GE Diode?

[AndrewGoria]

Can someone help educate this noob? When a plan calls for a GE diode, what is it referring to? Does that stand for germanium? If so, what value?

thanks,
This noob

 

[DGWVI]

Yes, Germanium, unless a certain part number is specified, any will do. 1n34A is still pretty common, you can get them from Tayda. In most cases, you can even use a low forward voltage Schottky

 

[AndrewGoria]

Thanks!

 

[Chuck D. Bones]

The 1N34A's (and 1N270's) from Tayda are fugazi. They are selling schottkys and calling them germanium. If you want real germanium, look elsewhere. Small Bear and Pedalhacker have nice selections.

 

[Barry]

You can tell if they are really GE by plugging them into a tester and pinching them between finger and thumb, as they warm up the value should change