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High Voltage Diodes
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From: Bert Hickman [SMTP:bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-com]
Sent: Sunday, March 01, 1998 9:55 PM
To: Tesla List
Subject: Re: High Voltage Diodes
Tesla List wrote:
>
> ----------
> From: RODERICK MAXWELL [SMTP:tank-at-magnolia-dot-net]
> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 1998 12:15 PM
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: High Voltage Diodes
>
> I have four 15Kv-at-750ma microwave oven diodes that I plan on using in a
> Dc supply for my new tesla coil. When I test them with my ohm meter they
> all read infinite resistance even when I reverse the leads. Is this a
> property of high voltage rectifier diodes??? These are new diodes that
> have not even been used in a circuit yet. All of my experiance has been
> with the lower voltage variety. If anyone has used these type of diodes
> before, HELP!
>
> Frankensteins Helper
> Max
Max,
These rectifiers actually consist of a number of identical silicon
diodes connected in series to increase the overall breakdown voltage
rating. Chances are your ohmmeter uses only 1.5V or 3V batteries to
supply the ohmmeter function. Since each internal diode will require
about 0.7 Volt to become fully forward biased, your ohmmeter may not
have enough voltage to make the HV recifier conduct. You could connect
the doide to a higher voltage DC source (12 volts should do the trick)
through a series limiting resistor, and measure the current flow through
the diode. You should see a significant difference depending upon the
polarity of the diode.
-- Bert --
-- Bert --