Diodes

How to choose

The axes below are the criteria you actually weigh when selecting a part in this category.

Forward voltage drop at your actual current

Schottky diodes have lower VF than silicon PN diodes, but the difference shrinks at higher current. Check VF at the current your circuit actually draws, not the 1 mA test condition.

See:1N41481N5819

Reverse recovery time and switching losses

PN diodes store charge and take time to turn off. Schottky diodes are majority-carrier devices and have essentially zero reverse recovery. In a switching converter, this is the difference between cool and cooked.

See:1N41481N5819

Peak repetitive current vs non-repetitive surge

The datasheet lists both, and they differ by an order of magnitude. A diode that survives a one-time surge may fail on the second or third repetition if you sized for the non-repetitive number.

See:1N41481N5819

All parts in this category

• SS141 A, 40 V surface-mount Schottky barrier rectifier in SMA (DO-214AC) — the SMD equivalent of the 1N5819, with the same electrical ratings in a compact reflow-compatible package.Active
• 1N4148100 V small-signal switching diode; multi-source jellybeanActive
• 1N58191 A, 40 V Schottky barrier rectifier in DO-41 — the default through-hole power Schottky for low-voltage rectification, freewheeling, and reverse-polarity protection.Active

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Parts in this guide verified against manufacturer datasheets; latest 2026-07-12.