For optocouplers, the performance (Current β Transfer - Ratio) degrades over time depending on the operating conditions. This application note gives a quick introduction, how Würth Elektronik eiSos tests the lifetime of optocouplers, how you can calculate the expected lifetime for your application. An Optocoupler is a safety part that is electrically isolated and transmit signals. To realize this function, the optocoupler is assembled with the LED, Light-Emitting-Diode, and the photodetector facing each other with a resin that transmits light in between as show in Figure1. In this study, we analyze the cause of failure of the electronic card constituting the instrumentation and control system as it is the most typical reason for the failure of optocouplers.