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About Zener Diode Color Code
By Jestine Yong on December 30, 2009
Yesterday i got an email about identifying the zener diode color code. So far there is very little information about zener diode color code. If you come across one, say the color is blue red green then the value is 6.2 volt and the last band green could be a tolerance or just some suffix. The first two color band calculation is similar to the resistor color code. If you come across any zener diode color code information please do comment and I’m sure many of the readers will appreciate it-thanks!
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126 Comments
admin
September 14, 2011 at 8:24 pm
HI Anamul,
It could be a 5.5 volt zener diode with 2 % tolerance.
Jestine
arnel
January 5, 2014 at 1:16 pm
hi justin.
i have a problem of my zener diode green,green,violet connected to pin no,6 of str w6754 what is the volt bec the zener is already shortd,
Jestine Yong
January 6, 2014 at 10:36 am
HI Arnel,
I can't confimr the value but it can be a 7.5 volt zener diode.
Jestine
admin
September 14, 2011 at 8:26 pm
HI Umesh,
Red yellow yellow could be 2.4 volt zener diode. Sorry no info on black red zener diode.
Jestine
Lee Chin Yap
November 4, 2020 at 8:04 am
I have one power supply is circuit board. How I need understand the zener diode color coding is red blue brown and zener diode color coding is red.Can you help me
Jestine Yong
November 4, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Hi Lee,
I suggest that you read through the comments as there are some info about the zener color codes. You can also visit this link http://pdf.datasheetcatalog.com/datasheet/rohm/rlz_series.pdf. There is no info on red color zener diode...sorry
Jestine
Clinton Yarbrough
September 27, 2011 at 2:24 am
You have made such a positive impact on not only my business, but my confidence as well. I am on my way to becoming a board level repair technician after 25 years...thank you.
Sincerely and Respectfully
Clinton Yarbrough
Certified Computer Services, LLC
Owner/Technician
Saman
September 28, 2011 at 11:51 pm
smd diode red-green-blue?
tarek
October 1, 2011 at 11:49 am
i have zener orange orange orange gray
admin
October 4, 2011 at 3:54 am
HI Tarek,
Sorry no info on 4 color bands zener diode. I suggest that you just try out either 3.3 volt or 33 volt.
Jestine
admin
October 4, 2011 at 3:59 am
HI Saman,
Or should be Blue green red? Sometimes it is hard to tell. The value can be:
6.5 volt or 65 volt with 2 % tolerance or
2.5 volt or 25 volt with 6% tolerance.
From above it seems that 6.5 volt with 2% tolerance is more acceptable.
Jestine
Jeremy
November 7, 2011 at 7:49 am
Hello,i too have a Zener diode, SMD orange glass green stripe cathode. What is voltage on this? Thank you much.
admin
November 8, 2011 at 12:00 pm
HI Jeremy,
Only one stripe?
Jestine
vijayakumar
November 25, 2011 at 11:52 am
i would like to know about the diodes which are in the market and its importances
admin
November 28, 2011 at 5:30 am
Hi Vijayakumar,
I suggest that you Google it because it has more specific information. The information here is mainly on repair and not on theory. The most basic function of diode is to convert ac to dc.
Jestine
NUSLEH MADARAK
January 24, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Hi Jestine. how can i test IC with multimeter digital or analog?
TQ
NUSLEH
admin
January 25, 2012 at 8:34 am
Hi Nusleh,
You can test the supply voltage to IC pin (vcc pin). You need an oscilloscope to fully test a ic waveform output. The voltage regulator that you have studied can be tested with voltmeter. Just check the input and output voltage.
Jestine
Marc Bonnier
March 13, 2012 at 2:02 am
Hi,
I`m currently playing with a LOT of zener diode from the stock of electronic parts at my university and I got a lot of zener diode with color bar for identification.
I manage to understand the system by comparaison! All our parts are identified in box so, I quickly realize that the color code follow the RESISTANCE COLOR CODE but, it doesn`t give the VALUE of the zener voltage but the PART NUMBER!
Take the resistance code and use the color number and put "1N" in from of the code you found and you got the zener part number!
