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Help identify this weird looking diode

By Foxxstone_80

2 years ago

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14 posts
7 Pinsiders participating
Latest reply 2 years ago by Quench
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#1 2 years ago

TAS

Im in the middle of pop bumper rebuild on a Williams scorpion (system 6). One of the pop bumpers has a different looking diode than the other two, looks almost like a glass resistor. The diode in question is on the right in the picture. Should I replace what's there with something like a 1n4007 or leave it be? All three pop bumpers worked prior to the rebuild, so I don't want to risk messing anything up, just thought it was weird and wanted to ask you more experienced people here what you think...

20220219_170501 (resized).jpg

#2 2 years ago

LTG

Pinside member

Hopkins, MN

12y 191K 56,905 24 7

Looks different. Still works.

LTG : )

#3 2 years ago

CHD

Cheddar

GoldenStatePin

Lodi, CA

11y 117K 5,180 17 10

A 1N4004 is fine in this application. That diode is probably fine but it is confusing

Post last edited 2 years ago: “Removed incorrect component ”

#4 2 years ago

LTG

Pinside member

Hopkins, MN

12y 191K 56,905 24 7

Quoted from Cheddar:
A 1N4004 (or 4001) is fine in this application.

1N4004 or 1N4007.

1N4001 is too low a voltage, it's for switches and lamps.

LTG : )

#5 2 years ago

CHD

Cheddar

GoldenStatePin

Lodi, CA

11y 117K 5,180 17 10

Quoted from LTG:
1N4004 or 1N4007.
1N4001 is too low a voltage, it's for switches and lamps.
LTG : )

Edited. Thanks!

#6 2 years ago

TAS

Foxxstone_80

Pinside member

3y 65,300 777

Ok I'll swap it for a 1n4004 if I change it. Does this look like a diode or is it something else. AND IF it isn't a diode then what is it and what's the purpose of putting it on the coil vs the correct diode. Are there old diodes that look like this or is it some sort of old operator repair grabbing whatever they had available?
(the other two coils have normal looking diodes btw).

#7 2 years ago

?Z?

phishrace

Pinside member

Unknown

12y 46,900 4,913

The clue that it's a diode is the black band on one side. If you remove it, you can test it with a meter and it will likely test similar to the 1N4004 you'll replace it with. Clue is the band, meter will tell you for sure. Probably just an old timey diode. The wider leads where they connect isn't common these days. They don't decay much, so no telling how old it is.

#8 2 years ago

LTG

Pinside member

Hopkins, MN

12y 191K 56,905 24 7

OP
Quoted from Foxxstone_80:
Does this look like a diode

It is a diode.

Not necessarily old, just different package.

Change it if you want or don't change it.

LTG : )

#9 2 years ago

TAS

Foxxstone_80

Pinside member

3y 65,300 777

Alright thanks guys. I just wanted to make sure that it was safe to leave on. I guess as long as it works, then why mess with it.

#10 2 years ago

???

jj44114

Pinside member

8y 56,050 1,861 19

It’s an old style 1n4004.

#11 2 years ago

WFC

Billc479

Pinside+ Frequent

Pleasant Plains, IL

9y 79,800 3,127 15

It also looks like a 1N4148 - I have over a 100 of them in a bag.

#12 2 years ago

PIP

Quench

Pinside member

8y 114K 8,016

Quoted from Billc479:
It also looks like a 1N4148

The glass 1N4004 are larger diameter (about the same as a plastic 1N4004) compared to a 1N4148.

#13 2 years ago

WFC

Billc479

Pinside+ Frequent

Pleasant Plains, IL

9y 79,800 3,127 15

Quench

You’re probably right. Size is kind of hard to tell on a phone. The 4148s are smaller than 4001s.

#14 2 years ago

PIP

Quench

Pinside member

8y 114K 8,016

Quoted from Billc479:
Size is kind of hard to tell on a phone. The 4148s are smaller than 4001s.

For sure.
It's annoying how some low wattage zener diodes look exactly like 1N4148 now. Even some sources of 1N270 germanium diodes (used on Gottlieb switch matrix) changed package type to look like 1N4148.

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