What you do when you can't find any datasheet? (Help!) I only have a symbol... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: EEVPiobee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2014, 11:56:46 pm
content: Hello...I find myself in big trouble, not being able to get parts specs... and the only thing I have is a symbol (Number 1 on my drawing) Now that I should be able to troubleshoot my voltage, I still don't know anything else on this part...and I'm also wondering... is the part of my drawing no.1 the same as my drawing no. 2 ? What the difference?also, What should I look for in a replacement part??I got 2 parts number: EN210A * and EN210B * TO-220 with insulated tabs... I suppose they are complementary, but I can't be sure... Both have drawing no.1 on themthe leads from middle to either left or right read close to shorted (but not completely) What should I do?? Any help will be appeciated...*: edited, made a typo mistake in the original post

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 12:09:07 am
content: Symbol no. 1 is often used for a package with two back-to-back diodes inside it. The package will normally have three leads with one of the leads connected to the middle of the two diodes.You can either use one or other of the diodes individually, or you can use them together as two halves of a rectifier, or you can parallel them up for double the current.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 12:14:31 am
content: Symbol 2 is that of a bidirectional TVS diodehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transient-voltage-suppression_diodeWhich is, as IanB says, two (avalanche) diodes back to back in one package, but the central point just isn't broken out.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 12:15:05 am
content: If you are trying to replace a faulty part, you could do a lot worse than provide lots of information about where the existing part is installed (for example, inside a switching power supply?). Pictures of the part on the circuit board, a close up picture of everything written on the part, and a picture of the entire board showing the layout. All of this may be of help in identifying a replacement.

author: EEVPiobee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 12:26:26 am
content: Quote from: IanB on March 06, 2014, 12:15:05 amOh great.. ! I will try to get my hands on my Camera and send another post soon...Actually both are individually heat sinked, and outside of the "hot" power supply section of a Samgsung's HDtv power board..It is greatly appreciated... I should be able to post pictures tomorrow morning..

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 12:29:24 am
content: I'm not saying I can help, but I am saying you stand a much better chance of someone being able to help you if you can provide as much information as possible.Is there nothing else written on the part other than "NE210A"?

author: EEVPiobee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 07:38:41 am
content: Quote from: IanB on March 06, 2014, 12:29:24 amapart for the date code... nope...I managed to find EN210A for sale on aliexpress (but I don't like this source so much...)http://www.aliexpress.com/item/EN210A/1647608976.htmlBut no EN210Bthey look identical, apart the 4 chars on the bottom

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 08:13:02 am
content: SANKEN product, FMEN-210A and FMEN-210Bhttp://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/208653/SANKEN/FMEN-210A.htmlAnd here is comparison data showing 210A and B (and others)http://www.sanken-ele.co.jp/en/prod/semicon/pdf/fmen-210be.pdf

author: dr_p
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 08:24:41 am
content: Quote from: EEVPiobee on March 05, 2014, 11:56:46 pmQuote from: EEVPiobee on March 06, 2014, 07:38:41 amwww.lmgtfy.com/?q=EN210A

author: EEVPiobee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 08:26:56 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on March 06, 2014, 08:13:02 amsleemanj, You are a god!!! This is EXACTLY what I needed Thanks a lot man!

author: EEVPiobee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 08:27:44 am
content: Quote from: dr_p on March 06, 2014, 08:24:41 amOops... thanks for pointing this out... I'll edit that!

author: dr_p
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 03:06:05 pm
content: You don't get it. I just googled the (correct) part number and found the datasheet.sleemanjis no wizard, he did the same thing. The big question here is why didn't YOU search for it before posting this crap.Last time I called a guy lazy for not using google(or any other search engine), I was trying to be nice, but lately the forum exploded with idiotic questions.There's nothing wrong with asking for help when you get stuck, but use your brain first and stop being spoonfed.As a side note, if baffles me how people ask a question on a forum and wait a couple of days for the answer, when the matter has been talked about over and over on the internet. If I can't find the answer in 30 seconds on google then then it's either very silly or ground-breaking. But waiting 2 days for a simple questin is mind f*king blowing. What is this, the 1800s ? Next in line is this:

author: Andy Watson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 03:12:15 pm
content: Quote from: dr_p on March 06, 2014, 03:06:05 pmIt may not be the OP's fault. Google, helpfully (or usaully not) can trap you in a search bubble. If you've previously been searching for the wrong thing google continues to return the wrong thing!

author: EEVPiobee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 09:18:57 am
content: Quote from: Andy Watson on March 06, 2014, 03:12:15 pmYup! Believe me, I DID try to google search it before! But just like Andy Watson just said, Google does not always gives the same resultsIt will change the results based on many factors, such as previous searches, search filters, location, browser specifics (mine is a french browser for instance)... etc. etc. and there is even the CEO of Google that made a demo about that "Automatic personalized search feature" on cellphones as well...This part number doesn't seem to be a truly common one (searched thousands of times a day), It may have got no attention from google search engine in my particular situationAs for the "Idiotic questions"... no one forces you to read them, nor reply uselessness. Besides, you are in a Beginners thread, you even should expect them. I am in a learning process and a hobbyist. A forum like this one is great way to be in touch with people kind enough to help you with difficulties you may encounter in such process. You know I'm just trying to be nice here, but if I may quote guidelines:Quote from: EEVblogThat being said, thank you for those who kindly helped, Good night! (or day... or evening or morning.. all depends)

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 03:58:21 pm
content: Because the way google prioritizes search results based off of previous searches, often, if I'm having trouble finding something, i punch it intohttps://duckduckgo.com/which is a frontend for google but with all the tracking/history stripped out.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 04:21:10 pm
content: Quote from: EEVPiobee on March 08, 2014, 09:18:57 amI think you don't understand. It's really, really important to note the difference betweenNE210A andEN210A. When you are searching for part numbers you need to beexact.In this case "NE210A" turns up nothing and "EN210A" turns up everything.

author: EEVPiobee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 07:12:36 pm
content: Quote from: peter.mitchell on March 08, 2014, 03:58:21 pmHey! that's useful! I get my result straight away