00:00Alright, so you're staring down an IR project and you keep seeing two-part numbers thrown around IR204C and TSOP1238,
00:06and honestly, the listings all start looking the same.
00:10I dug through five of the best-selling infrared pairs out there, and I found the best deals for IR204C
00:15vs TSOP1238, which infrared pair wins.
00:19Let's settle this.
00:21First up, the budget beast, 20-0805 SMDIR diodes, the PT17-21C-L41 and IR17-21C-TR8 combo, for just
00:31$0.82.
00:33Yeah, $0.82 for 20 pieces.
00:36These tiny surface-mount tubes handle both receiving and emitting, which is wild at this size, and they're perfect if
00:42you're designing a PCB and don't want through-hole parts cluttering things up.
00:46Nearly 5,000 sold with a perfect 5-star rating.
00:50At this price, grabbing a pack just to keep in your drawer is a no-brainer.
00:55Next, we go premium with the TLN-108 infrared emitting tubes, 5 pieces for $13.95.
01:02Now I know that sounds steep, but here's why, these are 5mm, 940nm emitters in a gold-sealed 218 metal
01:09can with a tight plus or minus 8-degree beam.
01:12That narrow angle means more focused range for things like photoelectric interrupts and precision sensors.
01:18Metal can also means better heat dissipation and durability.
01:22If reliability matters more than cost, this is your pick.
01:26Third, the LTE 3376-20 pieces for $6.
01:31These are built specifically for photoelectric switches and free-air transmission systems, meaning they're designed to fire across open space
01:38and hit a receiver cleanly.
01:40That's exactly what you want for object detection, counters, and end-stop sensors on machines.
01:46Solid 4.7 rating from almost 5,000 buyers.
01:50It's the sweet spot between the dirt-cheap S&Ds and the pricey metal cans.
01:55Fourth, and this one's different, the 3W infrared emitter, available in 730, 850, or 940nm, for 1121.
02:04This is a double-stacked chip LED pushing serious power, we're talking medical, aesthetic, and physiotherapy applications, health lamps, even
02:12car use.
02:13Not for your TV remote project, obviously, but if you need raw infrared output for heat or therapy lighting, nothing
02:20else on this list comes close.
02:224.7 stars to back it up.
02:25Finally, the crowd favorite, 50 pairs of 3mm and 5mm 940nm IR emitting and receiving diodes for 179.
02:3450 pairs.
02:36That's a sender and receiver for every experiment you'll ever run, plus spares.
02:41Perfect for beginners breadboarding remote controls, line followers, or brake beam sensors.
02:47Perfect 5-star rating, nearly 5,000 sold.
02:51Cheapest way to learn IR, hands down.
02:54So, SNDs for PCBs, TLN108 for precision, LTE3376 for switches, the 3W for therapy power, and 50 pairs for learning.
03:04All links are in the description below.
03:07If this helped you pick your winner, smash the like button and subscribe, more head-to-head comparisons coming soon.
