Spectrum Computing

Hello

I have a Sinclair ZX Printer that I am tring to repair.


one of the photo diodes is faulty, does anyone know what the part number is for the diode or a equvalent that could be used in place?


Thank You

Are you in the U.K.?

Mark

Hi Mark,

Yes I'm in the UK.
Shropshire

Marc

If you get desperate, I have a board from a ZX Printer that I don’t need, I could remove the phototransistor.

The LED is likely an Infra Red (IR) type. To tell, either use a camera (that doesn’t have an IR filter, test using a IR remote control) to see if it’s lighting up. Or measure the voltage across it.

If the LED is an IR type, then a phototransistor that is sensitive to IR light (rather than visible light) is all you need. Looking at the circuit, it doesn’t look like it’s anything special. So anything similar should do. I may even have one in my bit box.

Or you should be able to get something similar from any respectable electronic supplier.

Mark

Here’s a link to a datasheet that provides useful information on some of the types available.

Mark