Best Photodiode or Phototransistor for Measuring Sunlight 500–30,000 Lux Range

The discussion focuses on identifying suitable photodiodes or phototransistors capable of measuring sunlight intensity within a 500 to 30,000 lux range, addressing limitations of sensors accurate only up to about 1000 lux. Suggestions include using green LEDs as photodetectors, which can generate a voltage or current when exposed to light, potentially serving as low-cost, simple sunlight sensors. The LED’s spectral sensitivity to its own color and the need for transparent housing are noted. Other proposed photodetectors include solar cells, photoresistors (LDRs), reverse-biased LEDs, and PIN diodes. Sensitivity adjustments can be managed via apertures, lenses, or reflectors, while temperature effects might be compensated using thermistors or reference sensors in Wheatstone bridge configurations. Practical experimentation with LEDs connected to voltmeters or ammeters is encouraged to evaluate their response to sunlight.
Summary generated by the language model.