How to test high voltage diodes

This is a tutorial on how to test if a high voltage diode is good and how to determine the direciton of a high voltage diode, in case it's not marked. High voltage diodes can be bought retail but are also often found in microwave ovens.

In the hobbiest world, high voltage diodes are often used in high voltage power supplies.

I had need of these high voltage diodes for experiments I'm working on to do with the Testatika and the Hyde Generator. More information can be found here: http://rimstar.org/sdenergy

Watch my how-to video, http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-video-399009/ How to test if a high-voltage diode is functioning properly using direct current on WonderHowTo.

- http://rimstar.org -

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• high
• voltage
• diode
• testing
• hv
• microwave
• oven
• power
• supply
• cocroft-walton
• multiplier

[frecku6610]

Thanks a lot, saves me from purchasing an expensive analog meter.

[RimstarOrg]

@frecku6610 You're welcome.

[frecku6610]

Does the resistor have to be 1W, I can locate 1/8, 1/4, 1/2W and in excess 2 - 5W range ???

[RimstarOrg]

@frecku6610 No, it doesn't have to be 1W. If I'm calculating correctly, for 12V the power through the diode when it's conducting is around 0.6W. I=V/R=12/240=0.05A, P=IV=0.05x12=0.6W. So anything 1W or higher should do.

[MrDIMITRIOUifyable]

thank you vary much for the demonstration  it was vary useful and vary well represented

[RimstarOrg]

@MrDIMITRIOUifyable You're welcome. I'm glad to hear it helped.

[RimstarOrg]

@stivep1 Thanks! And you're very welcome.

[stivep1]

I marked this "liked" thank you very much

[RimstarOrg]

@lmasisi It has low resistance in one direction only. The 0.7volts value is the voltage you have to apply across the diode before it will conduct large amounts of current. Once the current starts conducting, the voltage across the diode increases as the current increases.

[lmasisi]

I agree with you with regards to a short, i said that because of the rectification ability of a diode and the fact that once it is in correct operation it has approximately zero resistance. This brings me back to same point, should not the volt drop across the diode be 0.7Volts (this value depends on characteristics of the diode, it could be more or less). I still do not understand why when the diode is connected in the correct polarity the voltage across it is so high???