1N914 diode, datasheet, 1N914 equivalent, specs, its applications

1N914 diode is a small signal diode. This diode allows current to flow in only one direction and restricts it in another. The operating junction temperature of this diode is 175°C while the forward impulse current is 4A. So it is widely used in energy management and industrial applications.

This article covers an overview of the 1N914 Diode, pin configuration, features, specifications, circuit working principle and applications.

What is 1N914 Diode?

1N914 diode is one kind of small signal diode used in various portable devices. It generates maximum resistance in one direction and zero resistance in the other. Therefore, the current will only flow in one direction. This unidirectional behavior is known as rectification which can change the current from alternating current to direct current.

In general, it is a polarizing component that includes two terminals, the anode and the cathode. The silver mark on this diode will indicate the cathode terminal. This diode will only operate when some form of threshold voltage is present when connected in forward bias mode, so it will pick up the flow of current in reverse bias mode.

Generally, this diode gives non-linear hexagonal properties, but it can be modified with the help of certain semiconductors and doping impurities scattered within the material of this diode during the diode fabrication procedure.

1N914 diode pin configuration

The 1N914 diode pin configuration is shown below. This diode includes two terminals where each terminal and its functions are discussed below. Here, the 1N914 diode code is shown below.

Anode: The current supply is always around the anode terminal

Cathode: current flow is always present from the cathode terminal

1N914 diode Features and Specifications

1N914 diode features and specifications include the following:

This is a fast switching diode
The peak repeated reverse voltage (VRRM) is 100V
RMS reverse voltage is 75V
Max forward current is 4A
The continuous forward current is 300mA
Reverse recovery time is 8ns
It can be accessed in the DO-35 . package
Transfer speed (maximum) is 4 ns
Constant reverse voltage (maximum) is 75V
The maximum recurring reverse voltage is 100V
The maximum recurrent forward current is 225 mA
Fast conversion speed
High reliability and conductivity
RoHS/lead free
Weight 0.013 grams
It shows maximum conduction in one direction only and prevents current from flowing in the remaining direction.
This diode is very reliable and available at a lower cost.
Used in general purpose based conversion applications.
It is extremely durable and AEC-Q101 qualified.

The 1N914 diode equivalent is 1N4148 diode, while the 1N914 replacement diodes are:

1N4007 diode, 1N5408, 1N4733A, 1N5822 diode, etc.

How to use 1N914 diode?

The 1N914 diode handles low voltage and current. This diode can switch at full speed and therefore is used in switching based applications but not in rate based applications. The diode allows current to flow in only one way from the anode side to the cathode side.

The maximum load current capacity of this type of diode is 300mA and can resist peaks up to 4A. The fast recovery time of this diode is 8 ns at 10 mA of forward current; Thus this type of diode is applicable in the areas which are related to the fast switching. This diode is connected to 1N4148 apart from this diode which can withstand high reverse currents.

Here, we discuss the non-switched power supply circuit used to light LEDs. In this circuit, the 1N914 diode plays a major role and the capacitor rating must be >200V, and it must also have a polypropylene/dialectic of metallic polyester. In this application circuit, a 1K resistor is used to limit the inrush current. So the wattage value of the resistor must be higher than 1 Watt.

The diode in the circuit is connected to the LED in parallel. The main function of this diode is to limit the reverse voltage outside the LED. This diode provides the passive half-cycle pass because the LED is allied to the AC power supply.

This specific circuit operates as 15 to 20 mA from a constant current source based on the LED's voltage bias and supply line stability through a nominal power supply frequency of 60 Hz. Placing two switches in the direction of the string element can allow individual LEDs for the viewer to have three colors. In this circuit, the current can be controlled by changing the value of the capacitor. As a result, power LEDs also operate directly using an AC power source.

1N914 Diode vs 1N4148 Diode

A diode such as 1N4148 and 1N914 can be used interchangeably but the 1N4148 diode is an advanced version of 1N914. However, technically there is not much difference but the main difference is, in comparison with 1n914 diode, 1n4148 includes less leakage current.

Depending on manufacturers such as Digikey and NXP, the leakage current is 25 nA. So this would make the 1N4148 diode a better choice than the 1N914 diode. The LED driver circuit without a transformer using the 1N914 diode is shown below.

1N914 diode applications

1N914 diode applications include the following.

1N914 diodes are used for power conversion and rectifiers can be made with these diodes and convert AC into DC to provide better performance.
These diodes protect ultra-responsive electronic devices from overvoltages. In standard situations, these types of diodes are connected with reverse bias and do not work. As soon as any higher voltage surge occurs, it will supply current at them and they connect in a forward biased fashion.
Many integrated circuits are combined with these types of diodes that block voltage surges and keep transistors from breaking.
It is widely used in industrial applications.
This diode can be used by mobile devices and power management devices
This diode is used to demodulate AM radio signals.
Binaries are combined with other components to create logic gates like OR & AND
These types of diodes are widely used as a temperature detector as the forward voltage drop is highly dependent on temperature.
So this is all about the 1N914 Diode datasheet overview which includes the pinout, features, specifications and circuit that works with the applications. Here is a question for you, what are the disadvantages of 1N914 Diode?

1N914 diode, datasheet, 1N914 equivalent, specs, its applications