BPW34 Silicon PIN Photodiode – High-Speed Visible and Infrared Light Sensor, Through-Hole

The BPW34 photodiode is a high-speed and high-sensitivity silicon PIN photodetector designed to convert incident light into a small electrical current. It can detect both visible light and near-infrared radiation, making it suitable for light measurement, optical switching, infrared sensing and communication projects.

Unlike an LED, the BPW34 does not produce light. It receives light and generates a photocurrent whose level changes with the intensity of the detected radiation. This signal can be measured using a resistor, operational amplifier, transimpedance amplifier or compatible analog-input circuit.

The BPW34 has a broad spectral response from approximately 430nm to 1100nm, with peak sensitivity near 900nm. This allows it to respond to daylight, visible lamps and common near-infrared sources, including many IR LEDs and remote-control transmitters.

Its relatively large light-sensitive area, low dark current and fast response make it useful for optical counters, beam-break detectors, light meters, IR communication receivers, smoke-detection experiments, pulse sensing and educational electronics.

The component is supplied in a compact transparent through-hole package with two leads. Because it is a polarized semiconductor device, the anode and cathode must be connected correctly. The exact lead orientation should be confirmed using the manufacturer’s datasheet or by testing before soldering.

Common Applications

• Visible-light detection
• Infrared-light detection
• IR receiver circuits
• Light-intensity measurement
• Optical beam-break sensors
• Object counters
• Light meters
• Optical switches
• Encoder and rotation sensors
• Remote-control signal experiments
• Pulse and heartbeat-sensing projects
• Smoke-detector experiments
• Laser detection projects
• Arduino light-sensor circuits
• Educational electronics projects

Package Contents: 1 × BPW34 PIN Photodiode