Just salvaged some NPN photocouplers - can I use them like LED/LDR combos?

[frequencycentral]

Got two PS2501 from a defunct computer power supply.

I guess ideally they would be opto fets, but they're close!

Can I use them in a similar way to LED/LDR combos? And any changes I have to make?

http://www.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/pdf/6446/NEC/PS2501-1.html

[frequencycentral]

Bump - anyone?

[bioroids]

I think those are meant to be used as switches, i.e. ligth=on, no light=off. They won't have a range of resistance, at least not much. But it is worth a try, maybe for some kind of chop tremolo effect?

Luck!

Miguel

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Looking at the data sheet, there isn't any kind of switch circuitry.
So, you might be lucky! Certainly worth trying.
Any circuit that sees a transistor used as a 'variable resistor' would be worth trying.
just be careful not to burn out the LED section.

[frequencycentral]

Looking at the data sheet, there isn't any kind of switch circuitry.
So, you might be lucky! Certainly worth trying.
Any circuit that sees a transistor used as a 'variable resistor' would be worth trying.
just be careful not to burn out the LED section.

Thanks Paul - I'll do some tests when I get some  time - planning a low voltage tube VCF and I'm looking at different options for VCRs.