Otter LRC CM4647296 comes home

[Jordan Baker]

It’s all in the details…..

I needed to make up one of these stamped parts. It held a voltage reducer for two of the gauges on the dash. I made up a stamping die from bits of steel I had. With a bunch of trial and error I was able to make a stamping I was happy with it. It was a lot of work for just needing one part, especially since it won’t be seen. But…I do enjoy challenging myself to make parts.

[Jordan Baker]

The finished stamping after cutting off the excess and sanding the edges smooth. Two of these were needed on the backside of the gauges. More detail to come another day once I sort out the actual voltage reducing insides.

[Jordan Baker]

The voltage reducer project is done. I’m very happy with how these turned out. I was able to reuse the original brass terminals for the one reducer. The other one I sourced out some similar brass screws. As for the actual reducer I used Zener Diodes. These drop the voltage from 12v down to 6.8v. I then ink stamped the ends to differentiate the 12v from the 6v. Lastly, they were installed on the back side of the dash on the appropriate gauges.

[Jordan Baker]

The rest of the pictures.

[David Dunlop]

Wow!

Nice Ink Stamping, Jordan.

That is a skill I want to investigate one of these days. A lot of wireless equipment used ink stamping for identifying the major circuit components on the adjoining chassis surfaces, usually in black, or dark blue ink. Sometimes varnished over, sometimes not. Over time, or during rebuilds, these markings are often damaged or lost completely.

Thanks for the great confirmation it can be done. I will likely be contacting you down the road for lessons!


David

[Bob Carriere]

Has the resident electric wiz .....can you explain how a Zener diode works to reduce the voltage??? all the voltage drop devices I have used were rather a "resistor" that reduced the voltage and usually air exposed to dispel heat.....

Jordan...... what is the identifier for the Zener....as in part # or its capacity to reduce by exactly 50%??

Never too late to learn.....

Bob C

[Lynn Eades]

Bob, from the web.

ADVANTAGES OF ZENER DIODES FOR CIRCUIT FUNCTIONALITY
A zener diode is a type of rectifying semiconductor diode that is used to regulate voltage in a circuit, working in a reverse-bias mode to avoid failure. Semiconductor diodes allow a current to flow in only one direction, but zener diodes allow the current to also flow in the opposite direction when exposed to enough voltage. Zener diodes provide excellent solutions to several common circuit needs.

Below, Solid State Inc. reviews the applications, operations and advantages of zener diodes.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DIODE AND A ZENER DIODE?
As noted, a diode is a semiconductor that conducts in a single direction only, whereas a zener diode conducts in both forward and reverse biased directions. If a normal diode operated in reverse, it would be destroyed, though no damage occurs with a zener diode. Instead, zener diodes take full advantage of the amount of reverse voltage applied.

ZENER DIODE: BASIC OPERATIONS AND APPLICATIONS
Zener diodes operate the same as a PN junction diode when in the forward-bias direction, but it’s typically used for the reverse mode in its applications. That said, zener diodes also regulate voltage one way (regular) or both ways (bidirectional). It has a wide variety of voltages and, as reverse voltage increases to its breakdown voltage, a current will start to flow through the diode. Because the voltage remains fairly constant across a wide range of power supplies, these are used for voltage regulation, surge suppressors, clipper circuits, and as reference elements across a variety of applications.

If you are handling diodes to build or use within a circuit, it’s essential to determine which way to point the diode. The two terminals of a diode are referred to as the anode to case (AK) and cathode to case (KK). An anode is an electrode that a positive charge will flow through into the device from an external circuit; a cathode is an electrode that directs the current to flow out of the device.

ADVANTAGES OF ZENER DIODES
There are a number of benefits of using zener diodes in circuit applications, including the following:

Less expensive than other diodes
Ability to shift voltage
Easily compatible and obtainable across systems
High-performance standard
Protection from over-voltage
Ability to regulate and stabilize circuit voltage
Greater control overflowing current
Usable in smaller circuits
In review, zener diodes are designed to operate in reverse biased mode at which they begin to conduct substantial current. It may function as a voltage regulator by drawing less current if the voltage is too low, or alternately drawing more if the voltage is too high.ADVANTAGES OF ZENER DIODES FOR CIRCUIT FUNCTIONALITY
A zener diode is a type of rectifying semiconductor diode that is used to regulate voltage in a circuit, working in a reverse-bias mode to avoid failure. Semiconductor diodes allow a current to flow in only one direction, but zener diodes allow the current to also flow in the opposite direction when exposed to enough voltage. Zener diodes provide excellent solutions to several common circuit needs.

Below, Solid State Inc. reviews the applications, operations and advantages of zener diodes.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DIODE AND A ZENER DIODE?
As noted, a diode is a semiconductor that conducts in a single direction only, whereas a zener diode conducts in both forward and reverse biased directions. If a normal diode operated in reverse, it would be destroyed, though no damage occurs with a zener diode. Instead, zener diodes take full advantage of the amount of reverse voltage applied.

ZENER DIODE: BASIC OPERATIONS AND APPLICATIONS
Zener diodes operate the same as a PN junction diode when in the forward-bias direction, but it’s typically used for the reverse mode in its applications. That said, zener diodes also regulate voltage one way (regular) or both ways (bidirectional). It has a wide variety of voltages and, as reverse voltage increases to its breakdown voltage, a current will start to flow through the diode. Because the voltage remains fairly constant across a wide range of power supplies, these are used for voltage regulation, surge suppressors, clipper circuits, and as reference elements across a variety of applications.

If you are handling diodes to build or use within a circuit, it’s essential to determine which way to point the diode. The two terminals of a diode are referred to as the anode to case (AK) and cathode to case (KK). An anode is an electrode that a positive charge will flow through into the device from an external circuit; a cathode is an electrode that directs the current to flow out of the device.

ADVANTAGES OF ZENER DIODES
There are a number of benefits of using zener diodes in circuit applications, including the following:

Less expensive than other diodes
Ability to shift voltage
Easily compatible and obtainable across systems
High-performance standard
Protection from over-voltage
Ability to regulate and stabilize circuit voltage
Greater control overflowing current
Usable in smaller circuits
In review, zener diodes are designed to operate in reverse biased mode at which they begin to conduct substantial current. It may function as a voltage regulator by drawing less current if the voltage is too low, or alternately drawing more if the voltage is too high.