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esmeco
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I do not know much about diodes and I wanted to know if someone could explain me how do semi conductor diodes work and how do we determine in a circuit(dc and ac) the input voltage and the output voltage...
Interesting question. So I googled +"vacuum tube" +"zener diode" and got some hits. Go to this one for example:wolram said:Was there a vacuum tube version of a zener diode?
berkeman said:Interesting question. So I googled +"vacuum tube" +"zener diode" and got some hits. Go to this one for example:
http://members.aol.com/sbench101/
and do a text search on Zener. That will get you down the page to one way to do it with tubes.
Diodes are electronic components that allow current to flow in only one direction. They are made of a semiconductor material with two layers - an N-type layer and a P-type layer. When a positive voltage is applied to the P-type layer and a negative voltage to the N-type layer, the diode becomes forward-biased and allows current to flow. However, when the polarity is reversed, the diode becomes reverse-biased and blocks current flow.
The main purpose of a diode is to control the direction of current flow in a circuit. It can be used as a rectifier, converting AC current to DC current, or as a protection device, preventing current from flowing in the wrong direction and damaging other components.
There are several types of diodes, including the standard PN junction diode, Schottky diode, Zener diode, and light-emitting diode (LED). Each type has unique characteristics and is used for different purposes in electronic circuits.
Diodes can be used in various ways in electronic circuits. They can be used to convert AC to DC, regulate voltage, protect other components from reverse current, and control the flow of current in specific parts of a circuit. They are also commonly used in power supplies, signal processing, and communication systems.
Diodes have some limitations, such as a voltage drop across the junction, which can cause a slight loss of power. They also have a maximum current rating and can be damaged if this rating is exceeded. Additionally, diodes can generate heat when conducting large currents and may require heat sinks to dissipate the heat. These limitations should be considered when designing circuits using diodes.