Power Diodes
Power (aka rectifier) diodes are similar to signal diodes but are designed to handle higher current, usually 1A
or more. The 1N4001 is a common rectifier diode and is capable of handling 1A
, but the V
f
(forward voltage) drop is 1.1V
. These are commonly used to protect certain parts of circuits from voltage spikes, as well as for conversion of AC to DC electricity.