Subject: Re: PIC light sensitivity

>> D. L. Davis wrote:
>>
>> I built an altimeter with a PIC14000 which I have in bench test now.
>>  I am using the 16 bit A/D of the PIC14000 to measure voltage from
>> an air pressure sensor.  It is used to control an autopilot, and the
>> PIC runs the autopilot servo too.


> Keep in mind that if you are using a silicon based pressure sensor, it
> will also be sensitive to light. I have seen several altimiters built
> for model rockets which had to use light sheilding on the pressure
> sensor.

Amen to that!  I make audio variometers based around the MPX5100A
pressure sensor and that sensor is *very* sensitive to light.  When I first
noticed the pheonomena, I was quite surprized by it, and immeadiately
consulted the databook.   The was no mention of this in the databook.
But this is the first time that I heard someone else also mention
this, and I'm quite relieved to know that its not just my
imagination.   :)

Rgds
Werner
--
Werner Terreblanche   Tel +27 21 7102251   Fax +27 21 721278
wterreb@plessey.co.za (work)  OR  werner@aztec.co.za  (home)
Plessey SA, PO Box 30451, Tokai 7966, Cape Town, South Africa