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Old 10-16-2003, 11:21 PM   #1
Ermin
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Question

Disabling photo transistors?


I want to disable the "drip sensors" on my perisaltic feeder pump. After opening the pump unit, I found two sensors located close to where the drip capsule is at. I'm guessing they are photo transistors(?). The sensors face each other with the drip capsule in the middle. The sesors notify the unit if there are actual liquid passing through. Each sensor has two legs. One longer than the other, I'm assuming its like cathode and anode ends on LEDs. Each leg has a wire connected to it...so there are a total of 4 wires. The four wires then connect to the main electronic circuit board.
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Old 10-17-2003, 12:39 AM   #2
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I dug around and found an old picture of a doser I used to use for kalk. I had the seller disable the same feature before I bought it. You are correct, it is a LED. here's a pic:
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Old 10-17-2003, 06:30 AM   #3
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Sensor.jpg:
Labels "A" and "B" are the locations where the photo diode sensors are at. The curved center is where the drip capsule sits. Two wires connect to each diode (is that what the part is?) via a brown connector.
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Old 10-17-2003, 06:31 AM   #4
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Photodiode.jpg:
One photo diode by itself. Notice the long/ short legs.
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Old 10-17-2003, 06:32 AM   #5
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Front.jpg:
The side of diode that faces the drip capsule.
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Old 10-17-2003, 06:32 AM   #6
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Back.jpg:
Back of the diode.
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Old 10-17-2003, 10:52 AM   #7
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what if you just tape the two sensors together? facing eachother like they are in the clip. you can just let it sit in the case that way, it looks like you have plenty of room. then they would always stay in the one position, correct? if not then put a piece of tape between the sensors.

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Old 10-17-2003, 05:39 PM   #8
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Geoff, I've tried that and it didn't work. They need to sense liquid drips passing by. If I understood it correctly, everytime something passes through, the lighting condition changes. That split second of change is how the photo diodes sense droplets passing through the capsule.
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Old 10-17-2003, 09:43 PM   #9
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That sounds like the same problem that I have with my pump. I decided to just fool it with a loop that drips thru it.

What brand do you have?
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Old 10-24-2003, 07:35 AM   #10
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Please click on the following link for pictures and info of my dosing pump.

http://jean.yen.tripod.com/id60.htm


Minnreefer,
Can you give me more detail in how you fool the circuit?
Thanks!
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Old 10-24-2003, 12:39 PM   #11
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unfortunately i think you are on the right track. i do not think it can be done mechanically. it must be done by programing. whether or not it is just a chip swap or an interface setup i do not know.

sorry, please keep us posted on any updates.

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Old 10-24-2003, 12:51 PM   #12
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I'm taking it you want the pump to always run?
If you remove the two Photo diodes it won't ever run. Each Diode has approximatly .7 voltage drop when conducting. I'll have to look it up but I think in that case you can bypass the sensors by connecting each two legs together or with a low power resistor that would drop .7 volts.
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Old 11-02-2003, 08:14 AM   #13
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BuckWheat,
Do all photo diodes have more or less 0.7 v resistance? Please suggest what spec resistor will I need.... Thanks.
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Old 11-03-2003, 09:59 AM   #14
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I've attached a general purpose diode chart but it will depend Exactly on the Photodiode your equipment is using, there is just too many for me to say without having the Exact part number. I will also link a web page for you to try and find your Exact part number then you can get the specs on what size resistor it will take to replace it, you need to make sure it is the same wattage and resistance, the charts will provide you with that information. Regardless, I highly recommend letting someone with experience to do this for you but if your intent on doing it yourself, you must understand, I'm not right there doing the conversion. It is easily done if you have the right information, Other wise you will burn your UNIT Guaranteed!

The .7 Voltage drop is used for standard silicone diodes, these Photodiodes are specialty diodes and are different for each case, so I must retract that information for your case.

http://www.qphotonics.com/qpdm-1300-1550.htm

http://www.ibsg-st-petersburg.com/pd_gen/pd_gen.htm
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