Diode classification depends on its structure, purpose, and characteristics. What is the difference between a rectifier diode and a switching diode? In this article, we will analyze the switching diode and rectifier diode.
Switching Diode
A switching diode serves to “turn on” and “off” on a circuit. Compared to an ordinary diode, switching diodes have a shorter transition time from conduction to cutoff or vice versa. Common types of the switching diode include 2AK, 2DK, and other series. It serves in electronic computers and switching and pulse circuits. 2AK type point contact serves for medium-speed switching circuits, 2CK type planar contact serves for high-speed switching circuits, used for switching, limiting, clamping or detection circuits, Schottky (SBD) silicon high current switch, forward voltage drop Small, fast and efficient.
The switching diode has a high switching speed. That is to say that it has a high application frequency. A Switching diode has good high-frequency performance and is mainly used in switching circuits as electronic switches.
However, rectifiers generally do not have good high-frequency performance (the high-frequency performance of rectifiers in switching power supplies is also good) and are mainly used to rectify power-frequency currents. It usually works in a high voltage and high current state.
Rectification Diode
In principle, getting the output DC from the input AC is rectification. Based on the size of the rectified current (100mA), the output current of rectification is greater than 100mA. Surface junction type, the operating frequency is less than KHz, and the maximum reverse voltage is from 25 volts to 3000 volts, divided into 22 levels from A to X. The classification is as follows:
① Silicon semiconductor rectifier diode 2CZ type.
② Silicon bridge rectifier QL type.
③ 2CLG type used in high-voltage silicon stacks of TV sets with an operating frequency of nearly 100KHz.
The rectifier diode operates at a low frequency and has specific voltage and current requirements. The characteristic of a diode is unidirectional conductivity. There exist several types of diodes, each with unique functionalities. While not all diodes are suited for rectification, some can serve as rectifiers, detectors, limiters, and switches. Standard diodes can serve as rectifiers if the voltage and current meet the rectification requirements. However, rectifiers might not be suitable for detection and switching purposes.
Summarise
The rectifier diode and switching diode are pn junction diodes, but they are suitable for different applications. Rectifier diodes serve to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) and have a forward current of 0.5 A or higher. In contrast, a switching diode is intended for high-frequency applications (up to 1 MHz), diode logic, weak signal detection, and diode clipping.
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