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Diode question for Dale H.

F FfffredddOGR Forum Member
Hi Dale,
After reading your thread and article on using  6 amp diodes to drop voltage and to smooth out conventional e unit starts a few times, I went ahead and ordered a pack of 6 amp diodes.

Not really paying attention I guess because when I saw how large they were, I realized that I ordered 6amp 1000PIV diodes.  

Went back and I could not find any other spec than the 6 Amps.

Checking on Radio Shack and saw 6Amp 50PIV Rectifier Diodes. Look the same but smaller.
Also found 100's and 600's on other sites.

Am I correct to assume they all would work as long as they are 6 amps and they fit?

Is 50 PIV the smallest they make?

Thanks,
Fred
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F FfffredddOGR Forum Member
Hi Russell, From another site. For diodes, there are 2 main specs, peak inverse voltage and current. Calculate the current going through the diode and X 2 = current raing required. PIV = RMS (root mean square, what your multimeter reads) X 2.8. If my meter reads 18VAC then PIV would be 50.4 volts. Is the 50PIV diode adequate or right below the bareminimum. I do not know that much about them. Fred Thanks
DH Dale HOGR Forum Member

The 50 volt are fine. The 1000 volt 6 amp diodes which I have are actually the same size as the 50 volt ones. Radio Shack is a bit expensive so if you need more than a few online suppliers are a better option. With train stuff the amperage is more important than voltage normally. Even 20 volts peaks at only 28,so if voltage spikes are dealt with, 35 volt or more components are adequate.

 

I do not understand the 2.8 unless they are used as voltage doublers.

 

Dale H

gunrunnerjohngunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Originally Posted by Ffffreddd:
Hi Russell, From another site. For diodes, there are 2 main specs, peak inverse voltage and current. Calculate the current going through the diode and X 2 = current raing required. PIV = RMS (root mean square, what your multimeter reads) X 2.8. If my meter reads 18VAC then PIV would be 50.4 volts. Is the 50PIV diode adequate or right below the bareminimum. I do not know that much about them. Fred Thanks

Remember, P-P voltage is 2.8 times RMS voltage, but half that P-P waveform is in the forward direction through the diode.  The peak reverse voltage experienced by the diode is 1.4 times the 18 VAC RMS value.

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