Help Understand current

Thread Starter

mguptamel

Joined Dec 14, 2012
37
Is it forward characteristics graph? I am a newbie and using circuit simulator from Falstad. Don't know what type of diode it is. Assuming it's a general or common one.
 

#12

Joined Nov 30, 2010
18,224
The 1N4000 series forward characteristics graph works for this setup and it confirms the results. The problem is that it is very hard to read because it is so small.
 

#12

Joined Nov 30, 2010
18,224
Look at the graph to find out how much current is going through D1 at that voltage, then the rest of the current must be in the other diode and resistor.

Simple to say but difficult to do with any accuracy using such a poor graph as the manufacturer provides.
 

MikeML

Joined Oct 2, 2009
5,444
...
Simple to say but difficult to do with any accuracy using such a poor graph as the manufacturer provides.
That is why they provide us with simulators. Here is an alternate simulation using a free downloadable simulator, LTSpice. In this case, the diodes are simplified, ideal diodes. The results match quite closely with Falstad. Not so much if I replace D1 and D2 with 1N4000 series diodes.
 

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Thread Starter

mguptamel

Joined Dec 14, 2012
37
Thanks guys for helping me out. However, I am still confused as I don't know how to find current from graph because what forward voltage should I pick up from graph. Forward voltage could be anywhere less than 0.7, for example. Please correct me if I am going in wrong direction
 

crutschow

Joined Mar 14, 2008
34,285
The problem is that the diode voltage versus current is a rather complex non-linear equation so a solution cannot be easily directly calculated. Thus you need to do an iterative solution (which is what a simulator does). You try a calculation with assumed currents for each diode and then see if they match the diode voltage/current curve. If not then you keep adjusting the assumed currents until the diode voltage/current for each diode do match the curve. It's a rather tedious process which is why most of us use a simulator for that purpose.
 
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