Selenium Photo Cells

Archiver

Sometime ago in the dark ages people used Selenium Photocells. They were
replaced by Silicon Photocells because of the higher output. I used to be able
to get Selenium cells about 2 inches across.

Does anyone know a source of these cells or have any laying around?

TIA

Tom Rose

Archiver

In a message dated 9/22/00 2:48:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
tomrose@i... writes:

<< Does anyone know a source of these cells or have any laying around? >>

Tom,

Try www.goldmine-elec.com (Electronic Goldmine). I don't know if the
cells are available in their regular catalog, but they were in a solar
products
supplement I received a couple of weeks ago. Here is the text......

---

Rare selenium photocells

Before silicon solar cells were used to convert light into electricity,
selenium
cells such as these were widely used in photographic light meters,
electric-eye
door openers, sensors, etc. We give you 3 different selenium photocells of
sizes
ranging from .5" X 1.5" to .9" x 1.7". Great for study, various sensor
circuitry or just
for collecting. Each puts out .4V at up to several milliamps or more current.

G4391 Pkg of 3 for $2.00


Hope this helps,

Steve

Archiver

At 02:47 PM 9/22/2000 -0400, you wrote:
>Sometime ago in the dark ages people used Selenium Photocells. They were
>replaced by Silicon Photocells because of the higher output. I used to be able
>to get Selenium cells about 2 inches across.
Hi Tom -

That wasn't the only reason. As I remember one of the issues was the
toxicity of selenium. I've seen new selenium "stacks" (the finned
rectifiers) but not the photocells, recently. How many did you need ?


>Does anyone know a source of these cells or have any laying around?
>
>TIA
>
>Tom Rose
Regards,

Bruce