What you do when you can't find any datasheet? (Help!) I only have a symbol...

[EEVPiobee]

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 them

the 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

[IanB]

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.

[sleemanj]

Symbol 2 is that of a bidirectional TVS diode
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transient-voltage-suppression_diode

Which is, as IanB says, two (avalanche) diodes back to back in one package, but the central point just isn't broken out.

[IanB]

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.

[EEVPiobee]

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.

Oh 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..

[IanB]

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"?

[EEVPiobee]

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"?

apart 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.html

But no EN210B

they look identical, apart the 4 chars on the bottom

[sleemanj]

SANKEN product, FMEN-210A and FMEN-210B

http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/208653/SANKEN/FMEN-210A.html

And here is comparison data showing 210A and B (and others)
http://www.sanken-ele.co.jp/en/prod/semicon/pdf/fmen-210be.pdf

[dr_p]

NE210A

EN210A

 

www.lmgtfy.com/?q=EN210A

[EEVPiobee]

SANKEN product, FMEN-210A and FMEN-210B

http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/208653/SANKEN/FMEN-210A.html

And here is comparison data showing 210A and B (and others)
http://www.sanken-ele.co.jp/en/prod/semicon/pdf/fmen-210be.pdf

sleemanj, You are a god!!! This is EXACTLY what I needed Thanks a lot man!

[EEVPiobee]

NE210A

EN210A

 

www.lmgtfy.com/?q=EN210A

Oops... thanks for pointing this out... I'll edit that!

[dr_p]

You don't get it. I just googled the (correct) part number and found the datasheet.
sleemanj is 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:
 

[Andy Watson]

You don't get it. I just googled the (correct) part number and found the datasheet.
sleemanj is 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.

It 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!

[EEVPiobee]

You don't get it. I just googled the (correct) part number and found the datasheet.
sleemanj is 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.

It 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!

Yup! Believe me, I DID try to google search it before! But just like Andy Watson just said, Google does not always gives the same results  It 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 situation

As 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:

... if you can't be nice, don't post.

That being said, thank you for those who kindly helped, Good night! (or day... or evening or morning.. all depends)

[peter.mitchell]

Because the way google prioritizes search results based off of previous searches, often, if I'm having trouble finding something, i punch it into https://duckduckgo.com/ which is a frontend for google but with all the tracking/history stripped out.

[IanB]

Yup! Believe me, I DID try to google search it before! But just like Andy Watson just said, Google does not always gives the same results

I think you don't understand. It's really, really important to note the difference between NE210A and EN210A. When you are searching for part numbers you need to be exact.

In this case "NE210A" turns up nothing and "EN210A" turns up everything.

[EEVPiobee]

Because the way google prioritizes search results based off of previous searches, often, if I'm having trouble finding something, i punch it into https://duckduckgo.com/ which is a frontend for google but with all the tracking/history stripped out.

Hey! that's useful! I get my result straight away