Electronic – Numbering of Diodes and Transistors

serial number

I'm an electronic enthusiast, and very interested in doing experiments and working with whatever I learn in the book.

Recently, I was making a full wave rectifier circuit. In order to find a Zener diode for this purpose, I searched through the net, and it was a utter chaos that I found myself in with the different types of numbering of the diodes and capacitors. My book mentioned that Zeners are numbered usually as 1N…. , that is, Zeners have the prefix 1N. I had to look up the data sheet of each zener available to see which met my needs.

There are similar types of numbering for transistors, ICs and all other electronic components. My question is that, is it possible to identify the characteristics of a particular component by looking at its numbering and not the data sheet? For example, if I say a Zener is 1N5408, as a beginner, I understand nothing but that it is a Zener diode, and then I've to look at the data sheet for other characteristics. Is that the case with everyone? What do you do when you want a particular component with some specifications in particular? Do you just Google it up, or is their some systematic approach to this?

Moreover, can anyone provide me a table by which I shall be able to understand which serial number of components refers to what? For example, BAV99 is a dual diode, whereas BT146 is a triac. How can I understand at the first sight that the given serial number refers to a diode, transistor or such other components? What is their systematic numbering process, if any?

Best Answer

To give you some hope, the 1N and 2N series refer to the number of junctions in the devices.

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

  • 1N will almost (just covering the exceptions) always mean a diode of some sort as they have only one PN junction.
  • 2N refers usually to bipolar junction transistors which have two PN junctions.
  • Here is a 3N187 - a dual insulated-gate field-effect transistor. It has four leads.

A web search found some 4N and 6N but they seem to be opto-couplers and I can't see the continuation of the 1N, 2N pattern.

See stephenvh's answer to Is there any reasoning behind component names? for further information.