DIYstompboxes.com

DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: thermionix on September 19, 2018, 03:56:20 PM

Title: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: thermionix on September 19, 2018, 03:56:20 PM
Tayda has been out of stock for a while, so I looked around for alternatives.  I found one place with 1N34As for $0.19 each, good price, but their minimum shipping was over $9, deal breaker.  So I decided to try these (http://www.surplus-electronics-sales.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=898) Toshiba 1S50s.  I've ordered from that place before with no problems.

Can't find a datasheet, they may be fairly old, I don't know.  Mouser stocks a Schottky with the same part number, different diode though, these Toshibas are definitely germanium.  I got them today, and went about measuring Vf with my Fluke.  Much more consistent than other germs I've tried, in the batch of 20 the range was .277 to .298.  So that's a good thing if you want to match pairs.

I put the lowest matched pair (.278) in my Octavia, and they do sound good.  I like them better than the nearly-matched (.254 & .256) D9Es I had in there.  That circuit really seems to like them exactly the same.  It's a little harsh with a slight mismatch.

(BTW, have you searched for 1N34As on Ebay lately?  Some sellers are actually getting multiple dollars each for them.  Ridiculous.  Check this (https://www.ebay.com/itm/1N34A-Germanium-Diode-DO-35-100-pcs/281296113823?hash=item417e8e109f:g:BO8AAOxy3zNSopgV) out.  38 lots sold!  Are those even real germaniums?)
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: italianguy63 on September 19, 2018, 04:02:04 PM
I got 200 D9B (Russian) germs.. on eBay recently for $8.20.

They are pretty damn cool.

MC
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: thermionix on September 19, 2018, 04:14:56 PM
4 cents each?  Hell yeah!  Did they ship from overseas?  I didn't find any deals close to that, but I tend to select "US Only" for Ebay search results, because they don't have a "No China or Hong Kong" button.
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: italianguy63 on September 20, 2018, 03:49:45 AM
Looks like they went up a little...  They came from USSR.  Still 6.5 cents to the door...


https://www.ebay.com/itm/200-pcs-x-D9B-9-GERMANIUM-Ge-DETECTOR-DIODE-10V-90mA-USSR-DIODE-/183415468247?oid=183361437443

Note:  If you get them, the band is reversed as Dino pointed out.

EDIT:  I have had GREAT success with components purchased from old Blok countries (USSR, Romanina, Bulgaria, etc.)  Great quality and inexpensive.


MC
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: antonis on September 20, 2018, 07:52:32 AM
Search for 1N60..
(I use them for many years with excellent results..)
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: thermionix on September 20, 2018, 02:17:38 PM
Quote from: italianguy63 on September 20, 2018, 03:49:45 AM
They came from USSR.

As slow as Russian post is, that's probably accurate.  ::)
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: italianguy63 on September 20, 2018, 03:08:50 PM
Quote from: thermionix on September 20, 2018, 02:17:38 PM
Quote from: italianguy63 on September 20, 2018, 03:49:45 AM
They came from USSR.

As slow as Russian post is, that's probably accurate.  ::)

Wasn't too bad... a couple weeks.  I was not in a rush, and after reading the "Russian Diodes for Dummies" thread, I had to try some!

Not disappointed.

MC
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: thermionix on September 20, 2018, 04:41:49 PM
I've had all of one order from Russia, the package went back and forth between two postal facilites in Moscow region for 3 solid weeks.  Took a full month to get here.  All the contents were intact, so no big deal.  No idea what they were doing with the package in that time.  But with Ebay, there's a limit to the time a buyer has to file a claim, so I'm wary of buying things that might take a long time to arrive.  With China/Hong Kong, my concern is more about fakes than delays.
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: Sooner Boomer on September 20, 2018, 05:13:31 PM
BGMicro.com has 1n34 diodes for $59 ea.  I bought a handfull of several different types last time I placed an order.  They're in  Dallas (Garland).
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: Sooner Boomer on September 20, 2018, 05:15:11 PM
FIFTY-NINE CENTS

