1N4001 diodes?

I just went to RadioShack to pick up the parts for my DDL driver and "dummy load" I'm going to build and they didn't have enough 1N4001 diodes so I got the 1N4004 ones. The only difference I saw on the package is that the voltage max is 400v. Is this going to be a problem for building the dummy load or the driver?

Not at all. The reason we use those kinds of diodes is because of their voltage drop. This is the amount of voltage required to get current to flow through the diode. Silicon diodes have a voltage drop of .7V regardless of their model number or voltage carrying capacity. When we combine 4 diodes in series they collectively have a 2.8V (.7*4) voltage drop, which is very near the required voltage of a red laser diode, so by using the diodes in series we are simulating a red laser diode.

Thanks for the answer! I really didn't want to have to return them just cause they wouldn't work.

Like EF said any 1N400[X] (replace [X] by any number from 1 to 7)
rectifier diode will work.

Jerry

Would I be correct in assuming I could use 2x 1N4001 diodes and 2x 1N004 diodes for a dummy requiring 4 of these guys?

..Sorry to bring this old thread up but I figured it would be more ideal than making a brand new thread.

yes you can. didn't you read the post just above yours? :spank:

Yes, I did.

It said the [x] did not matter when using 4 or 6 of them for a dummy.
I did however wonder if there would be any kind of incompatibility in mixing and matching, as opposed to a solid 4x 1N400x where x is a FIXED value.

Sorry if this might have been totally obvious to you, it wasn't for me. (nil on electrical science in school)!

thanks for clearing it up
cheers