25 Oct
2025
25 Oct
'25
1:31 p.m.
On Oct 25, 2025, at 4:12 PM, ben via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
On 2025-10-25 2:01 p.m., Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:
I think too that the same diodes are used as high voltage rectifiers in the
better hi-fi audio using valves.
Ben.
Could be, but I'm not sure why. Silicon diodes have been used in high voltage service
for many decades. It may be a case of using odd technology just because. That would fit
with stuff like using vacuum tubes, or using oversized copper wiring, or any number of
other weird things "high end audio" people do. It would not be quite as strange
as gold plated fiber optic connectors.
paul
...
"carborundum" is better known as silicon carbide. It has been a niche
semiconductor material for quite a while; I remember reading about its use for blue light
lasers, back around 1980. Nowadays it's mainstream for certain application areas,
like high power devices or high temperature operation.
There are also silicon carbide resistors, very nice for high power non-inductive
applications. Ham Radio people know of these for "dummy loads". I have one
that happily takes 100 watts for minutes on end, and if I were to dunk it into transformer
oil for cooling it could take a kilowatt.
paul