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Projects from Make: Magazine

Introduction to Electronics: The Diode

Learn about the diode and build a simple circuit that helps you understand how a diode works.

  • By KRA5H
  • Time Required: 5 min.
  • Print this Project
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Introduction to Electronics: The Diode
December 18, 2012, 11:04 pm PST
  • Parts
  • Tools

Parts

  • Diode 1N4001 # 6SC D3 (1)
  • Red LED # 6SC D1 (1)
  • 100 ohm Resistor # 6SC R1 (1)
  • Conductor with 3-snaps # 6SC 03 (1)
  • Conductor with 2-snaps # 6SC 02 (4)
  • Battery Holder (2-AA) # 6SC B1 (1)
  • 6V Lamp Socket (With Bulb) # 6SC L2 (1)
  • Slide Switch # 6SC S1 (1)
  • Base Grid (11” x 7.7”) # 6SC BG (1)

Tools

  • Snap Circuits Extreme 750 set available at your local RadioShack store

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Steps

  • Project Steps View All
  • 1. According to Wikipedia, “The most...
  • 2. What is a check valve?...
  • 3. The diode has a number...
  • 4. The sine wave is what...
  • 5. Let’s say we wanted to...
  • 6. Like the ping pong ball...
  • 7. Now we can see what...
  • 8. Switch the circuit off and...
  • 9. This is the electronic symbol...
  • 10. Now let's take a look...
  • 11. Switch the circuit off and...
  • 12. This is the electronic symbol...

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Step #1:

NextPrev
Introduction to Electronics: The Diode

According to Wikipedia, “The most common function of a diode is to allow an electric current to pass in one direction (called the diode's forward direction), while blocking current in the opposite direction (the reverse direction). Thus, the diode can be viewed as an electronic version of a check valve."

Step #2:

NextPrev
Introduction to Electronics: The Diode
  • What is a check valve? You can think of it like a ping pong ball cage snorkel.
  • When the ping pong ball cage is above the surface of the water, the ping pong ball is at the bottom of the cage and you can breathe through the snorkel. As the cage moves below the surface of the water, the ping pong ball floats up until it blocks the opening of the snorkel blocking any water from getting into the snorkel.

Step #3:

NextPrev
Introduction to Electronics: The Diode
  • The diode has a number of applications in electronic circuits. One application you may be familiar with is a rectifier. A rectifier converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). Alternating current periodically changes direction while direct current only flows in one direction.
  • To use a diving analogy, imagine a scuba diver. Since scuba divers carry their air with them they can still breathe whether their heads are above water or underwater. You can imagine a scuba diver surfacing and diving repeatedly and the path the diver traces forms a sine wave.

Step #4:

NextPrev
Introduction to Electronics: The Diode

The sine wave is what alternating current looks like. At the crest, or top of the wave you might measure +5 volts and at the trough, or bottom of the wave you might measure -5 volts. At the line through the middle you would measure 0 volts.

Step #5:

NextPrev
Introduction to Electronics: The DiodeIntroduction to Electronics: The DiodeIntroduction to Electronics: The Diode
  • Let’s say we wanted to use a diode as a rectifier to convert alternating current to direct current.
  • Now imagine our snorkeler surfacing and diving. While the ping pong ball cage on the snorkel is above the water the snorkeler can take a breath of air.
  • When the cage sinks below the water the ping pong ball blocks the water from getting into the snorkel and the snorkeler has to hold his or her breath until surfacing again to exhale and take another breath.

Step #6:

NextPrev
Introduction to Electronics: The Diode
  • Like the ping pong ball acts as a check valve to prevent water from getting into the snorkel, the diode acts as a check valve to block current from flowing in the reverse direction.
  • The diagram is what the voltage will look like when the alternating current is converted to direct current.
  • You would measure from 0 volts to +5 volts then back to 0 volts. You wouldn't be able to measure the voltage in the reverse direction from 0 volts to -5 volts because it is being blocked by the diode. When the alternating current cycles back to 0 volts you would then be able to measure the voltage from 0 volts to +5 volts and then back to 0 volts.

Step #7:

NextPrev
Introduction to Electronics: The DiodeIntroduction to Electronics: The DiodeIntroduction to Electronics: The DiodeIntroduction to Electronics: The Diode
  • Now we can see what happens when we reverse the diode. Build the circuit shown with the diode in the reverse direction. The photos show the step-by-step build. When you're done building the circuit, slide the switch (S1) from the off position to the on position. Well...nothing happens.
  • In a DC (direct current) circuit, the electricity flows in one direction.
  • When you switch the circuit on you can think of it as current flowing from the positive side of the battery (marked with a "+" sign) to ground (marked with a "-" sign) and you can think of the flow of current as kinetic energy that can be used to do useful work such as light up an incandescent bulb.
  • So, when you switch the circuit on, why doesn't the light bulb light up? Because the diode is blocking the flow of electrcity like the ping pong ball on the snorkel blocking the water from getting in.

Step #8:

NextPrev
Introduction to Electronics: The DiodeIntroduction to Electronics: The DiodeIntroduction to Electronics: The Diode
  • Switch the circuit off and change the diode from the reverse direction to the forward direction. Then switch the circuit on and the light bulb lights up.
  • Now the diode is no longer blocking the flow of electricity and current can flow from the positive (+) terminal on the battery through the circuit to the ground (-) terminal on the battery.

Step #9:

NextPrev
Introduction to Electronics: The Diode
  • This is the electronic symbol for the diode so that you will be able to recognize it on an electronic schematic.
  • When a positive voltage is applied to the terminal on the left and a negative voltage to the terminal on the right, the diode is "forward biased" and current wiill flow through it.
  • If the polarity is reversed, the diode is "reverse biased" and no current will flow.

Step #10:

NextPrev
Introduction to Electronics: The DiodeIntroduction to Electronics: The DiodeIntroduction to Electronics: The DiodeIntroduction to Electronics: The Diode
  • Now let's take a look at the Light Emitting Diode (LED).
  • The light emitting diode functions much the same as an ordinary diode, but also lights up when enough current is flowing through it in the forward direction (forward-biased). LEDs are often used in electronic devices to indicate that the device is switched on, but they can serve many practical purposes.
  • Build the circuit shown. The photos demonstrate the step-by-step build.
  • When you switch the circuit on...again, nothing happens. Why doesn't the light LED light up? Because the LED is reversed and blocking the flow of electrcity.

Step #11:

NextPrev
Introduction to Electronics: The DiodeIntroduction to Electronics: The DiodeIntroduction to Electronics: The Diode
  • Switch the circuit off and turn the LED around.
  • Now you can switch the circuit on and with the LED in the forward-biased direction, it lights up.

Step #12:

NextPrev
Introduction to Electronics: The Diode

This is the electronic symbol for the LED so that you will be able to recognize it on an electronic schematic.

KRA5H

KRA5H

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