Schottky diode basics

Schottky diodes have a lower forward voltage than regular rectifier diodes. Instead of dropping approximately 0.6V to 0.7V, Schottky diodes tend to drop about 0.3V.

The Schottky diode datasheets that I have been consulting, tend to show the forward voltage at 0.5V or higher. But that appears to be when you get close to the max current of that Schottky diodes. All diodes have a range of forward voltage, that is lower at low current, and higher at higher currents.

Silicon rectifier diodes have N doped silicon on the Anode side, and P doped silicon on the Cathode side of the diode. Schottky diodes also have an N doped silicon cathode, but a metal Anode.

I have some 1N6263 Schottky diodes, which don’t appear very useful unless you don’t need to pass much current through them. The datasheet says they can only handle a max of 15mA of current. They looks like other common glass (DO-35 package) diodes than can be plugged directly into a breadboard.

I also have some 15SQ045 Schottky diodes. The 15 stands for 15 amps maximum current that it can pass while forward biased. Whereas the 045 at the end stands for 45 volts that it can block while reverse biased. Don’t exceed that voltage. They are larger (R 6 package) diodes, that have wire leads that are too thick for a breadboard. I just made a video that shows how I put one in a screw terminal block that can be plugged into a breadboard.



Video goes live at 6am CST 28 April 2023

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