Square vs. round pads for +/- polarized parts

[Chris Carlen]

Greetings:


Is there a standard on which pad to make square vs. round for +/- on
polarized caps, or for anodes/cathodes on diodes?

I am inclined to prefer square pads for + terminals and anodes, because
a square is more visually similar to a plus sign.

Obviously it doesn't matter much. But it seems other folks' diodes
often have the anodes round and cathodes square.

Thanks for input.



--
Good day!

________________________________________
Christopher R. Carlen
Principal Laser&Electronics Technologist
Sandia National Laboratories CA USA
[email protected]
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[Chuck Harris]

Greetings:


Is there a standard on which pad to make square vs. round for +/- on
polarized caps, or for anodes/cathodes on diodes?

I am inclined to prefer square pads for + terminals and anodes, because
a square is more visually similar to a plus sign.

Obviously it doesn't matter much. But it seems other folks' diodes
often have the anodes round and cathodes square.

Thanks for input.

I use square pads for pin 1 on chips, resistors, and capacitors, for + on
polarized capacitors, and for cathodes on diodes.

-Chuck Harris

 

[RST Engineering \(jw\)]

I use square pads for "identified" pins. Pin 1 on ICs. Cathode (stripe) on
diodes. And, since most electrolytic capacitors have the (-) lead
identified, the (-) lead on electrolytics. I don't use tantalums, which
have the (+) lead identified usually.

Jim

 

[Chuck Harris]

I use square pads for "identified" pins. Pin 1 on ICs. Cathode (stripe) on
diodes. And, since most electrolytic capacitors have the (-) lead
identified, the (-) lead on electrolytics. I don't use tantalums, which
have the (+) lead identified usually.

I use the square pads to make my life easier when I assemble the boards. Electrolytics
have a long lead on +, or a rolled edge on + so I make that the square pad... besides,
I am more "schematic-centric" in the way I see electronics. For electrolytics, the plus
lead is what is identified on the schematic, not the minus.

-Chuck

 

[Chris Carlen]

I use square pads for "identified" pins. Pin 1 on ICs. Cathode
(stripe) on diodes. And, since most electrolytic capacitors have the
(-) lead identified, the (-) lead on electrolytics. I don't use
tantalums, which have the (+) lead identified usually.

Jim

That sorta makes sense, but as Chuck points out in his next post, some
parts are identified by both a long lead and a printed marking on the
body. These sometimes conflict, as with electrolytics.



But I'm beginning to think that a square pad for diode cathodes is most
logical.




--
Good day!

________________________________________
Christopher R. Carlen
Principal Laser&Electronics Technologist
Sandia National Laboratories CA USA
[email protected]
NOTE, delete texts: "RemoveThis" and
"BOGUS" from email address to reply.