Where can I buy germanium diodes?

Where can I buy germanium diodes?

But if you simply want a source of germanium diodes, you can still buy them. eBay is a handy source, better if you can find “new old stock” (NOS). A cat’s whisker, in the traditional sense, refers to the type of diode used in crystal radios before encapsulated diodes were available.

What is the best diode for a crystal radio?

For crystal a radio, you need a good quality germanium diode, which will provide a nice strong signal. The best diodes that provide the strongest and clearest signal were vintage ones that had been recycled out of old radios.

How is a germanium diode made?

A germanium diode is a diode made using the element Germanium in stead of Silicon (Silicium). While both perform the same function (they only let current pass through them in one direction) there are some differences between the silicon and germanium variants. The most obvious is the forward bias voltage.

Do germanium diodes go bad?

Diodes are semiconductor devices that conduct current in one direction only, and are commonly made from silicon or germanium. Although diodes rarely fail, it can happen if they are exposed to voltage or current above their rated limits.

What makes a diode go bad?

However, a failed diode can short out too. The common reasons for a diode failure are excessive forward current and a large reverse voltage. Usually, large reverse voltage leads to a shorted diode while overcurrent makes it fail open.

How do you tell if a diode is bad?

A diode is reverse-biased when the positive (red) test lead is on the cathode and the negative (black) test lead is on the anode. The reverse-biased resistance of a good diode displays OL on a multimeter. The diode is bad if readings are the same in both directions.

How do you check a DC without a multimeter?

In series, connect the resistor to the other end of the coil. Connect the other end of the resistor to adapter DC wire #2. hold the compass near the eraser end of the pencil 6) if the compass points toward the eraser end, #1 is the negative wire. If it points away, #1 is the positive wire.

How can I tell if my house has low voltage?

Set a multimeter to measure voltage. Insert a probe into each slot and read the line voltage measurement. A properly working outlet gives a reading of 110 to 120 volts. If there is no reading, check the wiring and the outlet.

How do you check a 5 volt without a multimeter?

Without a multimeter, you can use your tongue to test voltages lower than 9V or so. If you do that a lot with known voltage references, you may be able to calibrate your tongue to give you a semi-accurate reading.

What happens if we try to use too much voltage in a light?

The amount of current in a circuit depends on the voltage supplied: if the voltage is too high, then the wire may melt and the light bulb would have “burned out real time”. Similarly other electrical devices may stop working, or may even burst into flames if an overvoltage is delivered to the circuit.