Dr Dave
Platinum Member
No need for a diode on a lighting circuit, may want a relay though, like a Bosch 30 amp relay and 30 amp fuse.
I looked at several TO-30 diagrams online, even converted to 12 volts, but I didn't see a diode symbol anywhere.
I like Troutsqueezer's idea about using a bridge though, if he does need a diode. It will have the current, PIV, and ease of wiring necessary, and if I am thinking right, a built-in spare!
Not only a built in spare, but 3 spares.. and if you get the kind with a metal case and a hole thru it, you can bolt it to the chassis, for heat-sinking. I don't have a clue why the diode is in the lighting circuit though..
James K0UA
You're right! I just sketched one up, and there are 3 spares and one for use. For some reason I was thinking of using two at a time like doing rectification of the first half cycle, but you do have direct access to each of the four diodes, and there is no reason to use more than one at a time. Thanks for the correction!
L1 to pos
Neg to L2
L2 to Pos
Neg to L1
Yep, I used to build diode bridges, before they started packaging them in "diode bridges", out of discrete diodes. I am actually old enough to have messed with a lot of equipment that had selenium rectifiers in them.. You did NOT want to "let out the magic smoke" on one of those nasty things.!:yuck: I remember the first LED device I ever saw back about 1972 or 1973. It was a watch a friend had. I think it was about $800. It told the time in red 7 segment LED's if you pressed a button with your other hand.. I remember back in 1971 at the University, we had a centralized calculating machine called "the Wang" that had maybe 10 remote terminals off of this centralized processor that all it did was what any $5 calculator would do today(actually less). It had Nixie tubes, a type of neon gas discharge tube for a multi-segment display. I think it cost a fortune, and an entire room was devoted to it. You had to book time to get to use it to make your calculations.. Your alternative was a slide rule(yes Virginia I still know how to operate one!) with much less accuracy, or a paper and pencil. Yes it is true, I am older than dirt.
James K0UA
k0ua said:Yep, I used to build diode bridges, before they started packaging them in "diode bridges", out of discrete diodes. I am actually old enough to have messed with a lot of equipment that had selenium rectifiers in them.. You did NOT want to "let out the magic smoke" on one of those nasty things.!:yuck: I remember the first LED device I ever saw back about 1972 or 1973. It was a watch a friend had. I think it was about $800. It told the time in red 7 segment LED's if you pressed a button with your other hand.. I remember back in 1971 at the University, we had a centralized calculating machine called "the Wang" that had maybe 10 remote terminals off of this centralized processor that all it did was what any $5 calculator would do today(actually less). It had Nixie tubes, a type of neon gas discharge tube for a multi-segment display. I think it cost a fortune, and an entire room was devoted to it. You had to book time to get to use it to make your calculations.. Your alternative was a slide rule(yes Virginia I still know how to operate one!) with much less accuracy, or a paper and pencil. Yes it is true, I am older than dirt.
James K0UA
Maybe he still got the better end of the whole deal. :laughing:
Here is the funny part, a few years later he married her. He had to buy another ring. Then they divorced after a few years..Oh well.
James K0UA