The SMC PSE561-01 is a remote type pressure sensor for general fluids designed for vacuum pressure measurement in industrial systems that require stable analogue feedback, corrosion-resistant wetted materials, and flexible installation. In SMC’s official PSE56 series lineup, PSE561 is the vacuum-pressure version with a rated pressure range of 0 to –101 kPa, while the “-01” suffix identifies the R1/8 port with M5 female thread configuration. This places the product in SMC’s general-fluid pressure sensing family rather than in its standard air-only pressure switch segment.
SMC states that the intended use of the PSE560 / PSE561 / PSE563 / PSE564 family is to measure the pressure of general fluids and provide an analogue output signal. The catalog further specifies the applicable medium as liquid or gas that will not corrode stainless steel 316L, which is a key distinction for buyers working with water-based media, process fluids, or non-aggressive gases that require more robust wetted materials than standard pneumatic sensors.
Product Overview
The SMC PSE561-01 is built for applications where the sensing point cannot be conveniently located on the display or controller body itself. As a remote type pressure sensor, it is intended to be paired with a compatible pressure sensor controller, allowing the measurement point to sit close to the fluid line while the monitoring electronics can be mounted separately in a more accessible location. This architecture is common in industrial automation, semiconductor utility lines, cooling-water systems, process skids, and machinery where piping layout, environmental exposure, or serviceability make remote sensing the better engineering choice. The official series literature identifies the PSE56 line as a Pressure Sensor for General Fluids, and SMC’s instruction manual confirms that the product’s purpose is analogue pressure detection for such media.
Compared with compact digital pressure switches that combine display and switching functions in one housing, the PSE561-01 is better understood as a signal-generating sensor head. Its role is to convert vacuum pressure in the process line into an analogue electrical signal that can then be interpreted by a compatible controller. This makes it suitable for machine builders who want a modular sensing architecture and for maintenance teams who prefer separating the sensing point from the operator interface.
Model Meaning
| Model Segment | Meaning |
|---|---|
| PSE56 | Pressure sensor for general fluids |
| 1 | Vacuum pressure type |
| 01 | R1/8 port with M5 female thread |
SMC’s catalog lists the PSE56 ordering structure and confirms that PSE561 is the vacuum model, while 01 corresponds to R1/8 with M5 female thread.
Main Specifications
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Brand | SMC |
| Model | PSE561-01 |
| Product family | PSE56 series |
| Product type | Remote type pressure sensor for general fluids |
| Pressure type | Vacuum pressure |
| Rated pressure range | 0 to –101 kPa |
| Extension analogue output range | 10.1 to 0 kPa |
| Proof pressure | 500 kPa |
| Output type | Analogue output |
| Supply voltage | 12 to 24 VDC ±10% |
| Current consumption | 10 mA or less |
| Enclosure | IP65 |
| Port size | R1/8 with M5 female thread |
| Wetted materials | Case: C3604 + nickel plated; pressure sensor/piping port: stainless steel 316L |
These values are taken from SMC’s official PSE56 catalog pages and web catalog data for the PSE56 family.
Product Weight
For SMC PSE561-01, the official catalog provides a weight table by port specification, with values listed with sensor cable and without sensor cable. For the 01 port size, the corresponding values are:
-
193 g with sensor cable
-
101 g without sensor cable
Because the standard PSE56 series product is ordinarily supplied as the sensor body with cable arrangement according to the ordered configuration, the most practical catalog weight to use for commercial description is:
Product net weight: approximately 193 g
If you are preparing packing data or freight estimates for a bare component without the cable assembly considered, the reference body weight is approximately 101 g.
| Weight Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight with sensor cable | 193 g |
| Weight without sensor cable | 101 g |
| Recommended commercial reference | Approx. 193 g |
Functional Characteristics
Vacuum sensing for process and utility systems
The PSE561-01 is specifically the vacuum-pressure variant of the PSE56 family. That means it is intended for lines where the pressure level falls below atmospheric pressure and where a stable vacuum signal must be monitored for process control, equipment protection, or condition verification. SMC specifies its rated measurement range as 0 to –101 kPa, which covers the typical industrial vacuum range for many automation and utility tasks.
