I have a need to sense whether an AC circuit is on or not, with a logic level output.
I have tried a neon bulb coupled to a phototransistor, but that was only slightly succesful. The neon was not bright enough.
I thought about using an optocoupler like the and driving the LED side from the mains with appropriate capacitor to drop the voltage. I think that the 60Hz AC will be to slow for the response time of the optocoupler, and will result in a pulsed signal rather than a logic high.
Any ideas?
I have tried a neon bulb coupled to a phototransistor, but that was only slightly succesful. The neon was not bright enough.
I thought about using an optocoupler like the and driving the LED side from the mains with appropriate capacitor to drop the voltage. I think that the 60Hz AC will be to slow for the response time of the optocoupler, and will result in a pulsed signal rather than a logic high.
Any ideas?