--- product_id: 41086123 title: "Adafruit IR Break Beam Sensor - 3mm LEDs [ADA2167]" brand: "adafruit" price: "£7.44" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/41086123-adafruit-ir-break-beam-sensor-3mm-leds-ada2167 store_origin: GB region: Great Britain --- # <2ms ultra-fast response 25cm precise detection range 3.3-5.5V flexible power input Adafruit IR Break Beam Sensor - 3mm LEDs [ADA2167] **Brand:** adafruit **Price:** £7.44 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🚀 Break the beam, not the flow—motion sensing that keeps you ahead of the curve! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Adafruit IR Break Beam Sensor - 3mm LEDs [ADA2167] by adafruit - **How much does it cost?** £7.44 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/41086123-adafruit-ir-break-beam-sensor-3mm-leds-ada2167) ## Best For - adafruit enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted adafruit brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Compact & Lightweight:** At just 20x10x8mm and 3g, it fits discreetly anywhere without bulk or fuss. - • **Lightning-Fast Response:** Break the beam and get instant alerts in under 2 milliseconds—no lag, no guesswork. - • **Plug & Play Versatility:** Works seamlessly with 3.3V or 5V systems, perfect for Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and smart home hubs. - • **Pinpoint Motion Detection:** Detect movement exactly where you want with a focused 10° IR beam. - • **Reliable Open Collector Output:** Easily integrate with relays, LEDs, or microcontrollers with up to 100mA sink current. ## Overview The Adafruit IR Break Beam Sensor (3mm LEDs) offers a precise, ultra-fast motion detection solution with a 25cm range and sub-2ms response time. Powered by 3.3-5.5V, it features a narrow 10° IR beam for targeted sensing and an open collector output for easy integration with microcontrollers and smart home systems. Compact and lightweight, it’s ideal for security, automation, and DIY projects demanding reliable, real-time motion detection. ## Description Infrared (IR) break-beam sensors are a simple way to detect motion. They work by having an emitter side that sends out a beam of human-invisible IR light, then a receiver across the way which is sensitive to that same light. When something passes between the two, and its not transparent to IR, then the 'beam is broken' and the receiver will let you know.Compared to PIR sensors, breakbeams are faster and allow better control of where you want to detect the motion. Compared to Sonar modules, they're less expensive. However, you do need both emitter and receiver on opposite sides of the area you want to monitor.This is the 3mm IR version. It works up to 25cm / 10". You can power it from 3.3V or 5V, but 5V will get you better range and is what we suggest. The receiver is open collector transistor output which means that you do need a pull up resistor if you want to read a digital signal off the signal wire. Most microcontrollers have the ability to turn on a built in pull up resistor. If you do not, connect a 10K resistor between the white wire of the receiver and the red wire. If you want to control a relay or LED or whatever, it can sink up to 100mA to groundItem SpecificsSensing Distance: Approx 25cm / 10"Power Voltage: 3.3 - 5.5VDCEmitter Current Draw: 10mA @ 3.3V, 20mA @ 5VOutput Current Capability of receiver: 100mA sinkTransmitter/Receiver LED Angle: 10°Response Time: <2 msDimensions: 20mm x 10mm x 8mm / 0.8" x 0.4" x 0.3"Cable Length: 234mm / 9.2"Weight (of each half): ~3g Review: Worked as expected without issue. - Used this for a beam-break project on Raspberry Pi 3B+. Worked as expected. Pretty easy to set up; I used Python for simplicity; ChatGPT was a big help. Review: Awesome. - Someone wrote a review about small wires. Not sure what they are talking about. It comes with dupont pins as shown in pic and wires are smallish but are as expected. Everything is good and it works perfect for what I'm doing. ## Features - Simple way to detect motion - Faster than PIR sensors and allow better control of where you want to detect the motion - Works up to 10 inches - Open collector transistor output receiver ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B01BU6YBWU | | Antenna Location | Walkway, Terrace, Garden, Sidewalk, Lawn, Driveway, Garage | | Battery Description | battery not included | | Best Sellers Rank | #135,079 in Electronics ( See Top 100 in Electronics ) #506 in Motion Detectors (Electronics) | | Brand | Adafruit | | Color | Black | | Compatible Devices | Security Systems, Smart Home Hubs, Lighting Controls | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (119) | | Item Weight | 0.01 Ounces | | Manufacturer | Adafruit | | Maximum Range | 25 Centimeters | | Mfr Part Number | ADA2167 | | Model Number | 2167 | | Mounting Type | Wall Mount | | Power Source | Corded Electric | | UPC | 600346598904 | ## Product Details - **Brand:** Adafruit - **Color:** Black - **Item Weight:** 0.01 Ounces - **Maximum Range:** 25 Centimeters - **Power Source:** Corded Electric ## Images ![Adafruit IR Break Beam Sensor - 3mm LEDs [ADA2167] - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41yytLApGKL.jpg) ![Adafruit IR Break Beam Sensor - 3mm LEDs [ADA2167] - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41FEv0ZcTTL.jpg) ![Adafruit IR Break Beam Sensor - 3mm LEDs [ADA2167] - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41pBQEZVwwL.jpg) ## Questions & Answers **Q: Where is the IR breakbeam tutorial ?** A: https://learn.adafruit.com/ir-breakbeam-sensors/overview **Q: The holes under the emitter and receiver; are they screw holes for mounting? Or part of the system? Ie: can they be blocked without effecting the unit** A: Yes, they are for mounting and can be blocked without issue. **Q: 1 piece - does it mean that I need 2 items to implement a solution? The photos shows always 2 items. Or package includes sender and receiver as 1p.** A: Package Includes Send and Receive components as 1 piece. **Q: Does the ir breakbeam detect transparent objects? if so, how well does it tell the difference between tranparent and opaque?** A: They are quite sensitive they will definitely detect opaque and probably transparent ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Worked as expected without issue. *by D***N on January 6, 2025* Used this for a beam-break project on Raspberry Pi 3B+. Worked as expected. Pretty easy to set up; I used Python for simplicity; ChatGPT was a big help. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Awesome. *by B***H on February 14, 2024* Someone wrote a review about small wires. Not sure what they are talking about. It comes with dupont pins as shown in pic and wires are smallish but are as expected. Everything is good and it works perfect for what I'm doing. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Works fine so faR *by C***K on June 21, 2024* Works well for 1/32 SCALE slot car timing trigger in light bridge at 6" distance with beam being broken in 1/1000s of a second. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/41086123-adafruit-ir-break-beam-sensor-3mm-leds-ada2167](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/41086123-adafruit-ir-break-beam-sensor-3mm-leds-ada2167) --- *Product available on Desertcart Great Britain* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-04-22*