Testing Electronic Components

5 comments

Rate

repit Active Contributor Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Malta.Europe Posts: 23	Testing Electronic Components 08/21/2010 8:16 PM
	How do you properly test a Photo Diode
	Register to Reply
	Pathfinder Tags: electronic components

Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

These comments received enough positive votes to make them "good answers".

Tobugrynbak Guru Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Deepest Darkest Rutherford Oz Posts: 951 Good Answers: 145	#1 Re: Testing Electronic Components 08/21/2010 8:59 PM
	At the risk of being twee, Google for the data sheet part number of the component you have. Then download the data sheet. There will be a "test" circuit in the data sheet along with the necessary parameters for driving the critter. If you know the pin outs then put a resistor of around 47k between the 5 volt supply and the collector, and connect the emitter to the ground of that supply. To measure if it is working, put a multimeter measuring volts across the collector and emitter. You should be measuring to see if the Photo diode switches on when a light source is applied. When it switches on you will see the volts go from 5 to 0. which is why you need to use a "pullup" resistor. as for a light source you need to know what part of the spectrum the photo diode operates, as it may be a Infra Red one. Then you'll want to acquire the matching LED. __________________ There are two reasons for a man to do a thing, One that sounds good, and the real one...
	Register to Reply Good Answer (Score 2)

Mikerho Guru Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Moses Lake, WA, USA, Thulcandra - The Silent Planet (C.S. Lewis) Posts: 4216 Good Answers: 194	#2 In reply to #1 Re: Testing Electronic Components 08/21/2010 9:34 PM
	That must be some kind of OZ slang. What does "at the risk of being twee" mean? For that matter, what's a "combie" and what's "vegemite"? GA for the straightforward answer! __________________ "Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it. Do not count on them. Leave them alone." - Ayn Rand
	Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)

Tobugrynbak Guru Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Deepest Darkest Rutherford Oz Posts: 951 Good Answers: 145	#3 In reply to #2 Re: Testing Electronic Components 08/22/2010 12:15 AM
	Being "twee" is English/British slang for being patently obvious. Vegemite is a tar like substance apparently made from the residual sludge you get when you make beer. That's full strength beer, not the dilute suds you denizens of the U.S. pretend is beer. Vegemite is spread thinly on a piece of buttered toast then fed to the "dirt magnets" to keep them quiet for 5 minutes. "Dirt Magnet", any child that can move by itself, term is relevant up to around age 7. A "Kombi" is a VW Type 2 Transporter or Bus applicable to either split screen/barn door or a Bay window up to around Model Year 1978. The later type 4's are Transporters It can also be a Combi which is a 3 or 5 door Hatch back SAAB 99/900 (Classic not GM) This usage is generally limited to SAABophiles, The vehicles had Combi Coupe badges on their rear flanks. We should start a new "sticky" thread on "cultural" explanations..lol __________________ There are two reasons for a man to do a thing, One that sounds good, and the real one...
	Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)

user-deleted-1105 Guru Join Date: May 2007 Location: Harlow England Posts: 16512 Good Answers: 670	#4 Re: Testing Electronic Components 08/22/2010 4:08 AM
	'Test' can meen several things. I suspect you are trying to see if it's faulty, you can see if it is behaving like a diode with a meter, a scope is better. But it's not even obvious if you mean an emiter or a detector. The only real way is to get a pair , emiter and receiver an see if they work, preferably in you specific application. BTW. Explanations of the word 'twee' have been pathetic and incorrect, I suggest using a dictionary. "Small and sweet: sentimentally pretty" Chambers English Dictionary. And yes the word is in relatively common usage in the UK. You can all stay behind after school and tidy the classroom Del __________________ health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
	Register to Reply

Tobugrynbak Guru Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Deepest Darkest Rutherford Oz Posts: 951 Good Answers: 145	#5 In reply to #4 Re: Testing Electronic Components 08/22/2010 5:35 AM
	My apologies Del, English is my second language. I've used the phase a bit twee on the understanding that it was a pejorative statement, referring to something being obvious. I've watched too much English TV drama. So I can put you down as a contributor on the "Cultural References Explanation" Thread? __________________ There are two reasons for a man to do a thing, One that sounds good, and the real one...
	Register to Reply

These comments received enough positive votes to make them "good answers".

Copy to Clipboard

	Got Something to Say?
	Ask a Question Start a Discussion

	Search this Forum
	Communications & Electronics: Go

	Aerospace
	BioMech & BioMed
	Chemical & Material Science
	Civil Engineering
	Communications & Electronics
	Education and Engineering Careers
	Electrical Engineering
	General Discussion
	Instrumentation
	Manufacturing
	Mechanical Engineering
	New Technologies & Research
	Software & Programming
	Sustainable Engineering
	Transportation

	Site Directories
	Forum Directory Blog Directory User Group Directory RSS Feeds CR4 Rules of Conduct CR4 FAQ Site Glossary Who's Online (80 right now) Show Members