Light Sensor

craigsimon

Member
craigsimon
Join Date
Apr 2002
Location
Minnesota
Posts
93
I am designing a test box that will do a functionality test on incandescant lamp fixtures. I am looking for an "off-the-shelf" light sensor. This could be either 24VDC or 115VAC. I can build one myself and already had my 11 yr old son build one with his Radio Shack electronic kit. He was excited about making something that I could use at work, but my superiors would like to me to find an "off-the-shelf" sensor.

All of the sensors that I found are used in the outdoor lighting market and they all have delays built into them for on & off. I am looking for a sensor that would change states within a second.

Any help or direction would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
I don't know if this will work or not but maybe a receiving unit from a through-beam photoeye will work. Since the sending unit is little more than a "lamp", you might be able to find one that can detect the incandescent light.

Try calling the various photoeye vendors like Keyence, Omron, Banner, etc. and see what they say.

Let us know what you find. You never know, this could be useful to the rest of us somewhere down the road....

Steve
 
Most through-beam receivers are designed to recieve only the light from their matched transmitter. This is to help prevent triggering by incident light like incadescent or flourescent. But this is exactly the type of light he wishes to detect. Could be tricky.
 
What are we testing here, the light fixture or the light ouput of a light bulb? With the real purpose of the test in mind I would suggest an entierly different approach: Meter the current flow in and out of the fuxture in the test stand. This will provide you the necessary functional test and also check for ground faults.

Why is a basic continutity and insulation check with a megger insufficient?
 
Yes, I can test the current draw and will be testing the current flow through an additional outlet anyway, but we would like to test the light itself. We might end up testing the current draw. I have made a simple circuit on my desk that works, but it is not industrialized. The lux meters are to big, to expensize, and just an overkill. Looking for something simple.
 
Thanks Ron, I will look into the Solar product and see if I can use it. By the way, I will need to get the sensor ouptu into a small PLC, either by anaolg or by discrete, whichever works beter.
 
Thanks,

I looked into Banner and must have missed them. I will read up on the literature and make sure this will work.

Thanks again
 
craigsimon said:
I will read up on the literature and make sure this will work.
Click to expand...
Realize that they also have the SBAR1GHF which has a fiber lens cover. It's right below the standard one on page 14 of the PDF. This might be a better option if you need a small 'remote' head... :cool:

🍻

-Eric
 

Similar Topics

H
Light Measurement sensor
Hi I have an application where i need ambient light sensor. While I can use sensors like BH1750. I am not sure how i can use it in an industrial...
Replies
2
Views
628
JTCat
J
U
light sensor 4-20 mA or 0-10 Vdc
Hi, can anyone get me a circuit drawing for a light sensor with 4-20 mA or 0-10 V output. Supply voltage should be 24 VDC. I want to connect this...
Replies
3
Views
3,929
RDS
R
Jon R
Analogue light sensor
Hi, I am trying to find a light sensor with either a 4-20ma or 0-10V output. I have searched google but couldn't find anything suitable...
Replies
8
Views
2,865
ATU
A
L
Connect light depedent sensor to PLC
how to connect light depedent sensor to PLC ??
Replies
8
Views
3,173
gerald
G
K
Light sensor for AB PLC for student project.
Hi guys and gals have a question: I'm currently a student and just started taking a class on PLCs. So this is my first time doing Ladder Logic...
Replies
3
Views
8,057
Kermy
K
Back
Top Bottom