3A Silicon Rectifier Diode 1N5408

Electrical Characteristics:

Rating at 25℃ ambient temperature unless otherwise specified. Resistive or Inductive load, 60Hz.

For Capacitive load derate by 20 %.

Types of Diodes
• Normal Diodes

Standard signal diodes are among the most basic, average, no-frills members of the diode family. They usually have a medium-high forward voltage drop and a low maximum current rating. A common example of a signal diode is the 1N4148. Very general purpose, it’s got a typical forward voltage drop of 0.72V and a 300mA maximum forward current rating.
A rectifier or power diode is a standard diode with a much higher maximum current rating. This higher current rating usually comes at the cost of a larger forward voltage. The 1N4001, for example, has a current rating of 1A and a forward voltage of 1.1V.
And, of course, most diode types come in surface-mount varieties as well. You’ll notice that every diode has some way (no matter how tiny or hard to see) to indicate which of the two pins is the cathode.

• Schottky Diodes
Another very common diode is the Schottky diode. The semiconductor composition of a Schottky diode is slightly different from a normal diode, and this results in a much smaller forward voltage drop, which is usually between 0.15V and 0.45V. They’ll still have a very large breakdown voltage though.

Schottky diodes are especially useful in limiting losses, when every last bit of voltage must be spared. They’re unique enough to get a circuit symbol of their own, with a couple bends on the end of the cathode-line.

• Zener Diodes

Zener diodes are the weird outcast of the diode family. They’re usually used to intentionally conduct reverse current. Zener’s are designed to have a very precise breakdown voltage, called the zener breakdown or zener voltage. When enough current runs in reverse through the zener, the voltage drop across it will hold steady at the breakdown voltage.

Taking advantage of their breakdown property, Zener diodes are often used to create a known reference voltage at exactly their Zener voltage. They can be used as a voltage regulator for small loads, but they’re not really made to regulate voltage to circuits that will pull significant amounts of current.

Zeners are special enough to get their own circuit symbol, with wavy ends on the cathode-line. The symbol might even define what, exactly, the diode’s zener voltage is.

Dimension: