The Vishay TSOP1736 is a legacy three-pin infrared receiver module for 36 kHz PCM remote-control signals. Its pins are 1 GND, 2 VS, and 3 OUT; the output is active low. The original data sheet specifies a 4.5–5.5 V supply, so a TSOP1736 should not be treated as a 3.3 V part. Modern 36 kHz devices such as TSOP4836 and TSOP38436 are candidate replacements, not automatic drop-in substitutes.
TSOP1736 at a glance
| Item | TSOP1736 information |
|---|---|
| Device type | Integrated infrared receiver for PCM remote-control systems |
| Nominal carrier | 36 kHz |
| Supply voltage | 4.5–5.5 V |
| Typical supply current | 0.4 mA at 5 V with no optical signal; 0.6 mA maximum under the listed test condition |
| Pin functions | 1: GND; 2: VS; 3: OUT |
| Output | Demodulated, active-low logic signal |
| Operating temperature | −25 °C to +85 °C |
| Typical range | 35 m with a Vishay TSAL6200 emitter under the data-sheet test conditions |
| Half-angle directivity | ±45° |
These figures come from the legacy Vishay document, not a universal performance guarantee: TSOP1736 data-sheet extract.
What the TSOP1736 is—and what “1736” means
A TSOP1736 is a complete IR receiver module, not a bare photodiode. Inside the package are an infrared detector, preamplifier, optical and electrical filtering, automatic gain control (AGC), demodulator, and logic output stage. It is intended to recognize bursts of a 36 kHz carrier and present the recovered pulse envelope to a microcontroller. Continuous, unmodulated IR is not the signal it is designed to decode.
In the name, TSOP17 identifies the receiver family and package generation; 36 identifies the nominal carrier frequency. It does not mean 36 MHz or 36 V, and it does not make every nearby carrier frequency equivalent. A 38 kHz remote may work poorly or intermittently with a 36 kHz receiver.
#1 Best Overall
- Package contents:TSOP1736 2pieces
- Part Number:TSOP1736
The original document is Vishay document 82030, dated April 2, 2001. Vishay’s current product pages emphasize newer TSOP37x, TSOP38x, and TSOP48x families, so the TSOP1736 should be regarded as a legacy component: legacy document page, current TSOP37x/38x product information, and current TSOP372/374 product information.
Pinout and package orientation
| Pin | Function | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GND | 0 V supply return |
| 2 | VS | Regulated 4.5–5.5 V supply |
| 3 | OUT | Microcontroller digital input |
The output normally remains high while idle and pulls low during valid received IR bursts. It is the demodulated data envelope, not the 36 kHz carrier waveform.
Rank #2
- TSOP38238 Supply voltage: 2.5 V to 5.5 V
- TSOP38238 Insensitive to supply voltage ripple and noise
- TSAL6200 Peak wavelength: λp = 940 nm
- TSAL6200 Suitable for high pulse current operation
- TSAL6200 Angle of half intensity: ϕ = ± 17°
Orientation warning: verify pin numbering from the exact package drawing before installing a replacement. Vishay receiver families can differ in package style, viewing direction, lead arrangement, and pin order. Current package and pin information is provided separately in the TSOP37x/38x documentation and TSOP372/374 documentation. Reversing the supply and ground can produce no output, excessive current, or permanent damage.
Recommended application circuit
Regulated +5 V ─────────────── Pin 2, VS
|
4.7 µF
|
Ground ─────────────┴────────── Pin 1, GND
Pin 3, OUT ──────────────────── MCU digital input
Place the bypass capacitor physically close to the receiver’s supply and ground pins. The legacy application circuit shows a 4.7 µF capacitor and an optional 100 Ω series resistor arrangement. If used, the resistor belongs in the supply path, not in series with OUT. Newer Vishay documentation likewise recommends an R1/C1 network when ripple or spikes are significant; use the exact values specified for the selected replacement: TSOP1736 application circuit and current Vishay application guidance.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- The infrared transmitter module is directly transmitted by a single tube, and the waveform needs to be modulated by the program.
- Adopt 1838 remote control receiver with high sensitivity.
- with the emission signal indicator LED, easy to observe and debug.
- Can be used for remoter control,Can be compatible with wrobot digital 38KHz IR transmitter sensor.
- Widely used in infrared communication, infrared remote control, apply to a variety of platforms including for Raspberry pi/51/AVR/ARM.
- Use a regulated supply within the device’s stated range.
- Keep supply and ground traces short and route OUT away from switching nodes.
- Filter motor, display, radio, and switching-regulator noise at its source as well as at the receiver.
- Check that the MCU input threshold is suitable for the receiver’s logic-level output.
Electrical and optical limits
| Parameter | Legacy data-sheet value or condition |
|---|---|
| Supply voltage | 4.5–5.5 V |
| Supply current | 0.4 mA typical; 0.6 mA maximum at the listed dark-condition test |
| Strong-sunlight current | 1.0 mA shown in the basic characteristics table |
| Output-low voltage | 250 mV maximum at the stated 0.5 mA output-current test |
| Minimum irradiance, 30–40 kHz | 0.35 mW/m² typical; 0.5 mW/m² maximum |
| Minimum irradiance, 56 kHz | 0.4 mW/m² typical; 0.6 mW/m² maximum |
| Maximum irradiance | 30 W/m² under the stated pulse-width test |
| Power consumption | 50 mW maximum at ambient temperatures up to 85 °C |
The 35 m distance is a typical result with a specified TSAL6200 emitter, alignment, modulation, and test setup. Actual range depends on emitter intensity and duty cycle, carrier accuracy, remote protocol burst structure, lighting, enclosure-window transmission, and receiver alignment.
