electronics question-not car related
 

Can someone tell me whether the voltage generated by a microphone do any work? Can it light a diode for example without amplification?
Thanks,
Troy

No - you'd need an op-amp/transistor circuit to amplify.

Colin hit the nail on the head. You could use a FET switch that would be triggered by an input signal, but you'd still need an amp to make the voltage needed to light the diode.

Jason

OK so there is too little current to get any work out of the signal from a microphone, correct?

thanks,
Troy

without the use of an amplifier circuit, yes.
Remember that the capsule vibration is being turned into the electrical impulse, not a lot of energy can be created by piece of foil ribbon or a foil diaphragm.

Build a small amplifier (lots of stuff on-line and in tech books) and it will work like a champ.

Jason

If you want to do it yourself, check out the Forrest Mimms (sp?) books at Radio Shack. They are $5 or so, and have lots of building-block circuits like this. There's one that covers op-amp circuits.

Thanks Guys!
Troy