IR recommendation (ESP8266 transmitter power & range)

[javiercuellar]

Hi

I come to you for your knowledge in this area. Hope you can help me.
I have a working remote control for an AC. It will onle work if I point the IR directly to de AC. With the original remote control, doesn't matter where I point, it will work.
Same happends with TV. Looks like the IR of orginal control is long range, super bright, wide angle.
I'm using Vishay 5mm Infrared Emitter 940nm TSAL6400 DE4110 http://www.vishay.com/docs/81011/tsal6400.pdf

¿Any recomendation of a ir diode that can work pointing anywhere?

Thanks

Regards

Javier

[AnalysIR]

The TSAL6x00 are very good high power/quality IR LEDs.

It is highly likely that all you need to do is to increase the current going through the IR LED.

Post your circuit and/or describe it & I can tell you how to change it.

the following circuit may also help:
https://www.analysir.com/blog/2013/11/2 ... d-circuit/

[javiercuellar]

Hi.. Really thanks for your help.

The circuit is very basic. I'm using an ESP8266 (3.3v).

ESP8266 -- R (100 ohm) -- IR Led --- Ground

I will try your "constant current circuit" to see if it improves.

As it is only 3.3v, to be able to use 2 IR Led, changing R3 from 3.3Kohm to 1Kohm will do the job?

Regards

Javier

[AnalysIR]

Probably best to use just 1 IR LEd for 3V3.

However, we have recently published a post on our blog for the ESP8266 NodeMCU:
https://www.analysir.com/blog/2016/07/0 ... sing-uart/

In that circuit you could insert 2 x IR Leds.

If you have a 5V source, use it and wire up the 2xIR LEDs in series.

You could also use the code provided and note the output is inverted, which is why there are 2 transistors

PS: your existing circuit will not deliver much range.

[javiercuellar]

Excellent !!!!

I will test and let you know the results.

Regards

Javier

[javiercuellar]

Hi

No luck

Sorry for this dummy question: R4 = 10R --> will that be 10 ohm or 10k ohm?

Thanks

[AnalysIR]

10R = 10 Ohm

[javiercuellar]

Hi.

Still no luck.
I replace the IR Led for a normal led, so it is easy to "see" it. With all the circuit build, the led is always on. It blinks when I send an IR signal thought "IR Out", so looks like it is working, but the oposite way.
When Q1 is idle, Q2 is receiving +3.3V so transistor is in "on" position. That is why the led is always on.
When Q1 receive a +3.3v signal it will send GND to Q2, turning it to "off" and the led will be off.

¿Is that the way it should work?

I change your design to what I think will give Q2 a negative signal IR Out is off, so the led will not turn on until IR Out is on. I didn't test it, just an idea.

[AnalysIR]

Hi

The output of the ESP8266 using our sketch is inverted, which is why Q1 is required.

So in idle state the output of the ESP is High.

I believe this is all explained in the blog post.


(If you are not using our sketch to send the IR, then you should be able to remove R1, R2, Q1 from the circuit and connect R3 to the ESP8266.)

Caution: Usually an IR LED can handle a relatively small current like 20mA and IR LEDs can easily handle 100mA+.
So replacing the IR LED with a red led could damage/blow the red LED (Unless you change the resistors to limit the current)

PS: I deleted your image to avoid confusion for others.

[javiercuellar]

Hi

Now it's working.
For my circuit I follow your suggestion: remove R1, R2, Q1 from the circuit and connect R3 to the ESP8266
Also use 2 leds in serial.

Thanks a lot!!!!

Regards

Javier