Do not apply newer family limits to this older part. For example, Vishay’s TSOP373/375 documentation specifies 2.0–5.5 V for that family, while distributor listings for TSOP48x devices commonly show 2.5–5.5 V. Those ranges do not make the TSOP1736 safe at 3.3 V: TSOP373/375 data and TSOP4836 listing.
Rank #4
- Photo detector and preamplifier in one package
- Internal filter for PCM frequency
- TTL and CMOS compatibility
- Low power consumption
- High immunity against ambient light
Carrier frequency, modulation, and decoding
The transmitter places remote-control data into bursts of approximately 36 kHz IR. The TSOP1736 filters and demodulates those bursts internally. Firmware should therefore decode protocol timing—such as NEC or RC-5 pulse intervals—rather than count individual 36 kHz cycles.
- Carrier frequency: the approximately 36 kHz optical modulation.
- Protocol timing: the longer and shorter burst/space intervals that represent commands.
- OUT signal: active-low pulses representing the recovered envelope.
Choose the receiver frequency for the actual transmitter: 30, 33, 36, 38, 40, and 56 kHz variants are not interchangeable by suffix alone. AGC configuration also matters. Current Vishay families distinguish options for long-burst/legacy signals and short-burst or noisy environments: TSOP372/374 family and TSOP373/375 family.
Recommended Free Tools
Best Value
- Low power consumption,0.2-0.3MA. High temperature resistant material has strong remote reception ability
- Size: 6.5X3.5(L X W), pin length :21.5MM, pin spacing 2.54MM
- Operating voltage :2.7-5.5V, receiving distance 18-25M
- Package includes: 6PCS dot infrared receivers
- Minimum operating temperature :-25 degree centigrade. Maximum operating temperature :85 degrees Celsius. Power current :950, new original, RoHS standard: Yes
Noise and interference
Band-pass filtering, an IR-filtering package, and AGC reject much unwanted optical energy, but they cannot compensate for poor power integrity or an incompatible signal. Sunlight, fluorescent and LED lighting, switching regulators, long unshielded OUT wires, and continuously driven IR emitters can all cause trouble. The legacy documentation specifically addresses disturbance rejection and includes sunlight test conditions: noise and output behavior.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely causes |
|---|---|
| No output | Reversed pins, supply below 4.5 V, wrong carrier, or damaged device |
| Constant low output | Wiring error, excessive optical input, supply fault, or failed receiver |
| Random pulses | Supply ripple, inadequate bypassing, lighting interference, or poor grounding |
| Works on a bench but not in the product | EMI, switching-regulator noise, enclosure window loss, or layout coupling |
| Works with only one remote | Carrier, protocol burst, or AGC mismatch |
Recovery checklist
- Remove power and verify pin 1, pin 2, and pin 3 against the exact drawing.
- Measure the receiver supply at its pins while the rest of the equipment operates.
- Confirm the remote’s carrier with its documentation or an oscilloscope/IR-detector setup.
- Add the local capacitor and, where appropriate, the manufacturer-recommended supply resistor.
- Test with the enclosure and normal lighting; range measured on an open bench can be misleading.
Replacement candidates
Frequency matching is necessary but not sufficient. Compare package, pin order, supply range, AGC, output timing, optical angle, current, and mechanical clearance before substituting.
| Part | Published characteristics | Use and cautions |
|---|---|---|
| TSOP1736 | 36 kHz; 4.5–5.5 V; legacy three-pin receiver | Repair reference; verify authenticity and condition of old stock |
| TSOP4836 | 36 kHz; 2.5–5.5 V listing; 45 m listed range; through-hole side-view package | Candidate for a new or modified board; do not assume pin or AGC compatibility |
| TSOP38436 | 36 kHz; 2.5–5.5 V listing; 45 m listed range; 450 µA listed current; through-hole side-view package | Candidate where the listed current is useful; verify protocol and mechanics |
Distributor snapshots checked August 16, 2026 are volatile and region-specific. DigiKey showed TSOP4836 at about $0.98 for one unit, with no immediate stock and a 44-week lead-time indication; Newark listings showed approximately $1.05–$1.12 and stock in at least one listing: Newark TSOP4836 listing and alternate Newark listing. DigiKey showed TSOP38436 at about $0.84 for one, 772 units in stock, and a nine-week standard lead time at that check. Stock, price, packaging, and delivery can change without notice.
For a production redesign, review Vishay’s current families and select the carrier and AGC profile for the actual protocol: TSOP37x/38x product page, TSOP372/374 product page, family documentation, and AGC-family documentation.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsChoosing and buying a substitute
- Match the transmitter’s carrier, not merely the word “IR” or the TSOP prefix.
- Confirm package orientation, lead spacing, viewing direction, and pin order from the replacement drawing.
- Check the replacement’s minimum and maximum supply voltage against the board rail; a 3.3 V system needs a device explicitly rated for that voltage.
- Match AGC behavior to short-burst, long-burst, and noisy-environment requirements.
- Verify active-low output behavior and MCU input thresholds.
- For production, favor authorized distribution, traceability, current manufacturer documentation, and consistent packaging.
- For a one-off repair, a modern part may be easier to source than original stock, but only after electrical and mechanical checks.
A non-Vishay substitute is acceptable only when its data sheet confirms the same carrier, supply range, active-low logic, package/pinout, sensitivity, directivity, and AGC/burst requirements. Frequency alone does not establish equivalence.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
