Many technicians are confused on how to really read a zener diode code. There are many types of code number indicated on it's body. The look and shape of a zener diode sometimescan be mistaken to be a normal signal diode. To differentiate it, is by looking at the codenumber on it's body- whether it is a normal diode or zener diode.
Thanks to the manufacturerswhere their main boards are printed with the word 'ZD' which referred to zener diode and 'D' means a diode.However, from my experienced some printed circuit board the marking of 'D' also can representzener diode. This will misled a technician into believing a zener diode is actually a diode. Weas a technician or engineer must know or be sensitive about the marking.The only way to find out is by referring the code number printed on the component's body from asemiconductor data book. Without data book it is quite difficult to know the actual zener diode voltage. If you do not have the data book you may go to google search engine and type the following code and hope you can find the answer there! A wrong substitution of zener diode maycaused your equipment to malfunction and sometimes will even blow your equipment. Time and moneyare loss due to that we lack of knowledge of identify the right zener diode voltage. If you areunable to identify the code, do not worry as this newsletter are here to guide you to successfully on how to read the zener diode code.
5.1=5.1Volt zener diode
5V1=5.1Volt zener diode
12= 12 Volt zener diode
12V= 12 Volt zener diode
BZX85C22=22Volt 1 watt zener diode (refer to ECG PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS MASTER REPLACEMENT GUIDE)
BZY85C22=22Volt 1/2 watt zener diode (refer to ECG PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS MASTER REPLACEMENT GUIDE)
Note: There is also part number such as BZVXXXXX where you have to find it from ECG SEMICONDUCTOR BOOK.
1N4746= 18 Volt 1 watt zener diode (refer to ECG PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS MASTER REPLACEMENT GUIDE)
6C2=6.2 Volt zener diode. (If you look at the zener diode code it is written as 6C2 READING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM)Don't read from bottom to top otherwise the value you get is 2C6 which you cannot find from data book!
I believe many will ask how do I get the voltage for the code of 6C2. Still refer to ECG book, youhave to search for HZ part number. That's mean instead of finding 6C2, search for HZ6C2 and you will get the answer! The lowest zener voltage that I came across was 2.4 volt and the highest was200 Volt 5 watt.
Conclusion- Be alert when checking the part number of a zener diode. Don't always assume that a small signal diodeis always a zener diode. Carefully observe the marking on the main board and read the zener diode part numberrefer to the semiconductor book, preferably ECG SEMICONDUCTOR DATA BOOK which you can get from yourlocal electronic distributor. With this knowledge in mind, you will be successfully find the right voltageof a zener diode.
Testing Capacitor-How to test a capacitor when breakdown under load.
Have you ever come across power problem where onceyou switch on the power supply and the fuse blow? Youhave checked all the components in the power (primary)and secondary section and all the components seems to beok! Where is the fault? A fuse blown are usually causedby a shorted bridge rectifier, defective posistor, powertransistor or FET, shorted primary winding of switch modepower tranformer, shorted secondary diode and etc. Butin this article i'm gone to show you another secret of electronic troubleshooting tips.
Testing Diode-The Accurate Way on How to Test Semiconductor Diode Using Multimeter
Testing diodes is different from testing a resistor because you need a skill to do it.If you do not know or wrongly test a diode you will be unable to repair the equipment. A bad diode you think it is good. This will definitely waste your precious time.
Testing Flyback Transformer-How to test and when to replace it
... more and more monitor comes in with flyback ... ... Testing flyback ... are not ... if you ... follow the ... In many cases, the flyback transfor
