[SOLVED] How to check if a photodiode is in good condition?

Can anyone tell me how to check a photodiode is in good condition for use?Will reversing its polarity destroy a photodiode?

You have to respect the maximum forward current and reverse voltage specification. Measuring forward voltage and reverse leakage current with a multimeter can act as rough check.

Just connect it to a multimeter on mA and shine a light on it. With your laser diode, the output should be somewhere around 0.2 to 0.5 mA/mW.
For more accuracy, reverse bias it with a few Volts and measure the current...
Testing a Non-biased Photodiode
1. Place the photodiode into the breadboard. Leg (pin) orientation is not important.
2. Place the 100-ohm resistor into the breadboard and connect each leg of it to a leg of the photodiode.
3. Connect the probes of the digital multimeter to the legs of the resistor.
4.Turn the meter to the smallest voltage setting (millivolts) and you should see a very low voltage reading.
5. Cover and uncover the photodiode with your hand. Observe the change in the voltage reading. The reading
should decrease when the photodiode is covered and increase when it is uncovered.

Reverse-Biasing a Photodiode
1. Place the photodiode into the breadboard and note the location of the longer leg (the anode).
2. Connect the positive (red) wire of the nine-volt battery clip to the cathode (shorter leg) of the photodiode.
3. Connect one leg of the 100-ohm resistor to the anode (longer leg) of the photodiode and connect the other
resistor leg to the negative (black) wire of the battery clip.
4. Connect the multimeter probes to the legs of the resistor.
5. Cover and uncover the photodiode, observing the meter reading. You will get a higher voltage reading with a
reverse-biased photodiode and you may have to place the meter on a higher voltage setting.