[sdiy] KN-75 optocoupler

[Gene Stopp]

Back in my early tech days we used to blow up LEDs for the heck of it at work. We had a 5-volt gazillion-amp power supply that had voltmeter cables on it for destroying hard-to-find short circuits on newly assembled circuit boards (we called it the "f*ck-you" power supply). The LEDs would pop like a .22 going off and the pieces would go "tink" all over the lab - eye protection needed. We did other silly things too like pour solder from the solder pot into vaious molds like coffee cups and burn things up with heat guns but that's another story.


- Gene


-----Original Message-----
From: synth-diy-bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl
[mailto:synth-diy-bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of np
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 1:31 PM
To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
Subject: Re: [sdiy] KN-75 optocoupler


Tom Wiltshire schrieb:
>
> Strictly this is true, and it isn't a good idea, but in practice 
> you'll mostly get away with it.
> I've tested loads of LEDs by giving them a quick flash on a 9V 
> battery, and it doesn't kill them. Mostly 9V batteries aren't a full 
> 9V either, unless you just got a fresh one for the test. Pull one out 
> of a flanger pedal instead!
> However, leaving them running like that would certainly be fatal.
As a child I had a tendency to do destructive things like that with all 
kinds of components.

I remember that to my (and my fathers) surprise such a torture-test on a 
5mm LED powered by a 9V bench supply lasted for more than two weeks!

The poor LED wasn't glowing bright after the inital two seconds but it 
was still emiting light. Maybe 1/10th of the usual brightness.

---
Nils




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