Electronics Tutorial #7 - Diodes - Zener, Schottky, LED, Silicon

A tutorial on how various diodes function / work with analogies and practical demonstrations.
The start of digital electronics - a lead into transistors, FETs, ICs, logic gates and more...
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To gain a good understanding of diodes and how they work read this wiki:
en.wikipedia.or...
"In electronics, a diode is a two-terminal electronic component with an asymmetric transfer characteristic, with low (ideally zero) resistance to current flow in one direction, and high (ideally infinite) resistance in the other. A semiconductor diode, the most common type today, is a crystalline piece of semiconductor material with a p-n junction connected to two electrical terminals.
Diodes were the first semiconductor electronic devices. The discovery of crystals' rectifying abilities was made by German physicist Ferdinand Braun in 1874. The first semiconductor diodes, called cat's whisker diodes, developed around 1906, were made of mineral crystals such as galena. Today most diodes are made of silicon, but other
semiconductors such as germanium are sometimes used."
Items seen or mentioned in this video:
* Zener diode
* Semiconductor materials
* Light emitting diodes / LEDs
* Germanium
* Silicon
* p-n junction
* Schottky diode
* PIV - peak inverse voltage
* Full wave / have wave rectifier
* Forward bias
* Reverse bias
* Reverse breakdown
* Photodiode

[@deano30923]

I have watched quite a few of your videos and I find that you always present an excellent breakdown of how things work leaving it very easy to understand. I help my daughter with her electronic projects and she thinks that i'm amazing! I'm not telling her that it's your example of how to present which makes it so easy for her to comprehend. Thank you.

[@pboston6RR]

Excellent instruction! I'll use this on my 15 year old grandson to get him started on the right track! Thanks !!!

[@dylf14]

You really should be proud of your explanation skills. This is one of the best videos on the topic.

[@threejs37]

I am so greatful to you desire and effort to help those of us who are starting to take interest in electronics and I have gained a lot from your instructions and explanations. Cant wait for part 2 on diodes....

[@kapil991]

you are very precious teacher for society ! keep it up.

[@mjlorton]

Hi Ken...good idea...just done that. Thanks for you input and support. Cheers, Martin.

[@opablo_gm]

Great videos man... For some reason Dave Jones stopped making electronics-basics videos so I hope you don't stop as well... they are really educational.

[@mjlorton]

Thanks for the feedback and input..I forgot to mention the flat edge....have added an annotation. Cheers, Martin.

[@MichelCarroll]

Best electronics videos on the internet, as far as I've seen. Thanks! I look forward to seeing the rest of your series.

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure Michel, thanks for watching. Cheers, Martin.

[@Chirag1496]

I really liked the way you used analogies to explain every little concept. Best video on diodes I've seen so far. Waiting for a similar video on Transistors :)

[@tangomouse1971]

the investment is very much appreciated, your video's are very informative. Can't wait for part two, and the rest in the series. Thank you.

[@jimadams2473]

These videos are EXCELLENT. Very High definition video, very clear discussion, nice combo of paper and lab. EXCELLENT. Thanks

[@mjlorton]

I am working on it...but there are technical challenges putting the demonstration together....but I think it will be worth the wait. Cheers, Martin.

[@matendie9586]

Love your tutorials! I thought I knew electronics from college classes... I gained so much more clear understanding from your explanation! Thank you.

[@DreStyle]

he is the master for my electronics projects ! if i dont know something,, i'll just check his channel and i know it!!! you are awesome ! thank you

[@mjlorton]

Thanks for the post Andrew.

[@DOCB-op1qc]

started learning about electronics on my own & keep finding ur vid's! great job great teacher, 3 thumbs up

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure, thanks for the feedback. Transistor tutorial not too far away..

[@TheKrish1982]

Hi Mr Lorton.Your video tutorials is easily one of the best I have ever seen.I am definitely gonna recommend it to all my friends.I am going through them and learning a lot.Its simply brilliant.

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure, thanks for the feedback.

[@kakaz98]

BEST electronics tutorials I've EVER come across!!!

[@arkanglegeibriel]

liked and subscribed, I'm trying to build something for my mother for mother's day, and this video has been incredibly helpful. I'm very thankful for this =)

[@rgweizl]

Well explained. I like this tutorial.Very easy to understand. It helps a lot. Thank you very much for this video

[@mjlorton]

Thanks very much for the feedback.

[@mjlorton]

Thanks, yes the series will continue...just waiting on some kit to arrive and get ready for the next one on capacitors. Cheers, Martin.

[@mjlorton]

Thanks, I appreciate your feedback. I'm not a teacher or electronics engineer...just a hobbyist having fun learning and sharing along the way. Cheers, Martin.

[@hurrdurr25]

Really good video. Most videos don't take the time to show the actual component in use with examples. Sets your videos above the rest.

