14/4/2020 How to Test a Diode using Multimeter Instrumentation Tools

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Electronic Basics Electronic Devices & Circuits

How to Test a
Diode using
Multimeter

A multimeter can be used as a fast and

simple way to check a diode out of the
circuit. A good diode will show an extremely
high resistance (ideally an open) with
reverse bias and a very low resistance with
forward bias. A defective open diode will
show an extremely  high resistance (or
open) for both forward and reverse bias. A
defective shorted or resistive  diode will
show zero or a low resistance for both
forward and reverse bias. An open diode is
the most common type of failure.

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14/4/2020 How to Test a Diode using Multimeter Instrumentation Tools

X X
Diodes Voltage Quadrupler Short Notes on Rectifiers & Filters 
ELEC TRONI C DE VICES & CIRCU I TS
E LEC T RO NI C DEVI C E S & C IR CU I TS
The device which operates at above 30V is called an
The addition of still another diode-capacitor section
electrical device and the device which operates with
to a Voltage trippler, as shown in Below Figure,
less than 30V is called electronic voltage. E…
produces an output four times the peak seconda…

DMM Diode Test Position

Many digital multimeters (DMMs) have a

diode test  function that provides a
convenient way to test a diode. A typical
DMM has a small diode symbol to mark the
position of the function switch. When set to
diode test, the meter provides an internal
voltage sufficient to forward-bias
and  reverse-bias a diode. This internal
voltage may vary among different makes of
DMM, but 2.5 V to 3.5 V is a typical range of
values. The meter provides a voltage
reading or other  indication to show the
condition of the diode under test.

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14/4/2020 How to Test a Diode using Multimeter Instrumentation Tools

When
X the Diode Is Working X
Diodes Voltage Quadrupler Short Notes on Rectifiers & Filters 
ELEC TRONI C DE VICES & CIRCU I TS
E LEC T RO NI C DEVI C E S & C IR CU I TS
In Figure (a), the red (positive) lead of the
The device which operates at above 30V is called an
The addition of still another diode-capacitor section
to a Voltage trippler, as shown in Below Figure, meter is  connected
electrical tothethe
device and anode
device and the
which operates with
less than 30V is called electronic voltage. E…
produces an output four times the peak seconda…
black (negative) lead is connected to the
cathode to forwardbias  the diode. If the
diode is good, you will get a reading of
between approximately 0.5 V  and 0.9 V,
with 0.7 V being typical for forward bias.

In Figure (b), the diode is turned around for

reverse bias as shown. If the diode
is  working properly, you will typically get a
reading of “OL”. Some DMMs may display
the  internal voltage for a reverse-bias
condition.

When the Diode Is Defective

When a diode has failed open, you get an

out-of-range  “OL” indication for both the
forward-bias and the reverse-bias
conditions, as illustrated in  Figure (c). If a
diode is shorted, the meter reads 0 V in
both forward- and reverse-bias  tests, as
indicated in part (d).

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14/4/2020 How to Test a Diode using Multimeter Instrumentation Tools

X X
Diodes Voltage Quadrupler Short Notes on Rectifiers & Filters 
ELEC TRONI C DE VICES & CIRCU I TS
E LEC T RO NI C DEVI C E S & C IR CU I TS
The device which operates at above 30V is called an
The addition of still another diode-capacitor section
electrical device and the device which operates with
to a Voltage trippler, as shown in Below Figure,
less than 30V is called electronic voltage. E…
produces an output four times the peak seconda…

Checking a Diode with the OHMs

Function

DMMs that do not have a diode test

position  can be used to check a diode by
setting the function switch on an OHMs
range. For  a forward-bias check of a good
diode, you will get a resistance reading that
can vary depending on the meter’s internal
battery. Many meters do not have sufficient
voltage on the  OHMs setting to fully
forward-bias a diode and you may get a
reading of from several hundred to several
thousand ohms. For the reverse-bias check
of a good diode, you will get an out-of-
range indication such as “OL” on most
DMMs because the reverse resistance is
too high for the meter to measure.

Even though you may not get accurate

forward- and reverse-resistance readings
on a  DMM, the relative readings indicate
that We'll
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14/4/2020 How to Test a Diode using Multimeter Instrumentation Tools

out-of-range
X indication shows that the X
Diodes Voltage Quadrupler Short Notes on Rectifiers & Filters 
E LEC T RO NI C DEVI C E S & C IR CU I TS
reverse resistance
ELEC TRONI C DEis extremely high,
VICES & CIRCU I TS as you
The addition of still another diode-capacitor section expect. The
Thedevice
reading of a few
which operates hundred
at above to aan
30V is called
electrical device and the device which operates with
to a Voltage trippler, as shown in Below Figure,
produces an output four times the peak seconda…
few thousand
less than 30Vohms for forward
is called electronic voltage. E… bias

is  relatively small compared to the reverse

resistance, indicating that the diode is
working properly. The actual resistance of a
forward-biased diode is typically much less
than 100 .

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14/4/2020 How to Test a Diode using Multimeter Instrumentation Tools

X X
Diodes Voltage Quadrupler Short Notes on Rectifiers & Filters 
ELEC TRONI C DE VICES & CIRCU I TS
E LEC T RO NI C DEVI C E S & C IR CU I TS
The device which operates at above 30V is called an
The addition of still another diode-capacitor section Dependent What
electrical device andisthe
a device which
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operates with
to a Voltage trippler, as shown in Below Figure,
produces an output four times the peak seconda… Voltageless than 30V
Fuse ? electronic ting
is called a E…
voltage.

Source Power
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4 COMMENTS
Isaac Newton REPLY

 November 16, 2016 at 11:41 am

Dear Bharadwaj ….
Really good job ……….. appreciated.
Earlier Printing option was there, but
now I can not find it.
Please allow the printing option.
Thanks

PRAVIN MAHESHKAR REPLY

 June 5, 2017 at 4:28 am

Nice informative article …….

Johnny REPLY

 June 5, 2017 at 6:34 am

Your awesome, Very helpful. Thanks

Girish Prasad Behera REPLY

 April 12, 2020 at 8:39 am

thank sir for valuable information.

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Diodes Voltage Quadrupler Your Comment
Short Notes on Rectifiers & Filters 
ELEC TRONI C DE VICES & CIRCU I TS
E LEC T RO NI C DEVI C E S & C IR CU I TS
The device which operates at above 30V is called an
The addition of still another diode-capacitor section
electrical device and the device which operates with
to a Voltage trippler, as shown in Below Figure,
less than 30V is called electronic voltage. E…
produces an output four times the peak seconda…

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X X
Diodes Voltage Quadrupler Short Notes on Rectifiers & Filters 
ELEC TRONI C DE VICES & CIRCU I TS
E LEC T RO NI C DEVI C E S & C IR CU I TS
The device which operates at above 30V is called an
The addition of still another diode-capacitor section
electrical device and the device which operates with
to a Voltage trippler, as shown in Below Figure,
less than 30V is called electronic voltage. E…
produces an output four times the peak seconda…

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