IR led and reciever module selection help

[Ioannis]

No, the output of the controller is well driven high or low.

Ioannis

[Jumper]

YES you will need a pulldown resistor if your current limiting resistor is choosen for short pulses and not continous operation.

If you choose to drive the LED hard during short pulses to get more light from it you must use a pull down resistor to make sure the LED stays off until the PIC has powered up and taken control over the output pin. Since the PIC will set all pins as input, without the resistor controlling the gate during this time there is a high risk that the gate of the FET can float a while and that can result in a burnt LED.

So if I were you I would put a pull down resistor just to make sure, a low cost to reduce a bigger risk.

[Ioannis]

There is a reason to place a resistor as Jumper says.

But with the LED I am using and the timing calculated there is no need to place a resistor for the time PIC is in power up state. Even with Power up timer enabled.

Ioannis