Need Help!- Optical switch circuit?

[Fastest1]

OK I ordered some optical switches from Mouser. I originally had used an "OPB380T51" during some testing because they were locally available.
http://www.alltheic.com/electronics-...datasheet.html
They worked fine but I wanted a different mounting configuration. I ordered some 'OPB832W55Z".
http://chipcatalog.com/TT_Electronic...OPB832W55Z.htm
They dont seem to work the same and I dont understand the difference. I havent been able to stumble upon any configuration that worked in any form.
Can someone explain the difference in how they are connected. Are the voltage requirements for operation different? I do like their mounting configuration. I really only want to use them for limits switches. I was hoping to run them via a 5v wall wart or similar, maybe from the PP? since it is optical? Thanks as always for any help or light you can shed!

[Al_The_Man]

They are very similar and have similar electrical configuration for the most part, not to make them very critical, how do you have them connected?
Al.

[Fastest1]

Al, I thought I mimicked the configuration I had prior. I was using a variable voltage wall wart and was using anywhere between 3.5-5v during testing and it all worked fine. I was connecting the "red" anode to v+ and the "black" cathode to v-. I used the "white" collector and "green" emitter as a switch (that didnt work). I tried tying the green into the v- and vice versa. I tried it with an LED and a resistor. No luck. I used this diagram as my guideline.
http://www.fignoggle.com/workshop/ar...-wiring-how-to
Maybe I will try a different switch?

[Al_The_Man]

The link points out the error of using the diode without a resistor in series, you have to ensure that the current rating of the diode is not exceeded, according to what the applied voltage is.
If you are testing it with just an applied voltage and the resistor shown it should work, it is not that critical, if driving it from a parallel port it may pay to use a 2n7000 buffer between port and opto diode.
Al.

[Fastest1]

I am still doing something wrong. I cant get it to work with the old switch now. I will be back.

[GEBrown]

I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I also have an interest in using optical switches for my home and limit switches.

Al, or anyone knowledgeable, since you seem familiar with these devices, can you help me understand - in very simple terms - the difference between these two?

http://www.optekinc.com/datasheets/OPB857.PDF

and

http://download.siliconexpert.com/pd...30-940-l-w.pdf

The 857 seems much simpler, but I'm still confused by the 30V and 5V circuits, in this case with a common ground. Does one circuit operate the LED and the other get switched on and off when it gets blocked? I simply want to use one of the limit switch ports (on my HobbyCNC board and Mach3).

Thanks!

Gary

[Al_The_Man]

The first both the Transistor emitter and diode cathode are common so you can still use two separate supplies if you wish, just the commons will be at the same potential, i.e. not isolation, basically you would use this to transition from one voltage power level to another, e.g. 5v on the diode side and 24vdc on the transistor side, also you are committed to a source output to drive the diode side as the diodes sinks to common.
The second one not only allows isolation but the output is buffered with a sink to common output, and Schmitt trigger for fast switching.
Al.