Maker Pro
Maker Pro

Photodiode or Phototransistor

colum

Jul 25, 2013
175
Joined
Jul 25, 2013
Messages
175
I bought a 3mm Ambient light sensor at Radio Shack the lens is clear and a long and short leg there is no circuit description and some of the folks say its a Phototransistor. From some description of the difference is that Photodiode has a Collector to Base circuit and the Emitter is the Light receiver and in the Phototransistor the Base is the Light receiver.
I want to use this as a Light detector from a Fiber optic cable.

I would appreciate any help I can get, thanks be well and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays..colum
 

davenn

Moderator
Sep 5, 2009
14,254
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
14,254
Merry Christmas to you too :)

a photodiode is just a diode --- it has an anode and a cathode

diodes of any type DONT have collectors, bases or emitters .... transistors do

Dave
 

colum

Jul 25, 2013
175
Joined
Jul 25, 2013
Messages
175
Thanks Dave your response is appreciated. The old books I have represent Photodiodes as having a C to B and E as the light sensitive element, I'm going to toss these old books they are misleading....colum
 

davenn

Moderator
Sep 5, 2009
14,254
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
14,254
The old books I have represent Photodiodes as having a C to B and E as the light sensitive element

yeah just a little misleading

That is a phototransistor :)
 
Top