[modeleng] Re: Topsy - to charge and how to charge, that is the question!

I assumed what Peter was referring to is the symbol for a diode,...

-|>|-

...where it could be said that the arrowhead part of the shape indicates
the direction of current flow, as in the symbol...

http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/diode.htm

...for example.

As far as casings for diodes, they come in a variety of shapes and forms,
which bare no relation to the actual piece of silicon inside (although I
suspect that older recitiers shapes related more closely to the workings).

Older ones tend to look like...

http://www.thorneyhill2.freeserve.co.uk/diodes.jpg

...more modern ones look more like...

http://www.fairchildsemi.com/graphics/news/stealth_diodes_600x600.jpg

...or...

http://www.ambitsurplus.com/gif/diodes.jpg

Yours,


Rich.

On Wed, 30 Mar 2005, John Rippengal wrote:

> Rich,
> I'm 100 percent with you on the current flow from anode to cathode BUT "the
> cathode is at the pointy end"???????
>
> The picture I have of the diodes I mounted in the system I constructed is of
> a top hat shape. The top of the hat has a terminal - the pointy end?. The
> bottom of the hat - the brim sort of - has a mounting screw. You fix the
> brim to a heat sink using a mica washer etc and a nut on the screw. (The
> mica is because the heat sink could well be earthed). With my diodes the
> pointy bit was the anode and the base/brim was the cathode. I thought they
> were all made that way?
>
> Anyway my aeroplane flew for 13 years and charged its batteries ok with them
> wired that way.
>
> John
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