No, I don't proof read!
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: italianguy63 on September 20, 2018, 05:24:28 PM
Quote from: thermionix on September 20, 2018, 04:41:49 PM
I've had all of one order from Russia, the package went back and forth between two postal facilites in Moscow region for 3 solid weeks.  Took a full month to get here.  All the contents were intact, so no big deal.  No idea what they were doing with the package in that time.  But with Ebay, there's a limit to the time a buyer has to file a claim, so I'm wary of buying things that might take a long time to arrive.  With China/Hong Kong, my concern is more about fakes than delays.

eBay recently extended the time to file a complaint from 14 days to 30 days.

Well, if anything, I can tell you that the seller I mentioned delivered.   8)

MC
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: PRR on September 20, 2018, 11:38:47 PM
Quote from: Sooner Boomer on September 20, 2018, 05:15:11 PMNo, I don't proof read!

FYI-- you *can* edit your posts here for some time after posting. Hit the (https://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/Themes/DIYTheme2/images/icons/modify_inline.gif)Modify button above or below your post.

There IS a time limit. (And maybe no-modify for very new members?)

Yes, in the 110 seconds between your typo and your correction, somebody could have fainted. (I felt weak....) If you leave a typo up too long, a later correction may be wiser. In this case I'd fix it in place, maybe add a note about my goof.
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: BetterOffShred on September 21, 2018, 12:13:59 AM
I've had pretty good luck with stuff from Russia and Ukraine.. 

Just ordered 200 of those D9B's..  why not.   :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: thermionix on September 21, 2018, 12:48:50 AM
Well I tried these 1S50s in my Refractor (Klone) today, matched pair.  Very nice!  They replaced D9Es, which also sound good in there.  The Toshibas are not radically different from the D9Es, but less crunchy, or smoother, still good mids.  I also installed sockets while I had the board out, definitely should have done that from the get-go.  In the Octavia, too.
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: BetterOffShred on September 21, 2018, 09:37:03 AM
I had D9E's in my Klone too. :) a pal gave me some OA7's that I ended up putting in instead..  they had more mids and crunch which is what I was after.
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: thermionix on September 21, 2018, 02:10:36 PM
I had to google OA7s, they look like a good candidate for the Octavia too.  Do you remember the Vf of the ones you put in your Klone, and were they matched?
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: BetterOffShred on September 21, 2018, 03:19:14 PM
Nah I didn't match them and I didn't measure them either.  Just kind of went by ear.   I can measure them though.  I'll report back
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: thermionix on September 21, 2018, 05:03:33 PM
Don't go to too much trouble.  Since I now have sockets, I plan to experiment some.  I've never played a real Klon nor any other Klone, so I don't really know how they're supposed to sound, just have to go by what appeals to me.  But always interested to hear what other people like in theirs.

Today I've been playing with the Klon Refractor running into an 808.  Nice combo.
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: BetterOffShred on September 21, 2018, 10:49:59 PM
It's no trouble Bruh!  :icon_mrgreen:  I didn't box it yet... I did order 20 more of them OA7's though.  They are pretty slick
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: BetterOffShred on September 24, 2018, 07:41:22 PM
356 and 351 mv.. so I guess they are pretty close.   They sound great IMO  :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: Some different Ge diodes
Post by: thermionix on September 25, 2018, 12:16:39 AM
Thanks!  Those are "right at" what's usually recommended for Klons.  The first diode set I tried was .356 and .352, 1N270s (I think) from Tayda.  They sounded really dull.  Then I switched to the D9Es with lower Vf and it came to life.  I don't know how much of that is the specific type, the Vf, or how matched they are (or aren't).  Now these Toshibas are a third sound, but much closer to the D9Es than the first set.  Similar tone, but a spongier feel, if that makes any sense.

When I googled the OA7s the other day, I saw claims of Vf ~.24V.  But I guess we get different readings from different meters.  I'm using a Fluke 73, if I'm interpreting the manual data correctly it's testing germs at about 600µA.