[HELP] Optoisolators in series

hi there eight08

both circuits, parallel or series, are pointless as neither of them actually do anything

have a look in a datasheet for any opto-isolator and see examples of how they are commonly used
Any questions dont hesitate to ask

cheers
Dave

 

it mite be an idea to tell us what you are trying to achieve.

the output as you have marked will be a voltage that is present when the opto is turned off, The current available will be determined by the resistor value above that tap point.

as you have wired it BOTH optos will be permanently turned on and you will never see an output voltage at that point

Dave

 

to expand on CC's first comment.... "There is no isolation, so it's really useless..."

this was going to be my next comment. you have no isolation as both parts of the opto are powered by the same voltage source.
In pratice, you will find that the source power supply that switches the opto LED on is a separate power supply to what the load is being supplied with

Dave

 

have a look at this circuit of mine and note how there is no connection between the positive or AC rails of the input and output sections of the 3 opto's

in fact the 2 upper opto's are using low voltage DC to switch 240V AC on the output

and THAT is one of the primary purposes of opto's, to isolate 2 sections of a circuit that may have VERY big differences in voltage



Dave

 

OK.....
but my previous comment still stands..... you have no isolation between the input and output stages. and the way it is wired the output will be permanently turned on and no voltage will be predent at the point you have indicated


Dave

 

OK....

using an opto on the input of a micro isnt a bad thing, specially if you want to protect the micro from stray and possible excessive voltages thats cool

you just need to separate the input and output supply rails. So that the input to the LED of the opto is being supplied from your signal source ... whatever that is and the photo transistor in the opto is being supplied from the same source as the micro

like this....



now in this case the pin of the micro is held high till the opto is turned on
you may want it the other way in which case move the collector resistor and tap point to the emitter leg and the tap point between the emitter and the resistor



Dave

 

Ohhh ....

if this is a system like where you have a opto chopper wheel, as in an old style mouse thats cool.
The LED of the opto will have a separate battery supply or a isolated supply from the micro supply... use a voltage regulator to do that isolation.

edit .... after thought ..... in this situation, it may work with out isolating the LED supply

the output of the opto is still the same arrangement

Dave