PC817 Optocoupler: Pinout, Schematic, Equivalent [FAQ]

PC817 is an optocoupler. This blog covers PC817 Optocoupler pinout, datasheet, equivalent, features, and other information on how to use and where to use this device.

Catalog

PC817 Pinout

PC817 Circuit

• Circuit Diagram

The circuit design is given below.

The circuit is totally simple but the resistance will give it protection at the input in HIGH voltages. The Optocoupler is just a small-sized circuit of infrared receiver and sender but in case of making it with externally by using IR sender and receiver cause many problems.

• • First manually made circuit comes in a larger size, then in case of IR receiving devices the circuit IR sender of auto coupler or receiver could be affected by other IR signals.
  • The closed communication protects it from many things especially from temperature too.
  • The manually made Optocoupler has low voltage operating voltage level as compare to this PC817.
• Test Circuit for Response Time

• Test Circuit for Frequency Response

PC817 Applications

• In protection like electric isolation, PC817 is reliable to use due to its functionality.
• PC817 is much efficient in switching for microcontrollers. Simple transistors can be used but due to its neglecting the noise factor the optocoupler can be used as switching too.
• In signal Isolation, the optocoupler is faster and widely used from the previous century.
• Optocoupler is also used for a basic noise coupling circuit to keep the circuit in use without any disconnectivity.
• Nowadays IC has the best uses in IoT devices for switching and zero cross. In-Home appliance to control AC load optocoupler gives the pulse of change in frequency which gives the ability to control the AC load at a specific range.
• For Signal transmission the optocoupler is widely used nowadays.

PC817 Features

• It comes with 4-pins in two packages, DIP and SMT.
• The device has an internal protection form of electrical isolation. The protection is for both input and output. It can protect up to HIGH 5KV from electric isolation.
• The optocoupler can be used with an external resistor with high voltage devices to operate with low voltage devices.
• The optocoupler can operate with any kind of device with internal interfaces like with TTL device, Microcontrollers and even with HIGH DC voltage with some internal resistors.
• Optocoupler PC817 comes with internal protection from reverse current. Due to the one-way current flow nature of IR, the PC817 protects the IR from any reverse current.

PC817 Advantage

PC817 Optocoupler

PC817 is also known as an optocoupler / optoisolator. It consists of Infrared Emitting Diode (IRED). This IRED is coupled to a photo transistor optically and not electrically. It is closed in a four (4) pin package. This package is usually available in two different forms. The first one is wide lead (Pb) spacing option and the second one is SMT gullwing lead form option.

PC817 has an internal LED and a photo transistor. The photo transistor's base becomes activate when LED throws light on it. The output obtained can be divided into two formats either common emitter or common collector. But the configuration is mostly common emitter. If the LED does not glow, transistor remains off and hence there will b no output generated by the optocoupler i.e. PC817.

PC817 has different feature, e.g. double transfer mold package, current transfer ratio, different CTR ranks available, RoHS comliant, lead (Pb) free etc. Its real-life application includes noise suppression in switching circuits, programmable controllers, signal transmission between circuits having different voltages, signal transmission between different impedance etc.

PC817 Package

• Through-Hole [ex.PC817X]

• SMT Gullwing Lead-Form [ex.PC817XI]

• Wide Through-Hole Lead-Form [ex.PC817XF]

• Wide SMT Gullwing Lead-Form [ex.PC817XFP]

PC817 Manufacturer

Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas (SMA) drives innovative LCD, optoelectronics, memory, imager, and RF components to market. The world's leading manufacturers of consumer and business technologies look to SMA for the products, expertise, and worldwide support they need to make their visions a reality. SMA, in Camas, Washington, is the microelectronics sales and marketing division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sharp Corporation.

PC817 Alternatives

These are the alternative options: 4N25, 6N136, MOC3021, MOC3041, 6N137

PC817 Equivalents

The replacement and equivalent of PC817 optocoupler are PC816, PC123, TLP621, TLP321, TLP421, PC17K1, H11A817, SFH615A, PS2501-1, PS2561-1, PS2571-1, LTV-816, LTV-817(-V), LTV123, LTV-610 K1010, K817P, SFH615A

Where to use PC817

If you are going to design an electronic circuit in which there is a chance of voltage spikes or voltage surge which may weak or destroy the components or the circuit then you can use the PC817 optocoupler to isolate the circuit. Moreover it can also be used to remove noise from an electronic signal, isolate DC and low voltage circuits from AC and high voltage circuits. You can also use it where you want to control larger voltage or AC voltage from small any small signal which can be a digital signal or analog.

How to use PC817

Using PC817 optocoupler is easy, there are four pins shown in the above pinout details. The pin 1 is anode or positive pin of the IR LED should be connected from the output signal of your circuit and pin2 should be connected to the ground. The other part of the circuit which you want to isolate or controlled should be connected with the pin3 (Emitter of the photo transistor) and pin4 (Collector of the photo transistor). The pin3 and pin4 works same as any other normal transistor for example a BJT transistor’s emitter and collector.

How to Safely Long Run PC817 in Circuit

To safely long run PC817 optocoupler in your circuit is recommended to always stay below the absolute maximum ratings. Do not drive load more than 50mA, The internal IR LED can be derived same as you drive any other normal LED with a current limiting resistor therefore always use a current limiting resistor at the pin1 of optocoupler which is the IR LED anode or positive pin. Do not operate the device in temperature below -30 centigrade and above 100 centigrade and always store in temperature above -55 centigrade and below 125 centigrade.

PC817 Popularity by Region

PC817 Market Price Analysis

Component Datasheet

PC817 Datasheet

FAQ