Diodes are a very common, effective and simple semiconductor. To fully understand a diode, you must first have a very basic knowledge of the semiconductor. Semiconductors are devices that are slightly less conductive than conductors and more conductive than non-conductors. This is typically accomplished by manipulating the level of impurities within a particular material. These materials are commonly used within circuitry as a strategy to accomplish a variety of different goals.
What Do Diodes Do?
Diodes are quite commonly used to convert alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC). A diode is composed of an anode and a cathode, which connect externally. Whenever Alternating Current is passing through a diode, positive voltage is applied to the anode and negative voltage is applied to the cathode. Whenever you reverse the polarity, the diode will cause the electricity to stop flowing through, thereby only allowing the electricity to flow in a single direction. This is how AC is converted to DC.
Diode Types
- Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) – One of the most commonly recognized diode is the LED. Whether you find them in your flashlights, or use them in the fixtures installed by your electrician Beverly Hills, LEDs have a strong presence in our everyday lives. You can find them in almost everything, including both large and small appliances.
- Solid State Diodes – Many years ago, tube diodes were one of the most commonly found types of diodes in our electronic devices. As technology moved forward, tube diodes were steadily replaced with solid-state diodes. Solid-state diodes are much smaller, longer lasting and more resistant to breakage. To seal the deal, they also generate much less heat than tubes do.
Regardless of the number of electrical devices that you use every day, you can be sure that almost every single one of them uses a number of diodes to manipulate the flow of electricity within it. If you have any more questions about Diodes or any other electrical topic, don’t hesitate to contact the H Electric team.