Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Testing a Diode


 A diode can be tested by checking the forward-to-reverse-resistance ratio indicates the ability of the diode to pass current in one direction and block current in the other direction.
      A germanium diode has a low forward-resistance of several hundred ohms. The reverse resistance is high, greater than 100,000 ohms. Silicon diodes have a higher forward and reverse resistance than germanium. An ohmmeter test of a diode should show a low forward resistance and a high reverse resistance.


      The polarity of the terminals in an ohmmeter appears at the leads of ohmmeter: Red is positive and black is negative or common. If the positive ohmmeter lead is connected to the anode of the diode and the negative lead to the cathode, the diode is forward biased. Current should then flow through the diode and the meter should indicate a low resistance. If the meter leads are reversed, the diode is reverse biased. Little current should flow and the meter should measure a high resistance.
      If a diode shows both low forward and low reverse resistance, it is probably shorted. If the diode measure both high forward and high reverse resistance, then it is probably opened.
      An accurate diode test ca be made with most types of ohmmeters. The forward resistance voltage must be larger than the barrier voltage of the diode (0.7 V for silicon and 0.3 V for germanium) for conduction to take place.
      An ohmmeter can also be used to determine the cathode and anode of unmarked diode. When there is a low reading, the positive lead is connected to the anode and the negative lead is connected to the cathode.

44 comments:

  1. thnaks . This is what im trying to look .

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  2. Thanks to this blog. Now i know how will i test a diode! Such a big help. :)

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  3. very useful info huh :)
    tnx for the post

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  4. Nice blog. keep it up.

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  5. It's helpful to the students having this blog. Good job! :)

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  6. Thank you ma'am for the information about diode :)

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  7. i thought it was hard to test a diode :>
    but it gave me relief to see that it was that easy :) so glad !

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  8. good that you putn a video here...thanks...

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  9. Thank you Ma'am it helps me alot

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  10. It is the first time I ever that a germanium diode exist ... Woah .. Mid blowing!!

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. good that you putn a video here...thanks...

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  13. nice very informative post plus a video this will be a great help :D

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  14. nice very informative post plus a video this will be a great help :D

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  15. nice blog ...dami kungt nakuhang info ..about sa diode

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  16. Thanks dito Mam! :D
    Pag binaligtad po ba yung pagtetest ng diode may epekto po ba yun?

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  17. thanks sa info .. it really helps yung mga gusto talga matuto :)

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  18. Now i know how to test diode. Thanks for this blog for the tutorial and information. :D

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  19. Very nice video and presentation.

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  20. Hey thanks i'll try it out. I really appreciate this blog.

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  21. Many multi-meters do not have a diode test setting.
    It would be very helpful if you had covered how to test without a diode setting.

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  22. That is very informative and well spoken.

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  23. Excellent instruction

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  24. Love learning from this blog. :D

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  25. I got the same multi-tester. I'll try this. Thanks for the video. nice blog.

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  26. thank you very much for the demonstration, it was very useful and very well represented. Great job.

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  27. I marked this "liked" thank you very much. thanks for this tutorial. nice blog. :D keep it up.

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  28. Thank you for the demo

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  29. This was helpful, thanks. Nice Blog. :D

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  30. Thanks, It Helped me,wish I had your knowledge!

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  31. Thanks!! Very instructional!!

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  32. Thank you. I found lots of instructions. But this was the first which tells you what the readings would be if the diode was bad.

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  33. Exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

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  34. Thank you very much for a simple explanation of a diode.

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  35. Now have an understanding of diodes and their place in the world of electronics.

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  36. I like the way you explain everything in simple to understand terms. You should be a teacher of electronics. Great video Thank you.

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  37. Dami kong natutunan! THAAAANKSSSS!!!!!!!!

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