Nanosecond Photodetectors
Operation • 7
Using the Photodetector
1. Check the battery voltage.
The Model 162X is
powered by a single 9-volt alkaline battery. To
check the battery condition, push the red power
switch to the BATT CHK position. If the green LED
lights up, the battery is in good condition; if the
LED does not light, the battery needs to be
replaced (see page 10).
2. Mount the photodetector.
Use the 8-32 thread
(M4 for metric versions) on the bottom of the
casing to mount the photoreceiver to a post or
pedestal.
The threading is seated in a non-conductive plastic pad to
reduce the electrical noise associated with ground loops. Be
careful not to over-tighten when attaching the casing to a
post or pedestal, or the threaded insert can strip out of the
plastic pad.
3. Connect the detector output.
Connect your
voltmeter, oscilloscope, or other instrument to the
Output
BNC connector on top of the detector.
4. Turn the power switch to “on.”
The output
voltage should register on your scope or
instrument.
5. Align an optical beam onto the detector.
Be careful to keep the optical power under the
maximum optical power of 50 mW to avoid dam-
aging the photodetector.
6. Select the load.
Use the black switch on top of the
detector to set the load to
50
Ω
,
10 k
Ω
, or
Open
.
(Select
Open
if you are providing an external load
resistor. See “Supplying your own load resistor” on
page 9.)
7. Turn the detector off.
When you are finished
with the detector, return the power switch to the
“off” position.
162x nanosec revB.fm Page 7 Friday, August 17, 2001 5:51 PM
