Maker Pro
Maker Pro

EMITTER DETECTOR SENSOR

KrisBlueNZ

Sadly passed away in 2015
Nov 28, 2011
8,393
Joined
Nov 28, 2011
Messages
8,393
You should run the IR LED at the current recommended in the data sheet. If in doubt, try 20 mA. IR LEDs have a forward voltage of around 1V so calculate your series resistor using Ohm's Law to give the desired current with (power supply voltage minus 1 volt) across it. For example if your power supply is 12V and you want 20 mA to flow, calculations would be:

R = V / I
= (12 - 1) / 0.02
= 11 / 0.02
= 550Ω.
Closest preferred value is 560Ω.

Yes you can use any small-signal PNP Darlington transistor, or you can connect two small-signal PNP transistors (e.g. 2N3906) together in a Darlington connection (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlington_transistor)
 

BHEKI

Aug 28, 2014
24
Joined
Aug 28, 2014
Messages
24
You should run the IR LED at the current recommended in the data sheet. If in doubt, try 20 mA. IR LEDs have a forward voltage of around 1V so calculate your series resistor using Ohm's Law to give the desired current with (power supply voltage minus 1 volt) across it. For example if your power supply is 12V and you want 20 mA to flow, calculations would be:

R = V / I
= (12 - 1) / 0.02
= 11 / 0.02
= 550Ω.
Closest preferred value is 560Ω.

Yes you can use any small-signal PNP Darlington transistor, or you can connect two small-signal PNP transistors (e.g. 2N3906) together in a Darlington connection (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlington_transistor)


Thank you for this information,im grateful
 
Top