While messing with the old fiber optic cable system that I used during the SMS7630 diode array testing, and while holding its red LED, I decided to do some quick appropriate voltage measurements. The electrometer is not together for the moment, so I used the AM-240 DMM from Amprobe, which was tested at having ~ 15 ...
2009-07-04 03:11:41
I thought I'd include these notes. Before dismantling the IR Photodiode setup, I turned on the lab fluorescent lights, something I normally don't do. The DC current produced by the IR Photodiode did not change. I then removed all of the covering around the entire setup. No change in DC current. I then opened the outer ...
2009-06-18 19:54:17
I just measured the IR Photodiode at producing 2.1 pA DC (0.52 pA resolution). So it appears to be slowly recovering since the 1.0 uF low leakage capacitor was removed immediately after the previous measurement, which was 1.0 pA. IR Photodiode has doubled in current. This might be the last measurement for the IR ...
2009-06-18 19:21:41
I'm working on a new setup that will allow me to conduct a lot of different diode experiments simultaneously. It will probably use numerous DPDT switches that will narrow it down to half, which will in turn narrow it down by half. Similar to a binary system. So if I have 3 strings, that will allow for a total of 2^3 = ...
2009-06-17 14:16:49
Edit: Note, this design is now out of date, and has been replaced with New diode testing design. One nice diode testing methods uses mechanical tilt switches (do not use Mercury switches, as their resistance is too low), that offers no measurable effect on the diode and the measured DC voltage. Such switches are $1.89 ...
2009-06-16 16:44:16
I keep forgetting to post this. I decided to let the IR Photodiode rest a bit longer. Yesterday I measured the IR Photodiode as producing 2.1 pA. This is the same as the last measurement. So it appears that the IR Photodiode has reached its bottom level. We're now getting into low current here relative to the ...
2009-06-13 17:45:49
Preface: The following method is strict, but it is by no means required. It is a simple method, but requires tilt switches. Do not use a mercury tilt switch, as the resistance is to low. There are a lot of methods that require common parts, but you need to know what you're doing. If you're not an experience EE, and ...
2009-06-11 15:07:17
Last night the IR Photodiode was measured at producing 2.1 pA DC. It's still going down. IMO it will continue to go down and down and down until the the 1 uF capacitor is removed and perhaps even the 193 Mohm load is also removed. If true, then it appears that diodes require periodic rest periods to recover from ...
2009-06-03 15:13:55
As expected, the DC current produced by the IR Photodiode dropped significantly after being disturbed to just 2.6 pA. The next measurement will be taken once again in a few days to see if the DC current is still decreasing. A lot of people are under the impression that diodes should be a predictable source like an ...
2009-06-01 15:54:40
Last night the IR Photodiode was measured at producing 10.9 pA DC. Well, it appears the photodiode is not done yet. At this point it's there's still insufficient data to tell if the diode was suddenly disturbed, or if it merely dropped to its preferred DC current level of ~ 10 pA, or if it's now in the stage of ...
2009-05-29 16:23:35