What way does a diode conduct?

Answer 1

A typical diode has a band on one end of the diode. That is considered the positive end. Current is considered to flow from the negative end to the positive end. In power diodes, they can be of two types-- positive polarity and negative polarity. Power diodes are usually designed with one end of the diode to be mounted in a heat sink. Since the desire is to allow current to flow in only one direction, the engineering of the circuit determines which way the current is designed to flow, hence the designation of positive or negative diodes especially for power diodes. A typical car alternator has 3 positive diodes and 3 negative diodes for a total of six.

Answer 2

diodes really do not conduct, they actually stop reverse voltage from going backwards on a line. For example say you have a 12 volt solenoid that is triggered by 12 volt supply source. The solenoid or coil is energized by the 12 volts and when switched off the power can reverse in the depletiation mode of losing the 12 volts.Sooo to stop this you put a diode across the coil at the connection to make sure when power is removed no backwards power keeps the solenoid energized.Many years ago there was a company i worked for that forgot to put the diodes across the solenoids and during a power glitch the solenoid energized and stayed on until it melted burning down the drug store which the equipment was located in.hope this helps.

Also let me say this most diodes conduct around .7 volts in one direction but totally block in reverse. Try it out yourself, get a small diode and put a VOM meter across it in OHMS mode.One way it will conduct and the other way it won,t.If you run across a diode that conduicts in both directions it is bad.

Answer 3

yes