Exemple, I got a VIOLET-GREEN-GRAY-BLUE diode. So, the part number is 1N758 and the datasheet is telling me 10.0v. The last color, blue, I have no idea what it's use for. Tolerance I guess. Maybe the amperage supported? Not idea...
Jestine Yong
March 14, 2012 at 8:51 am
Hi Marc,
That was a very good explanation. I guess the last color should be tolerance but then again tolerance usually is not in 6%. It could be some other meaning that could only be understood by the manufacturer.
Thanks.
Jestine
jacco ten cate
March 15, 2012 at 3:31 am
hello
i have a question about a japanese glassdiode it is marked with only two green bands and i think it is not a zener do you have any idea what this can be
already thanks
jacco
Jestine Yong
March 15, 2012 at 10:20 am
HI Jacco,
What is the board marking? It could be a 5.5 or 55 volt zener diode. What equipment and which section you found this diode/zener diode?
Jestine
Michael Schuetz
March 26, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Hi:
I have a yamaha m50 amp that I blew some zeners in.(full ohm meter defelection hooked up either way).They are reddish orange with translucent center band.I am totally clueless regarding values or a replacement.Any info much appreciated.
Jestine Yong
March 27, 2012 at 10:18 pm
HI Michael,
Just to check if the same part can be found from the same board in another section? If yes then you can compare it. What is the board marking? because a diac also could have the band in the center.
Jestine
Michael Schuetz
March 26, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Managed to find out the diode in question is a discontinued hitachi W06C... Any suitable replacements available?
Jestine Yong
March 27, 2012 at 10:16 pm
HI Michael,
Do you mean the part number is W06c? Is it a smd diode?
Jestine
Michael Schuetz
March 28, 2012 at 10:09 am
HI Jestine:
Yes you are correct.I rechecked the schematic and it isn't a zener.Just a diode (silicone?)Closest replacements I have found so far are nte116 and mur120.Either should provide a suitable replacement.
thanks
Mike
Gayan
May 8, 2012 at 6:51 am
i have a panasonic tv ,that tv not working vertical side.threre is a some zener with color code.that color code is orenge ,blue only.pls.what is the value...
Jestine Yong
May 9, 2012 at 4:51 am
HI Gayan,
It can be a 3.6 or 6.3 volt zener diode. Is the zener diode shorted? once the zener diode is removed what is the voltage around the two points of the zener diode?
Jestine
eduardo santoscoy
May 10, 2012 at 1:29 pm
i want to know the values of four zener diodes : green,blue,orange. orange,blue,green. green,blue,orange.
orange,blue,green
Jestine Yong
May 12, 2012 at 12:57 am
Hi EDUARDO,
Since we do not have many data about zener diode, you may need to remove zener diode and check it off board and compare with a good one. You mentioned 4 zener diodes codes which is actually only 2 ie: green blue orange and orange blue green. So the color code can be 5.6 volt or 56 volt or 3.6 volt or 36 volt. Before you conclude on which one to use I suggest that you check on the circuit to see roughly what voltage is present in the circuit. If it is about 5 to 6 volt the you can use 5.6 volt as replacement.
jestine
kamal insan
July 19, 2012 at 2:16 am
thanks
Mitul
August 4, 2012 at 3:19 am
Please let me know about the 1N5349.I have revolving warning Light which is now faulty.This have the diode 1N5349. I want to replace it.
Jestine Yong
August 4, 2012 at 10:02 pm
HI Mitul,
Sorry I don't get your question-do you mean you want to buy this diode or you want the datasheet?
Jestine
Elie
August 4, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Dear,
I have smd diode have number 3977 what is the calculation for it
Jestine Yong
August 7, 2012 at 7:09 am
HI Eli,
This is a special coding and usually only the manufacturer knows it. Sorry I do not have info on this diode.
Jestine
John
January 18, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Hi Jestine,
Happy New Year 2013.
Would like to check with you. I have a glass Zener Diode: 1 side of the Lead has a red dot. On the body, there's Brown Band (red dot's side) and then Blue Band. Do you know what's the possible voltage value for this?
Thanks.
Jestine Yong
January 19, 2013 at 9:13 pm
Hi John,
It is hard to guess because there are so many non standard coding in the market. In your case it could be a 6.1 volt zener diode. You may have to try it out and retest.
Jestine
Nadia Zidan
August 5, 2013 at 10:35 pm
I have a brown brown diode zener what is its voltage please ?
Thank you very much
Jestine Yong
August 6, 2013 at 9:12 am
Hi Nadia,
Probably a 11 volt zener diode. sorry no idea about the wide brown stripe zener diode.
Jestine
Angel
September 30, 2013 at 7:34 am
Hello have the projector Mitsubishi digital no have POWER can you tell mi what is the problem.
Jestine Yong
October 1, 2013 at 1:33 pm
HI Angel,
It can be any problem from bad fuse to shorted semiconductor. One has to open up the unit and troubleshoot it.
Jestine
amit
October 3, 2013 at 4:46 pm
I have one glass zener diode may be mini melf pakage. It has first ring broad Red second ring Red third ring white or yellow .plz tel me how to idntify. & in there is any chart or document for colour coded diodes
Jestine Yong
October 4, 2013 at 9:56 am
HI Amit,
There is not much info on zener diode coding. Your's could be 22 volt zener diode and it can't be 2.2 because the smallest value in the market that I'd known was 2.4 volt.
Jestine
atef
October 3, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Hello can you help me please
I have a diode (MELF) ,has only one color band for cathode ,(blue) only
this diode is short ,
I want to Know the type of this diode
and the value of its voltage in case of Zener diode (its number if possible)so urgent
thank you
Jestine Yong
October 4, 2013 at 9:58 am
HI Atef,
Sorry not much info on zener diode coding. Could you find another similar diode in the same circuit board? If yes then you test it with your analogue meter to find out the range. This means you have to compare with other similar zener diode.
Jestine
ronald ruesta
December 3, 2013 at 12:13 pm
hi jestine my name is ronald and i have a problem with this diode the body is black with green band please tell me the part # or sub can i use is for old ampl MAC1900 mcintosh
Jestine Yong
December 3, 2013 at 6:28 pm
HI Ronald,
Sorry no info on such color on diode. If it is a zener diode it could be 5 volt.
Jestine
Vinod
February 14, 2014 at 2:56 am
Hi Jestine,
I have an SMD Zener which is shorted, please let me know it's value please.
Red Blue Green
Jestine Yong
February 14, 2014 at 2:56 pm
Hi Vinod,
It is hard to guess such color code. It can be a 26 volt with 5% tolerance or it can also be 56volt with 2% tolerance. I will take the first one as a choice.
Jestine
Matt
May 15, 2014 at 1:40 am
I have a suspected bad surface mount diode that is mounted underneath a transformer. It is a small orange glass diode with the black polarity band and a single purple band in the middle. Any idea what it could be? I attempted to test as a zener and got to 70 volts and it still hadn't clamped, however if it is bad I supposed it may not even if it is a zener. Any help is appreciated.
Jestine Yong
May 15, 2014 at 3:27 pm
HI MATT,
What is the board marking? Single color band in the center could be a diac. A diac should have no reading either way when tested with analogue meter set to x 10 K ohm.
Jestine
serg
July 3, 2014 at 9:17 am
Hi Jestine, would much appreciate for some help. I have zener diode I need to change. If I'm not mistaken I should start reading from cathode: green brown brown. Looks like it is 5.1V zener diode, but if I use method of Marc Bonnier - placing 1N (in front) + 511 (colour numbers) = 1N511 than in data sheet i get different number 6.8V.
what can happen if I install wrong diode for example if it will differ in V value by 1 or 2
Thanks in advance
Jestine Yong
July 3, 2014 at 10:27 pm
HI Serg,
It depends on the type of the circuit. Some would not work, some shutdown and etc.
Jestine
Chetan Dewangan
October 17, 2014 at 7:31 pm
how to identify power and value of minimelf zener diode, because i have two zener diode, one is Blue band and others is black band.
Jestine Yong
October 18, 2014 at 9:16 am
HI Chetan,
You may have to find the manufacturer spec as it is hard to locate such info nowadays. Or to solder it out and test with an analogue meter and see it flicks up to which scale. this you may have to compare with a known good one to determine the exact voltage.
Jestine
Jestine
indrajith
October 19, 2014 at 8:10 pm
i have a problem of my zener diode red, green,green, please let me know it's value please
Jestine Yong
October 20, 2014 at 1:55 pm
It can be 25 or 2.5 volt. I suggest that you check your circuit first. If the circuit is in power supply most likely is 25 volt with 5 % tolerance. if the circuit is low voltage circuit then it is 2.5 volt with 5% tolerance.
Jestine
AWAIS
September 3, 2015 at 2:04 pm
ITS REALLY MUCH INFORMATIVE
AWAIS
September 3, 2015 at 2:01 pm
Good day justin Sir,
I am repairing one temperature controller device
and found two components are shorted one is P5NK50ZFP that is MOSFET and second is zener diode thats color code I never access please let me know what will be the value for first code is BLACK and at the center white transparant mark its smd crystal type zener
ramadan
July 24, 2016 at 5:18 pm
i have a problem of my zener diode green, orange,orange, please let me know it's value please
Jestine Yong
July 29, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Hi Ramadan,
It could be a 33 OR 3.3 volt 5% zener diode. If the circuit is running on 5 volt then chances is high it is a 3.3 volt zener diode.
Jestine
saif
September 22, 2016 at 9:44 pm
hi
I am in problem about zener diode . plz tell me zener diode colour 1 strip is blue plz tell me zener volt
Jestine Yong
September 23, 2016 at 8:57 pm
Hi Saif,
Can you confirm that it is a zener diode? A diac will have a blue strip line in the center.
Jestine
victor cajes
October 28, 2016 at 11:19 am
hi jestine i have a problem, i repair a panasonic crt tv 29 inch.the regulator is STRF6656,IDONT KNOW THE VOLTAGE OF 3 ZENER DIODE IN PRIMARY.what s the volt?
Jestine Yong
October 28, 2016 at 9:48 pm
Hi Victor,
You have to refer to the schematic in order to find out the voltage. My side here does not have this Tv.
Jestine
Azmi
November 1, 2016 at 6:37 am
Please tell me zaner diod red red grey
Jestine Yong
November 1, 2016 at 8:33 pm
Hi Azmi,
Probably 8.2 volt zener diode.
Jestine
aref
November 25, 2016 at 4:38 pm
hi jestine,
I have a green diode zener what is its voltage?
just one green band.
Jestine Yong
November 28, 2016 at 2:27 pm
Hi Aref,
What is the board marking? Is it ZD?
Jestine
Serg
April 10, 2017 at 11:44 pm
17.6v
Tanja
December 29, 2016 at 1:50 am
I've a problem with 2 (black green yellow) zener diode named as zd101 & zd102 in the board .
Can you tell me the voltage value, plz?
Jestine Yong
December 30, 2016 at 12:35 pm
Hi Tanja,
Ignore the black you will get either 5.4v (54 v) or 4.5 v (45 volt) and since there is no standard zener diode code it would be hard to tell the exact voltage. The best is you need to understand how the circuit work and find out roughly what voltage is running in that circuit.
Jestine
Tanja
December 29, 2016 at 2:13 am
This is a SMD Zener diode.
Zoltan
May 22, 2021 at 4:53 pm
Hi Jestine!
I ran into a power supply having a broken diode. It's a little glass diode - like 1N4148 - with a green stripe and the anode terminal is painted white. Since it's bad, torn, no connection into either direction, so I cannot figure it out what was it originally. I have replaced it with an 1N4148 diode, but the power supply it's not working.
Thank You for Your help in advance!
Zoltan
Jestine Yong
May 26, 2021 at 9:03 pm
Hi Zolton,
If it is a zener diode then replacing with 1N4148 will not cause the power supply to work. Zener diode color codes not like resistors where there is a standard resistor color codes. For zener diode they are manufacturer's specific. A green stripe may represent 5 volt or could be other voltage. If the zener diode in the power supply acts as a protection diode, you can actually don't need to put in the zener diode and test the power supply first. If it works then you need to measure the line to check what is the DC volt. Once you know the Dc voltage then you can place a slightly higher voltage of zener diode. But you also need to know that not all zener diode in the power supply act as a protection diode.
Jestine