[@mnovo]

What do diodes and models on a runway have in common. "Long legs are a plus". When I was told this I thought it was funny and it has stuck with me ever since... Anode = pos and long leg. Cathode = neg and short leg. Thank you Martin. Your tutorials are GREAT!

[@srivatsaa.r.9936]

RESPECTED SIR Just watched yr tutorial on DIODES_ ZENER, LED, SILICON, SHOTKEY /TUTORIAL 7 1. Liked yr video tutorial. 2. U explained well 3. clearly understood. 4. Yr practical demonstration and simple drawings explanation on white board further helped my understanding and the semiconductor behavior. 5. Eagerly awaiting other videos in future. THANKS Vatsa .

[@cummingsautocare]

Martin, this is awesome! I enjoy learning all of this. Before this video the only knowlege I had of diodes (other than l.e.d.s) was that they acted as a gate. I have always wondered what the shotkky diode on my older rc cars mod. motor did. The company that made it told me to solder it on between pos. & neg. Looking forward to more videos like this one.....ahem..well, all of them really. I never leave mid video when viewing your videos. Thats because they make me want to learn. Thank you!

[@theindianglory354]

the best teacher i have ever seen

[@llom2600]

clear and concise. hands-down the best electronics videos I have found on youtube. please keep up the good work!!

[@TylerDoering9000]

Great videos have been finding them immensly helpful in my quest to learn electronics and start inventing things :) thanks and keep up the good work!

[@DOLO9876]

your pipe water flow examples are awesome

[@nassirdaoud716]

Loved the form and manner of explanation, I was able to fully understand the topic.

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure, thanks for the feedback. I will continue to produce them so no worries.

[@smartprosoft]

thanks alot for your great work which will be one of the most amazing tutorial ever been in youtube because it's simple to understand and give all the idea about electronics BUT AS I SAID BEFORE I WILL WAIT FOR THE TRANSISTOR till that thank you

[@insightfool]

Thanks for such a clear tutorial.

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure, thanks for the feedback....more coming...

[@user-jx3qv5dl3b]

I guess, it's really informative. And joyful to watch. Thank you very much from me for giving such an opportunity for these who crave a knowledge, I think. Be cool, man. I like it.

[@mjlorton]

Yup...good point...I realised that after filming...next time...

[@avtomatikaveelektronika8752]

You are explaining very well. I learned a lot. Thanks buddy.

[@georgelensgraf3841]

this guy is great. it saves on going to college and walking around like steve urkel and saying how do i do that? i cant get no schematics for my tc electronics dark matter pedal cuz tc will not give anyone their service manuals.

[@mjlorton]

Thanks very much for the feedback....ICs will happen in the future as we (me!) build enough knowledge to get there...

[@k3mrk1]

you are a great teacher.

[@clubpenguinbeer]

Thank you for posting, clear and simple explanation

[@toni97160]

clubpenguinbeer q

[@EdwardPie]

Thanks for your fantastic tutorials. You really demonstrate mastery of what you teach. Can I please request a tutorial on transistors? I know you posted this 6 years ago but pleaaaase keep them coming. Thank YOu.

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure!

[@MrNitishk]

will watch for sure... must say u r an xclnt teacher.

[@1madscientist4u]

Awesome video as usual Martin! Thank you so much for all of your hard work and effort. Please know that it is definitely appreciated by many individuals, especially myself! Cheers from Chicago! :)

[@eph7246]

Excellent teacher, many thanks.

[@MrDoneboy]

Thanks for your info, Martin, and I hope to donate soon!

[@celtichongy]

Another excellent video clip MJ. Thanks for that and Happy Holidays to you.

[@MrNitishk]

hey martin..!! loving ur videos dude.. put up more videos on basic electronics would love to watch em' nd the way u explain things using water pipe system is really vry cool...!! thanks for ur vids

[@twincam825]

Thanks always learn something from your videos very good tutorial always top notch.

[@jeremyo1457]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO AND FOR PART 2!!!! Ive seriously been looking for a long time for someone to give such an explanation for a long time and havent been able to find it. Plus the books that ive been reading dont use the words that you use. You really helped me understand, thanks again ))

[@seethaljayasankar459]

Thank you so much! Your lectures are truly amazing!

[@Zawtalk]

Big thanks. Straight to the key points. Great!

[@Gringo_In_Chile]

Martin, Great vid! So Clear. You mention a previous tutorial on transistors, it would be great if you put a link to that tutorial in the video. Ken

[@bilaal20]

VERY informative and I REALLY needed this information! Thank you!

[@mjlorton]

Thanks good man...appreciate the feedback!

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure.

[@paveldurov7537]

very good tutorial, great explanations

[@billfield8300]

Very informative and perfect explanation. Thanks. Off to watch part 2.

