I want to put this diode, http://www.digikey.ca/product-detail/en/SB560-E3/54/SB560-E3/54GITR-ND/1023528 , in line and cover it with heat shrink tubing. It is rated for 60 volts and 5 amps, significant overkill for my purpose but I happen to have one here.
Its primary purpose is to disallow current to flow, no current would be flowing through it in normal use, however in an emergency situation (eg: I would be about to make an off airport landing) there would be a very small current ~ 40 mA at 12 volts drawn through it.
Question 1: Does a diode heat up significantly when it is only being used to stop current flow?
Question 2: Would such a small current cause it to heat significantly?
Its primary purpose is to disallow current to flow, no current would be flowing through it in normal use, however in an emergency situation (eg: I would be about to make an off airport landing) there would be a very small current ~ 40 mA at 12 volts drawn through it.
Question 1: Does a diode heat up significantly when it is only being used to stop current flow?
Question 2: Would such a small current cause it to heat significantly?