Photodiode or Phototransistor

[colum]

I bought a 3mm Ambient light sensor at Radio Shack the lens is clear and a long and short leg there is no circuit description and some of the folks say its a Phototransistor. From some description of the difference is that Photodiode has a Collector to Base circuit and the Emitter is the Light receiver and in the Phototransistor the Base is the Light receiver.
I want to use this as a Light detector from a Fiber optic cable.

I would appreciate any help I can get, thanks be well and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays..colum

 

[davenn]

Merry Christmas to you too

a photodiode is just a diode --- it has an anode and a cathode

diodes of any type DONT have collectors, bases or emitters .... transistors do

Dave

 

[colum]

Thanks Dave your response is appreciated. The old books I have represent Photodiodes as having a C to B and E as the light sensitive element, I'm going to toss these old books they are misleading....colum

 

[davenn]

The old books I have represent Photodiodes as having a C to B and E as the light sensitive element

yeah just a little misleading

That is a phototransistor

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

Merry Christmas to you too Colum

There was a thread where we argued about what the Radio Shack optical device was. Not sure we ever resolved it, but here's the thread: https://www.electronicspoint.com/threads/led-optic-sensor-circuit.268955/