2X062H Microwave Oven Diode

A diode designed as a semiconductor device specifically acts as a one-way switch for current. It permits flow of current easily in one direction, but severely restricts current from flowing in the opposite direction.

The microwave diode function to convert the alternating current (AC) power output of the transformer to direct current (DC), doubling the voltage to nearly 5,000 volts. This bidirectional high voltage diode powers the magnetron in the microwave oven. As a result, heats up the  food or beverage placed in the oven cavity. Basically, these diodes come as two-terminal, nonlinear semiconductors used for generating, mixing, detection, and switching of microwave signals.

In case if the diode burned out, the magnetron will not receive enough voltage to operate. And the microwave oven will fail to heat. This is because, diode is the crucuial part of a voltage doubler. The top coil of the secondary in device is the heater power supply used to heat up filament inside magnetron to emit electrons. These are thermal electrons without much energy. The voltage doubler supplies negative bias to the filament to ‘kick’ the electrons out of the filament. As a result, with the help of external axial magnetic field (hence the name magnetron), the now energetic electrons can then go spiraling around a couple of microwave cavities. Thereby utilizing cyclotron resonance to exchange their kinetic energies into the microwave. These microwave diodes are high voltage silicon stack, featuring  low leakage current, 2 Terminal design.