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8
Diodes
Again, going back to the water analogy, diodes can be thought of as one-way valves. They allow
electricity to flow in only one direction. The electrical symbol for a diode is shown below. They must
be inserted in the correct direction for the circuit to work.
The anode is the positive end and the cathode is the
negative. electricity will only flow from the anode to the
cathode. Diodes can be various colours but usually have one
or sometimes two bands at one end.
In this kit you should have 1 diode. The symbol on the PCB will be
something like this, simply line up the band on the diode with the
line on the board.
The diodes in this kit should look like this;
They are fragile, so be careful when you bend the legs.
Diodes, like all silicon components, are heat sensitive. When soldering, limit the contact time as
much as possible. Aim for a maximum of 4 seconds. Less is good! If you have more than one diode
to solder it is good practice to do one leg on each then go back for the second. This way the diode
has time to cool between each leg being soldered.
1N4001
