Perkin-Elmer Vactrol Catalog and Applications

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mediatechnology
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Perkin-Elmer Vactrol Catalog and Applications

Post by mediatechnology »

Found a copy of the now-discontinued line of Vactec, (aka EG&G, Perkin-Elmer, Excelitas) Vactrols.

Though Excelitas, the newest owner of Vactec has discontinued the Vactrol line, this catalog has an abundance of resources for those using NOS Vactrols, performing repairs or using current production optocouplers from Silonex or Coolaudio.

Photoconductive Cells and Analog Optoisolators, Perking Elmer Optoelectronics, 2001: https://www.proaudiodesignforum.com/ima ... atalog.pdf

Image
Correct Vactrol VTL5C3 Resistance versus LED current. The VTL5C3 datasheet table has an error for on resistance and should not be relied upon.

Image
Chart from the Vactrol Catalog showing overlapping areas of LED emitter and CdS photocell spectral responses.

I've always wondered why newer Vactrols continued to use red LEDs when the spectral peak for most CdS cells are around 550 nm (yellow).

Updated November 14, 2018:

Silonex products are made by Luna: http://lunainc.com/product/optocouplers/

The NSL-32-034 looks similar to the VTL5C3 so commonly used: https://proaudiodesignforum.com/images/pdf/NSL-32.pdf

Coolaudio Semiconductor also make the VTL5C3: http://www.coolaudio.com/docs/COOLAUDIO ... ASHEET.pdf

Cabintech offer the Coolaudio VTL-series: https://cabintechglobal.com/?tab=semi

Tesla-Blatna Photocells: http://www.tesla-blatna.cz/en/products- ... c-elements

Link to earlier Clairex photocell data: https://www.proaudiodesignforum.com/for ... 431&p=4886
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JR.
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Re: Perkin-Elmer Vactrol Catalog and Applications

Post by JR. »

They probably used red LEDs because of cost...

Back in the 70's-'80s when I was looking for VCA alternatives I bench tested a center-tapped LDR where I grounded the center-tap and used one half in a feedback loop to linearize control of the other half.

It worked but I still ended up using VCAs. Probably for the more reliable log (dB) control law.

JR
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mediatechnology
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Re: Perkin-Elmer Vactrol Catalog and Applications

Post by mediatechnology »

They probably used red LEDs because of cost...
I think so.
I recall these being introduced really early when red LEDs were all that were practically available.
I read on one of the guitar forums for people wanting to "roll their own" Vactrols the recommendation of using a white LED.
I still think that for most cells sunlight yellow 550 nm would be the most efficient LED color.

I also added a link in the OP back to the Clairex resources I posted her earlier.
cabintechglobal
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Re: Perkin-Elmer Vactrol Catalog and Applications

Post by cabintechglobal »

A 2018 update on this old thread... since this thread was started Xvive has entered the vactrol business with a line of devices that include the VTL5C1, VTL5C3 (single and dual element versions), and VTL5C4. And FYI they are using green/yellow LEDs.

Mark
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mediatechnology
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Re: Perkin-Elmer Vactrol Catalog and Applications

Post by mediatechnology »

cabintechglobal wrote: Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:09 am A 2018 update on this old thread... since this thread was started Xvive has entered the vactrol business with a line of devices that include the VTL5C1, VTL5C3 (single and dual element versions), and VTL5C4. And FYI they are using green/yellow LEDs.

Mark
Cabintech Global LLC
Thanks for joining us Mark!
Interesting factoid regarding the LED color in the new models.
I have some NOS VTL5C3 that would be interesting to compare to.
I like the fact that the new ones aren't operating on the edge of the cells' photo-response.
I would think that a Green/Yel LED would be more consistent lot-to-lot.

The Vactrol VTL5C3 is used in the Texar Audio Prism: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=763

Some years ago I played around with EL panels and found an interesting color shift versus frequency with LF being more yellow than the HF that shifted Blue. I had an app engineer for an EL panel manufacturer confirm that.
I've always wondered how that affected the LA-3 signature with LF being more within the spectral response of the cells.
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