ECE 29401 EE Scavenger Hunt Practice Test

Diode test on a multimeter works by feeding a small, known current through the diode and measuring its forward voltage drop. This lets you see if the diode conducts in the direction from the probe you consider the anode to the probe you consider the cathode, so you can identify polarity. A healthy silicon diode typically shows a forward drop around 0.6–0.7 V when tested in the forward direction, and in the reverse direction there should be no conduction (the display or reading will show no path). This allows you to confirm both the diode’s orientation and whether it’s good, all without applying large power to the circuit. It isn’t used for measuring AC frequency, it doesn’t test resistor values, and it doesn’t power the diode with maximum current.