Hi, I got a 20 amp, 300 Volt stud diode off of ebay. I want to use it on a 5 amp 70 Volt PM DC motor that I am going to use to make my wind generator? Can someone tell me how to correctly install/use this diode correctly? Thanks.
This how I do it: There should be a symbol on the diode that looks like this ->|- The > sign shows which way the current should flow through the diode. The current needs to flow from the generator or solar panel to the battery bank. Therefore, the end of the diode that the > is pointing towards needs to be connected to the battery bank. Install the diode in the positive wire. Do not forget to use a heatsink.
If there is a symbol on the diode that looks like this >, then think of that symbol as an arrow. The arrow points in the direction that the current should flow. So, you want the current to flow from the generator to the battery bank. Therefore, the arrow should point towards the battery bank and this end should connect to the battery bank. If that does not make sense, then let me know.
Mine has the symbol that is going the opposite way then in the picture so people need to be careful and truly look at there symbol like windyguru says instead of looking at the pic and installing
YES THAT PHOTO LOOKS LIKE WHAT WINDY NATION SELLS AND THE DIRECTION IS WRONG i JUST WAS TRYING TO RAISE MY WIND GENERATOR LAST NIGHT AND HAD PROBLEMS RAISING IT AND i LEFT IT LAYING ON THE GROUND SO IT DIDN'T SPIN AND ALL NIGHT MY BATTERIES WERE TRYING TO SPIN IT SO i HOPE NOTHING GOT MESSED UP! DON'T FOLLOW THAT PIC ABOVE ITS WRONG!!!!!!!!!!
Don, I depends on whether it is a positive or negative diode. They both look the same. If it is not marked you will have to use a ohm meter or use a light bulb with a battery to make sure which way the current flows before you hook it to the system. Things are not always marked as they should be. I have had a few stud type diodes over the years that were mis-marked.
It was marked...I assumed it was same diode windy nation sells and didn't look at the diagram and went off your picture and that was backwards...my mistake but I don't want anyone else to make the same mistake!
Just to set the record straight ... "Oddly enough, the direction of the diode symbol's “arrowhead” points against the direction of electron flow. This is because the diode symbol was invented by engineers, who predominantly use conventional flow notation in their schematics, showing current as a flow of charge from the positive (+) side of the voltage source to the negative (-). This convention holds true for all semiconductor symbols possessing “arrowheads:” the arrow points in the permitted direction of conventional flow, and against the permitted direction of electron flow. Diode behavior is analogous to the behavior of a hydraulic device called a check valve. A check valve allows fluid flow through it in only one direction" (See diagrams below) [attachment=0:3vb4hcw1]DiodeFlowPermited.png[/attachment:3vb4hcw1] Actual electron flow is from Negative to Positive but that's another story. This is a good site to check out, I like it ... http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_3/1.html
Joshua, What are you trying to keep cool, diode, rectifier? Not sure what heatsink you are referring to. Dave
I just made a few heat sinks for my setup the aluminum angle is for solar and the copper one is for the battery tie. Picked up all the stuff at local Home Depot. Angle aluminum is 1 inch. You could go bigger. Tubing is 1/4 inch diameter for standoffs. Copper is 1 inch pounded flat. Both work well even at 200 watts plus is gets just a little warm. At 100 watts it is just starting to feel warm. Without the heat sink they get hot enough to burn your fingers if you are not careful.
Does the heatsink need to be grounded? Can it be attached to a metal frame or does it need to be attached to a non conductive surface?
Being I have the diodes connected to the positive and it is part of a circuit. It must be insulated from everything else.
