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diodes and resistors

Started by jmmrlm, February 10, 2020, 08:36:44 PM

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jmmrlm

I have a Miniatronics Rail Yard Spot Light 72-118-01. It has a diode and a resistor.

Being new to this hobby, could someone please tell me how to distinguish between  the diode and the resistor on this Spot Light ? One is of a brown color, the other is bluish.

thanks,
Jamsheed

Len

Normally a diode will only have a single white band on one end, indicating the cathode (negative) end of the diode. Resistors will have multiple bands of different colors showing it's resistance value.

You can also use a multimeter to check. Set it to measure resistance. The diode will show a very low resistance, possibly even '0' when the '+' lead is connected to the anode (positive) end and the '-' lead to the cathode (negative end). Reversing the leads will show a very high resistance, possibly even an 'OL' (Overload) condition. A resistor will read the same, regardless which way the leads are connected.

Len
If at first you don't succeed, throw it in the spare parts box.

jmmrlm


jward

Resistors are often a light brown colour with a dumbell shape. There will always be 3 or 4 stripes on a resistor, each stripe indicates a numerical value that taken all together will tell you the value in ohms and tolerence of the piece.
Jeffery S Ward Sr
Pittsburgh, PA

Len

If you really want to know, there's a chart here that will let you find the value of the resistor:
http://www.resistorguide.com/standards-and-codes/resistor-color-code/resistor_color_codes_chart/

Len
If at first you don't succeed, throw it in the spare parts box.

jmmrlm

thank you all for your advice. much appreciated.