burned IR receiver module?

[d4n13l]

Hi,

I've been playing with an LF1838 connecting it directly to my arduino UNO. I saw nice signals on the oscilloscope when I used my tv remote on it, however after maybe 1 hr it appears the module is not receiving anymore (there is no output). I also noticed that the output is always high and it goes low when it receives a signals (which I think is normal for these modules but I'm not sure), so I'm wondering if it burned out.

Should I have used a resistor in series with the input voltage? Or maybe it was just a crappy quality module? The datasheet I got for it is in chinese, so not much info for me there

[Audioguru again]

Instead of buying a cheap no-name-brand Chinese junk IR receiver with no English datasheet, you should have bought a Vishay TSOP1738 that has a maximum allowed power supply of 6V, and use 5V.

[mindcrime]

Hi,

I've been playing with an LF1838 connecting it directly to my arduino UNO. I saw nice signals on the oscilloscope when I used my tv remote on it, however after maybe 1 hr it appears the module is not receiving anymore (there is no output). I also noticed that the output is always high and it goes low when it receives a signals (which I think is normal for these modules but I'm not sure), so I'm wondering if it burned out.

Should I have used a resistor in series with the input voltage? Or maybe it was just a crappy quality module? The datasheet I got for it is in chinese, so not much info for me there

Are you powering it from the Arduino, or an independent data source? If the former, the worst case is that you may have damaged the power supply on the Arduino.  If you're powering it independently then at least that part isn't a worry.

Anyway, I don't know about that particular part, but if you Google around, you may be able to find an English datasheet. Note that sometimes the exact part-number may be different (different manufacturer, etc.) but often you'll be able to tell that it's the same part.  Especially if the numeric part is the same, but the alpha prefix is subtly different, etc.

It may be too lately to be useful to you on this, but FYI, if you're working with parts with unknown characteristics (impedance from Vcc to GND, for example) it's a probably a good idea to measure what you can (like the aforementioned impedance) and then use what you can determine empirically to guide you. For example, if you know the input impedance and the voltage you plan to feed the thing, you can use Ohm's law to calculate the current and get a gut feel for if you need a current limiting resistor or not.  So if you are looking at something like an IR receiver, and you calculate that you're going to be pushing 1A through it, you can probably guess that might be a bit much.  Add resistance to bring it down to a more sane level, to protect the part and your power source (I ruined an Arduino Uno once by not doing this). If it doesn't work, you can always experiment by bring the current level up in small increments. 

[ledtester]

I found this product page for it which contains some technical specs:

http://product.dzsc.com/product/infomation/772373/201173135751788.html

It contains an email address and phone number for somebody who might be able to provide you with more information.

Many IR demodulator modules require a pull-up resistor on the output pin. For instance, have a look at the datasheet for the TL1838:

http://eeshop.unl.edu/pdf/VS1838-Infrared-Receiver-datasheet.pdf

Note there is a 20K pull-up on the output pin as well as a 100R resistor on Vcc.

As for the operating voltage, most modules I've encountered have an operating range of 3 to 5 or 6V.

[soldar]

Instead of buying a cheap no-name-brand Chinese junk IR receiver with no English datasheet, you should have bought a Vishay TSOP1738 that has a maximum allowed power supply of 6V, and use 5V.

Come on! This may be true but it is not helpful at all!

BTW, what's with the new account? What happened to the old one?

[Audioguru again]

I got a new internet provider so I needed to change my e-mail address that is not allowed on this forum. So I re-registered. I do not care that my record of thousands of posts is gone.

[sleemanj]

I got a new internet provider so I needed to change my e-mail address

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/profile/?area=account

[soldar]

I got a new internet provider so I needed to change my e-mail address

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/profile/?area=account

That sends me to my own account. It took me a moment to realize what you were doing. 

I guess you mean we can each change our email account? I have not tried it.

Even if a user cannot do it I would be surprised if the admin wouldn't do it for you. Seems like a shame to lose the old account.

Audioguru, did you ask?

[d4n13l]

So I went from sad from losing the IR receiver, to afraid think I may have lose the arduino, to realizing this was a gigantic waste of time... apparently as I was testing the IR reveicer the damn batteries in the remote starting to lose charge so the remove kept sending signals just incomplete ones  .

I did learn some stuff trying to fix it, so silver linings I guess..

[mindcrime]

I did learn some stuff trying to fix it, so silver linings I guess..

Yep. The debugging part is where most of the  learning happens. That's why Dave always says that he hopes our projects don't work at first. Debugging == learning.   

[soldar]

So I went from sad from losing the IR receiver, to afraid think I may have lose the arduino, to realizing this was a gigantic waste of time... apparently as I was testing the IR reveicer the damn batteries in the remote starting to lose charge so the remove kept sending signals just incomplete ones  .

I did learn some stuff trying to fix it, so silver linings I guess..

As they say: "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want."

I try to be extremely careful and test parts of the system independently of each other before I assemble the system as a whole... and I still run into a lot of problems. The thing is that now that I am older I am in much less of a hurry and I take my time and go slowly.

As we like to say in Italian: "Piano piano si va lontano". (Little by little, slowly, one goes far.)