Diode
A general-purpose rectifier diode that allows current to flow in one direction only. Used for rectification, reverse-polarity protection, flyback suppression, and voltage clamping.
Properties
| Property | Description | Default | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward voltage | Voltage drop in the conducting direction (V) | 0.7 V | 0.2 V – 1.2 V |
| Max current | Maximum continuous forward current before failure (A) | 1 A | 1 mA – 100 A |
| Reverse breakdown | Reverse voltage that causes avalanche / destruction (V) | 100 V | 10 V – 1 200 V |
Simulation behavior
Current flows freely from anode to cathode when the forward voltage threshold is met. In reverse bias, no current flows until the voltage reaches the reverse breakdown value, at which point the diode fails permanently.
Power dissipation is Vforward × I. If this exceeds the component's thermal limit (derived from max current), the diode fails open.
Tips
- A forward voltage of 0.3 V models a Schottky diode — useful when minimizing voltage drop matters (e.g., reverse-polarity protection on low-voltage circuits).
- Place a diode in reverse parallel across a relay coil or motor to clamp the back-EMF spike when power is removed (flyback diode).
- The cathode terminal is marked with a bar on the component symbol — current flows into the anode and out of the cathode.