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LED as a diode

micromackan

Jun 13, 2017
2
Joined
Jun 13, 2017
Messages
2
Hi,
I have a small DC motor but i have no good diodes to handle the back emf. Can i use a normal LED as a diode since my motor is very small?

picture in attachment.

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(*steve*)

¡sǝpodᴉʇuɐ ǝɥʇ ɹɐǝɥd
Moderator
Jan 21, 2010
25,510
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
25,510
You might be able to get away with it, but beware that a LED has a very low reverse voltage. Also beware that relatively high current pulses (300mA) will pass through the LED which could shorten its life.

It's hard to know how the LED will eventually fail, and whether that failure will cause other problems for you.

I wouldn't recommend it.

Any rectifier diode you can scavenge out of some broken piece of equipment will probably do far better.
 
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