because only the transmit/receive unit needs power, and the reflector on the far side is entirely passive, there's no need to run cabling to the other side of the roadway. For an installer, that means less digging, less cable length, and considerably simpler installation at wider passages or locations where the opposite side is difficult to access.
The IRB-RET2 supports six different monitoring interfaces: normally closed, two-wire and four-wire pulse on both two- and three-frequency bases, and 10K resistive termination. That's even broader than the thru-beam IRB-MON2, making the retroreflective variant compatible with an even wider range of gate and door controllers.
With a range up to 18 metres, the IRB-RET2 exceeds the range of many comparable retroreflective photoeyes, offering more flexibility for positioning and installation, particularly at wider access roads or longer barrier arms.
A ball-and-socket bracket with a 1/2-inch threaded conduit connection makes mounting and alignment easy, and a red alignment indicator on the receiver speeds up installation. A selectable stealth mode automatically turns off the LED indicators after 30 seconds without obstruction, contributing to a more discreet installation and making it a less attractive target for vandalism.
The IRB-RET2 is universally deployable, both for controllers requiring UL325-compliant monitored protection and for non-monitored, legacy systems. That makes the photoeye suitable for both new-build projects and upgrades of existing installations.
The IRB-RET2 is mainly used at wide barrier arms, gates, and access roads where cabling to the opposite side of the roadway would be difficult or costly, and at projects requiring UL325-compliant protection without the installation complexity of a thru-beam system.
Secumatic supplies the IRB-RET2 as part of the complete vehicle detection and safety sensor range, with support on specification and project advice for installers and technical service providers. Get in touch for advice on the right photoeye for your project.