General-fluid capability
A major commercial strength of this product is that it is not limited to dry compressed air. SMC specifies the applicable fluid as liquid or gas that will not corrode stainless steel 316L. In practical terms, this gives the PSE561-01 broader use across cooling circuits, utility systems, non-corrosive process lines, and specialized machine environments where a standard air-service sensor would not be the correct choice.
Corrosion-resistant wetted parts
SMC lists the piping port and pressure sensor material as stainless steel 316L, while the case is C3604 with nickel plating. For industrial buyers, this matters because material compatibility is often the real separator between a sensor that survives and one that fails early. 316L is widely used where good corrosion resistance is needed for non-aggressive liquids and gases, making this sensor more appropriate for demanding media than lower-grade constructions.
Compact remote design
The PSE561-01 is not a bulky inline instrument. It is built as a compact remote sensor head with cable, intended to work with a separate controller. That design gives machine builders more freedom in cabinet layout and allows the sensing point to be placed directly at the process line while the display or evaluation device can be mounted where operators and technicians can actually access it.
Electrical and Output Performance
The official catalog specifies the power supply voltage as 12 to 24 VDC ±10% and the current consumption as 10 mA or less. For the standard voltage-output version, SMC lists the analogue output as 1 to 5 V within the rated differential pressure range, with 0.6 to 1 V in the extension range, and output impedance of approximately 1 kΩ. This makes the PSE561-01 appropriate for integration into analogue monitoring systems where stable continuous output is required rather than discrete on/off switching alone.
SMC also specifies the following performance values for the PSE56 family:
| Performance Item | Official Value |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | ±1% F.S. within rated pressure range |
| Accuracy in extension range | ±3% F.S. |
| Linearity | ±0.5% F.S. |
| Repeatability | ±0.2% F.S. |
| Power supply voltage effect | ±0.3% F.S. |
| Temperature characteristics | ±2% F.S. from 0 to 50°C, ±3% F.S. from –10 to 60°C |
| Protection class | IP65 |
These are catalog-level series specifications and are relevant when evaluating the device for OEM design or replacement planning.
Installation and Application Notes
The “-01” port specification is important. SMC defines it as R1/8 with M5 female thread, which gives the user some installation flexibility in compact piping layouts. For many OEM applications, R1/8 is a practical choice because it is common in instrumentation and small process branches.
The instruction material also notes a practical limitation that should not be ignored: the air tubing in the cable is for atmospheric release, and SMC warns that if this tubing is restricted or exposed to water or oil, the sensor may not detect normally. That is a real installation point, not a trivial footnote. In actual service, poor routing of the vent tubing can cause inaccurate sensing or unstable readings even when the sensor itself is not faulty.
Typical Industrial Uses
The SMC PSE561-01 is suited to industrial systems where vacuum conditions in a general-fluid line need to be monitored reliably. Typical use cases can include:
| Application Area | Why PSE561-01 Fits |
|---|---|
| Cooling-water or utility circuits | General-fluid compatibility and stainless wetted parts |
| Process equipment | Remote installation near the sensing point |
| Semiconductor utility systems | Compact remote sensing architecture |
| Automation machinery | Analogue output for controller-based monitoring |
| Vacuum-assisted process lines | Dedicated 0 to –101 kPa vacuum measurement range |
These are application inferences based on the official series positioning for general fluids and vacuum pressure measurement.
Commercial Summary
The SMC PSE561-01 is a vacuum remote type pressure sensor for general fluids, not a digital display switch and not an air-only sensor. Its strongest value lies in four areas: vacuum measurement, general-fluid compatibility, 316L stainless steel wetted parts, and remote modular installation. For quoting and cataloging, the safest English commercial description is:
SMC PSE561-01 Remote Type Pressure Sensor for General Fluids, Vacuum Range 0 to -101 kPa, R1/8 Port, Approx. 193 g
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