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What kind of diodes should I buy? | 11 comments (11 topical, editorial)
Re: What kind of diodes should I buy? (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by Ungrounded Lightning Rod on Fri Aug 15th, 2008 at 06:27:24 PM MST
(User Info)

When paralleling multiple diodes to increase current capacity you want the diodes to match as closely as possible.  Their voltage/current curve is very non-linear (in particular: it's an exponential) so a very small mismatch throws most of the current into one of the diodes.

So you want them:
 - To be at the same temperature.
 - To be from the same batch of diodes to minimize process variations.
 - To have equal wiring resistance.

Using both sets of diodes in a bridge (thus probably from the same lot or even on a common chip, certainly on a common heatsink, which tends to equalize the temperature) for ONE phase and soldering the incoming AC line for that phase to the midpoint of a wire running between the two AC terminals of that bridge (to provide a tiny and equal series resistance) tends to do this.  Splitting the phases between two different bridges specifically AVOIDS doing this (and tempts you to use different wire lengths, further {and drastically} increasing the imbalance.)

[ Parent ]



What kind of diodes should I buy? | 11 comments (11 topical, 0 editorial)

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