What to bias the voltage of a PIN Diode

Hello,

I'm using a PIN Diode as a switch and would like to find out what to bias the voltage on the PIN Diode to turn it "ON" or under forward bias conditions using a triple output power supply without frying the device. Basically what exactly do I look for in the data sheets for the amount of voltage to apply?

-Thanks

Normally you specify a current, not a voltage. However, the voltage must be higher than Vf, how much higher depends on surounding circuitry. The diode will clamp the voltage at Vf so what you need to do is limit the current to a safe level, not the voltage.

Brian.

yes, current driven. Put a 470 ohm resistor inseries between the power supply and the diode and slowly increase the voltage until you read around 10 to 20 mA of current. should be around 4 to 10 volts.

If you are not drawing any current, maybe you have a NIP instead of a PIN, and you need to give it negative volts.

with the resistor in there, you can not blow anything up.

To turn it off fully, you will need to give it at least 5 volts of reverse bias (should draw no current)

Thanks all.