How To Test Opto-coupler (Find Bad Opto-

coupler) Collection By Pravin Mevada.

Opto-coupler:
opto-coupler, photo-coupler, or optical-isolator, is a component
that transfers electrical signals between two isolated circuits by using light. Opto-
isolators prevent high voltages from affecting the system receiving the signal.
Optocouplers are available in four general types, each one having an infra-red LED
source but with different photo-sensitive devices. The four optocouplers are called the:
Photo-transistor, Photo-darlington, Photo-SCR and Photo-triac as shown below.
Method #1:

• Part's Required: Multimeter or ohm meter, opto-coupler,100 Ohm resistor,push

button,battery or power supply.
• Turn ON multimeter and select Resistance mode.
• Now, Connect the multimeter ( X1K Ohm or X10K Ohm ) between emitter and
collector like this: red probe to collector and black probe to emitter.
 • Now, connect a resistor of a few hundred ohms (100 ohms) in series with the
LED anode, after this turn on the power supply, press the push button and start
increasing the voltage from 0 to 2…5 volts, and you should be able to see on the
ohmmeter how the output resistance decreases as the input voltage increases
and viceversa.
• the Optocoupler IC is Good. else if the Optocoupler IC is Bad.

Method #2:
 • Part's Required: Multimeter or ohm meter, opto-coupler,100 Ohm resistor,push
button,battery or power supply.
• Turn ON multimeter and select DC Voltage mode.
• Now, connect a resistor of a few hundred ohms (100 ohms),Push button in series
with the LED anode,after give +5V DC power supply to this circuit.
• if the push button is press: display the voltage reading is near 0V or 0.2V DC.
else the push button is unpress: display the voltage reading is near 5V or 4.9V
DC. the Optocoupler IC is Good. else if the Optocoupler IC is Bad.

Method #3:

• Part's Required: Multimeter or ohm meter, opto-coupler,100 Ohm resistor,push

button,battery or power supply.
• Turn ON multimeter and select DC Voltage mode.
• Now, connect a resistor of a few hundred ohms (100 ohms),Push button in series
with the LED anode,after give +5V DC power supply to this circuit.
• if the push button is press: LED will ON. else the push button is unpress: LED will
OFF. the Optocoupler IC is Good. else if the Optocoupler IC is Bad.