2026-09-05 · Product Knowledge

Magnetostrictive Displacement Sensor 16E: IP68 Sealed Housing Versus Standard Series 16

The 16E magnetostrictive displacement sensor upgrades the housing to IP68 for mines and wash-down; the cap and pressure rating do not change. People ask whether Series 16 can sit in water, mines or TBM wash-down. Standard 16 electronics are IP67. 16E seals the sensing element in a fully enclosed stainless housing to IP68. Cap and pressure do not change.

IP68 sealed 16E magnetostrictive displacement sensor compared with standard Series 16 — Fully sealed 16E stainless housing beside a standard Series 16 head

The same hard limits as Series 16

Cap Ø18G7, Ø10 rod, piston bore ≥12.7 mm;
350 bar working / 530 bar peak, not Series 17's 600 bar peak;
Outputs 160 voltage / 161 current, single (S) or redundant (R).

Bore and pressure: Series 16 explained. IP tests: IP ratings.

What 16E adds is the housing

	16	16E
Ingress	IP67	IP68 fully enclosed stainless
Cable	Internal terminals etc.	PVC flying lead, typically 1–10 m
Stroke	50–7600 mm	75–7600 mm (25 mm steps)
Update time	0.5 / 1.0 / 2.0 / 5.0 ms by stroke	The same bands

Mines, casters, decks, TBM thrust cylinders: check 16E first. A dry shop with a Series 16 cap already machined does not need 16E for toughness theatre.

Do not mix with 16T or 17

Triple independent measurement: 16T.
M18×1.5, separable electronics, 600 bar peak: Series 17.
Explosive gas: 17EX — IP68 keeps water out; it is not explosion protection, and it is not a substitute for 16T when you need three independent channels.

Engineer's notes

Tell immersion from a high-pressure jet. IP68 is tested by continuous immersion, while TBM work, continuous casting and deck wash-down throw high-pressure water and slurry at the sensor — that tests the cable entry and connector, not only the housing. 16E uses a PVC flying lead: fit a waterproof gland and form a drip loop with the low point away from the head.
Do not read IP68 as a salt-spray answer on its own. The stainless housing resists salt, but the cable jacket embrittles under salt spray plus UV, so run it in conduit. Use anti-seize on the cap thread and fasteners so the sensor can still be removed years later. For decks and mines, write the cable route into the selection.
16E upgrades protection, not pressure. 350 bar working / 530 bar peak are identical to standard Series 16; above 530 bar peak, look at Series 17 (600 bar peak). A fully sealed housing does not raise the rating.