My question is about the leads on a infrared led. While looking at a data sheet to learn more about them I noticed a section that showed the "proper" way to bend them when they're mounted. Now I get that sure, but what about when they're used on a breadboard? I bend the heck out of them, maybe that's why a can't get a infrared circuit to work with a TS XXX38 receiver. After some homework here I think it's because I'm not using the 555 timer in astable mode, could be wrong still doing homework. Any thought on the issue with the leads, could this be a problem? Thanks in advance for answering my greenhorn questions. C
Unless the leads are not broken, bending is usually no cause for alarm. The datasheet warns you because the leads can break when bent too often or too sharply. This is the manufacturer's insurance against any claims that could result from improper handling. You can always check the correct function of the IR LEDs by measuring it as a diode: - no current flow in reverse direction - current flow in forward direction with a voltage drop approx. 1.5 V If your measurements confirm these numbers, the LED is o.k.
You can often throw a red LED into the circuit in place of the infrared so you can visually see that it's lighting (circuit doing at least that much).