[@ronricardo1332]

Thanks a lot for this series. It would be nice and helpful with the understanding, to get some explanations about how those components are built (semiconductors, electrons and "holes" etc.)

[@jameswcrofts]

i'll give you the first like,once again a great tutoril on the basics of electronics. many people now days think ooo i can do that ezzy peezzy( ye just by changing pcb's boards) hu. 10/20 for this great vid mike.

[@tonyrobert7187]

KEEP IT GOING .I LIKE VERY MUCH,I KNOW A LITTLE BIT OF ELECTRONICS BUT HOW YOU EXPLAIN,WITH YOUR ANALOGY IT'S ASOWEME.LIKE,LIKE,LIKE

[@mjlorton]

My pleasure Tony, thanks for the feedback.

[@kalel96000]

Loving these so far, looking forward to checking out your Arduino vids as well. Thank you for doing these.

[@rgweizl]

really great..it helped me understand more. thanks for this video

[@hempsader1234]

Hello,im new to electronic,i like very much .Your tutorials are very well explained >Subscribed :DD

[@cDynasty001]

I really like the way you teach this material for the most part. I'm pretty new to electronics and I like to be taught like I'm a newbie! I was able to get a better understanding of the diodes shown an the way they behave, but I'm still very confused about the readings on the multimeter that was reading the diode. I saw the numbers changing as you were turning the diodes around and you were saying "there you go," but I couldn't get a good visual in my head of exactly what was happening. If you could have gone slower through that part and explained more... Anyway, I am going to watch all of your lessons. I found this one when I was trying to find a decent tutorial on zeners. Some of the other guys aren't very good teachers.

[@mjlorton]

Thanks!

[@NthingEW]

very Useful Tutorial Thanks

[@bhuvi441]

Thank you sir ! It was very useful.

[@Asperixo176]

Thanks for another video. Appreciated.

[@mjlorton]

Thanks good man.

[@keyboardjedi]

In the reverse bias diagram, I believe that the polarity labels on the diode are reversed. The cathode is the end with the "vertical band", but is labeled "+" in the diagram. I think it should be "-".

[@mjlorton]

Thanks for the post. In that diagram I'm showing the polarity being applied to the diode to make it reverse biased. i.e positive to the cathode and negative to the anode.

[@jihedmedini1318]

Great explanation

[@5stareventsdj]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing!!

[@konturgestalter]

amazing tutorials

[@MahdiMohammadi0]

keep 'em coming! I'm waiting for your transistor tutorials! :D

[@nitinkumar29]

Very helpful! Thank you very much!

[@akbarrajani121]

Thankyou Sir for your effort

[@homebuiltindoorplane]

Fantastic, very well done, thank you!

[@sthandisomtetwa8637]

Man you should try lecturing, this people are feeding us poison and i wish i was working i would actually invest in your work but i'm still a student at North West university, You just made me love electronics even more. Please also make videos on transistors. God bless you that's even if you don't believe in Him

[@ishworbhandari123]

you are the best.thak u so much for the video.

[@ForumiPhone]

When is part #8 going to be released ? Good job on the tutorials, always wanted to learn, always was too lazy :) I did and still do electronics, but never quite got the basics down. Can't wait till we get to "the good stuff" :) As a suggestion, please link the videos, can be quite difficult to find them ;)

[@adimeshort]

Great videos, thank you

[@MrM2hb]

Great video.

[@mauricewoolley3398]

could i ask as being ignorant, why is a transister used at all. your illustration is very informative

[@LanoChaos]

Awesome channel!

[@sirishasailakshm]

Well explained

[@giannisnomidis2868]

thanks for the tutorial!

[@Bossman2410]

very well explained :) thankyou

[@sweetNOGA]

yes it was very nice lecture

[@magnetstoo]

A battery has an "anode" (negative) and a "cathode" (positive). Electrons FLOW from anode to cathode.Thus, current flow is from negative to positive.You can pick up the same confusion I have (with these symbols) from here.

[@narendran3154]

thank you sir . . can you please tell about zener and avalanche breakdowns ?

[@iamdatdude1619]

ive watched a few of his vids also and i feel the same.I hope that my kids think iam amazing one day haha.

[@WhoWantsToKnow81]

I have a question that might sound dumb, but when the diode is "holding back the pressure", that is to say it is reversed biased, what happens to all the voltage? Does it dissipate as heat? Does it "flow" back to the voltage supply?

[@mjlorton]

Thanks, my pleasure....more coming in the future...part 2 to this I hope to post in the next week.

[@nemka9119]

hi martin,i have been following the videos so far,and they end at diodes? could you keep making the videos?even if they dont have as many viewrs as other sorts of videos they still have an enormus value.