Diode forward voltages

[SillyOctpuss]

So I was bored and decided to measure the silicon diodes I have on hand via three different devices and stick the results in a spreadsheet. Yup that's how we roll in the Octpuss house exciting as fook. Hopefully these are useful to someone and if you have any fancy silicon diodes not included in this then add them here along with the mA they were measured at.

On hand at the minute I've got some

1S1588
1SS133
1N4148
1N4148 - Yellow painted glass from 70s
1N914
MA858 - 2 yellow stripes with mark on the cathode lead
MA859 - Blue and black stripes with mark on the cathode lead
BA282 from DIYguitarpedals.com.au in 2016
BA282 from Smallbear in 2020

I included both BA282 batches because the batch from smallbear are all consistently lower fv than the ones I have left from my last order in 2016.

 

[swyse]

Thanks for sharing, I don't know what the testing current is for my device, it's a component tester that I received as a gift, but I don't think it has any markings besides a transformers logo when you turn it on and a taobeo website.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Well I've started and I'm bored so I figured I'd keep going. I really wish I had a DCA75 so I could just do a curve trace on each of these

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Thanks for sharing, I don't know what the testing current is for my device, it's a component tester that I received as a gift, but I don't think it has any markings besides a transformers logo when you turn it on and a taobeo website.

I think all of the taobeo component testers use a pretty high current which is why lots of people think they don't measure germanium diodes properly. I'm about to do some germaniums now so you'll see what I mean.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Here's my germanium stash. Now the silicon diodes are all pretty consistent to the numbers above, however, random 1n34a and d9e will fluctuate from the numbers listed below. I can do more and take an average of the germaniums if there's an appetite for this.

 

[steviejr92]

Here's my germanium stash. Now the silicon diodes are all pretty consistent to the numbers above, however, random 1n34a and d9e will fluctuate from the numbers listed below. I can do more and take an average of the germaniums if there's an appetite for this.

View attachment 33066

I have some ge diode vf ive written down awhile ago if you want i can send my findings
All of mine have been tested using a DMM

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I have some ge diode vf ive written down awhile ago if you want i can send my findings

Yes please. If you know the test current of the device you measured them on it would be really helpful.

 

[steviejr92]

Yes please. If you know the test current of the device you measured them on it would be really helpful.

Give me sec to find out and research it should be the same to .5mA but i want to be sure

 

[K Pedals]

Yes please. If you know the test current of the device you measured them on it would be really helpful.

Chuck has some curve traces of alot somewhere I’ll see if I can find them

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Chuck has some curve traces of alot somewhere I’ll see if I can find them

That'd be excellent

 

[steviejr92]

Yes please. If you know the test current of the device you measured them on it would be really helpful.

So my manual doesnt specify...but comparing some of the same diodes im in the same ball park.
If you want ill still post my results.

 

[K Pedals]

That'd be excellent

I can’t find them
I wrote Dave
He’ll probably know where they are

He’s more organized than me… lol

 

[SillyOctpuss]

So my manual doesnt specify...but comparing some of the same diodes im in the same ball park.
If you want ill still post my results.

Go for it dude the more the merrier

 

[K Pedals]

Here’s some traces I pulled from this thread

Russian Diodes for dummies

Russian Diodes for dummies

www.diystompboxes.com

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Here’s some traces I pulled from this thread

Russian Diodes for dummies

Russian Diodes for dummies

www.diystompboxes.com

They perfectly illustrate that germanium diodes are an absolute crapshoot. I have some 1n34a that would line up with their trace and a load that are very very different by the time you get to 10mA.

 

[steviejr92]

GE Diode Forward Voltages

1n270-
.590 .591
.597 .595
.590 .592
.590 .598
.596 .597
.594 .595
.607 .590
.591 .596

D18 -
.339 .366
.350 .376
.343 .347
.355 .363
.338 .312

1N60 -
.312 .332
.340 .336
.322

D9D -
.278 .269
.276 .281

D9E -
.289 .279
.288 .274
.272 .279
.291 .245
.268 .288

1N34A -
.358 .353
.363 .343
.324 .332
.356 .343

D9K -
.284 .271
.277 .279
.265

D9J -
.289 .258
.278 .264
.269


All tested with DMM. I also have some other 1N270 that i havent test but are supposed to be in the mid .2's and i have some others but i dont know what they are so i think well keep those out for now! Hope this helps with everything.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

What is the second number? Did you test each diode twice?

 

[steviejr92]

What is the second number? Did you test each diode twice?

Each number is one diode i just wanted to fit it all in one post lol

 

[steviejr92]

for instance i had only 4 D9D's hope that helps

 

[SillyOctpuss]

for instance i had only 4 D9D's hope that helps

Wow excellent. I'll tell you what though. I am not measuring 100 d9e's