Diodes and Rectifiers, Simplified
Diodes let current through one way only. That one idea gives you protection against reversed batteries, AC-to-DC power supplies and voltage references.
Words to know
- Forward voltage
- Think of it like a step the water must climb before it can flow on.
- Diode
- Think of it like a one-way valve in a water pipe.
- Rectifier
- Think of it like one-way gates that send traffic from both directions onto the same road.
- Zener diode
- Think of it like an overflow pipe that keeps a tank at one level.
