THORLABS PDA015A2 User manual

See www.thorlabs.com/manuals to access the full product manual.
PDA015A2 Silicon Amplified Detector
Safety Information
Before Applying Power: Each PDA015A2 is
supplied with an external ±12 V power supply.
Before connecting the power supply to the
mains make sure that the RED Line Voltage
Switch on the Power Supply Module is set to the
proper voltage range so that it agrees with your
local mains supply voltage. The PDA015A2 should always be powered up using
the power switch on the power supply or the PDA015A2 itself. Hot plugging the
unit is not recommended.
Covers and Service: Do not remove the cover of the PDA015A2. There are no
user serviceable parts in this product. Refer servicing to qualified personnel. Do
not cover the device in order to prevent overheating of the instrument.
Explosive Environments: Do NOT operate this device in explosive environments.
General: All statements regarding safe operation and technical data in the
instruction manual will only apply when the unit is operated correctly.
Operation Precautions
ESD Sensitivity: The components inside the PDA015A2 are ESD sensitive. Take all
appropriate precautions to discharge personnel and equipment before making
any electrical connections to the unit.
Shielded Connections: The PDA015A2 must be operated with proper shielded
connection cables. Attach a 50 Ω BNC-type coaxial cable (i.e. RG-58U) to the
output of the PDA015A2. For best performance, we recommend terminating the
cable with a 50 Ω load at the measurement instrument. If the instrument has a
high impedance input, then adding an external 50 Ω load resistor may be an
option. Do not add an external 50 Ω resistor if the instrument has an internal
50 Ω termination, as the resulting 25 Ω load could damage the output of the
PDA015A2.

See www.thorlabs.com/manuals to access the full product manual.
Electromagnetic Interference: Mobile telephones, cellular phones or other radio
transmitters are not to be used within the range of 3 meters of this unit since
the electromagnetic field intensity may then exceed the maximum allowed
disturbance values according to IEC 61326-1. This product has been tested and
found to comply with the limits according to IEC 61326-1 for using connection
cables shorter than 3 meters (9.8 feet).
Powering On: Note that immediately after the power is switched on, the output
of the PDA015A2 will momentarily (for 200 ms) go to its maximum output
voltage (5 V for 50 Ω load or 10 V for high impedance load). For sensitive
equipment that cannot tolerate this brief spike, turn on the PDA015A2 before
connecting to its output.
Input Optical Power: Photodiodes are sensitive devices and can be easily
damaged by overpowering them; care must be taken to ensure functionality. Be
careful not to illuminate to photodiode beyond its 150 µm diameter as this can
degrade performance. Optical power can be converted to voltage using the
formula noted below. Please use the formula to ensure the detector is not
saturated.
Voltage (V) =
Optical Power (W) x Responsivity (A/W) x 50,000 (V/A) x (RLOAD / (RLOAD + 50 Ω))
The maximum output of the PDA015A2 is 5 V for 50 Ω loads and 10 V for high
impedance loads. Be sure not to exceed these output levels to avoid signal
distortion. If necessary, use neutral density filters to reduce the input light level.
Caution Using Fiber Adapters: The PDA015A2 was designed to allow maximum
accessibility to the photodetector by having the front surface of the diode close
to the outside of the PDA015A2’s housing. When using fiber adapters, make sure
that the fiber ferrule does not crash into the detector. Failure to do so may cause
damage to the diode and/or the fiber.
Manufactured by: Thorlabs Inc., 110 Parkland Plaza, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 USA
EU Importer: Thorlabs GmbH, Hans-Boeckler-Str.6, Dachau, D-85521 Germany