Looking for data on 1980s CDS cells - VACTEK VT212/VT212L

Aug 29, 2024 Last reply: 1 year ago 6 Replies

I'm trying to find a modern CDS cells to replace these old timers (1982) from the 70s, I did find a catalogue page for these CDS cells, but the details are not as useful to me as perhaps they would be to someone handy with using CDS cells.



The ratings are: VT212L - 6 R1, 5 R2 VT212 - 7.8 R1, 5 R2



R1 defined as 2fc resistance in K Ohms (tolerance +/- 33.3% @ 2850K Source R2 defined as min dark resistance (Megohms) in 5 sec.



Having a heck of a time matching these to more modern cds such as carried by DK or Mouser. I tried the NSL-06S53, but its light resistance is too sensitive and nothing else on DK was better.



Anyone have a VACTEK catalogue who could scan the pages that might help?



I suspect that PerkinElmer bought out Vactek as they used similar part (VT200x) numbers as early as 2001 that I could find on web.archive.org, but that archive doesn't have the parts books captured.



Bitsavers doesn't list it, nothing on ebay either...



Why am I bothering? I have a rifle gallery

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that uses flash tubes in the rifles to trip the cds cells in the targets and there are around 70 cds cells. A number of them are failing so I want to replace them with something that will work reliably.



Thanks as always for your time!



John :-#)#



Here's a possibility: diffuse the light hitting the innards of the cds by painting or scratching its lens. You could try sliding it across sandpaper - say 220 grit for some specific distance - the see if the sensitivity has been reduced the right amount. Or try translucent paint. If you can get it to work properly with one cds, the next step would be to set up a process where every cds would be identically painted or scratched.

Ed

I'm leaning towards IR filters - I believe the strobe tube puts out a strong IR pulse and this may solve my problem.

Thanks!

John :-#)#

Did you see ths document?:

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Page 84/85 of the pdf, or page 82/83 printed on the original.

It says Type VT212 CdSe material

0.62 - 0.86 micron spectral limits (10% points) 0.74 micron peak sensitivity 0.21 inch diameter 0.146 inch depth >0.5Meg dark resistance, 25 deg C 7.8kOhm at 2 ft-c T 2850K 50mW dissipation 70 Volt rating at 0.1 ft-c resistance is 67% of room temperature resistance at 65 deg C 6ms rise time, 5ms decay time at 10 ft-c

I have a 1988 Clairex catalog that cross-references the VT212 and VT212L to a Clairex CL903L, which is

6k +- 2k ohms @ 2 footcandles, 40M dark, 100VAC (peak), TO18 case.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

Thanks all, I think I have enough information now.

John :-#)#

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