![]() Diode DatasheetsĪll of the above characteristics should be detailed in the datasheet for every diode. Some diodes are actually designed to operate in the breakdown region, but for most normal diodes it's not very healthy for them to be subjected to large negative voltages.įor normal diodes this breakdown voltage is around -50V to -100V, or even more negative. This large negative voltage is called the breakdown voltage. If a large enough negative voltage is applied to the diode, it will give in and allow current to flow in the reverse direction. The type of diode also has some importance in defining the forward voltage drop light-emitting diodes can have a much larger V F, while Schottky diodes are designed specifically to have a much lower-than-usual forward voltage. ![]() A germanium-based diode might be lower, around 0.3V. Typically, a silicon diode will have a V F around 0.6-1V. ![]() If a diode is fully conducting, it can usually be assumed that the voltage across it is the forward voltage rating.Ī multimeter with a diode setting can be used to measure (the minimum of) a diode's forward voltage drop.Ī specific diode's V F depends on what semiconductor material it's made out of. Once the voltage gets to about the forward voltage rating, though, large increases in current should still only mean a very small increase in voltage. More current means more voltage, less voltage means less current. It might also be called either the cut-in voltage or on-voltage.Īs we know from the i-v curve, the current through and voltage across a diode are interdependent. The typical voltage required to turn the diode on is called the forward voltage (V F). In order to "turn on" and conduct current in the forward direction, a diode requires a certain amount of positive voltage to be applied across it. Breakdown: When the voltage applied across the diode is very large and negative, lots of current will be able to flow in the reverse direction, from cathode to anode.A very small amount of current (on the order of nA) - called reverse saturation current - is able to flow in reverse through the diode. ![]() In this mode current flow is (mostly) blocked, and the diode is off.
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