- Flyback Diode -
A flyback diode (freewheel diode) is a safeguard
against electrical interference, voltage spikes, and potentially damaging
reverse voltage. In the setting of our hobby the most common application is
protecting the rest of the electrical systems while firing the gun solenoids.
By design there is a sharp voltage gradient with actuation/release of the
electromagnet in the solenoid when the guns fire. Adding a fly back diode is highly
recommended and relatively easy to install. A common inexpensive diode is
inserted at the load (solenoid) by splicing the wire and soldering one end to
the positive side and the other to the negative side. The only tricky part is
remembering which side of the circuit is the correct way to solder it, which is
why I wrote this article. For the purpose of flyback diode
it is actually reverse of what you would do for a voltage reduction diode,
which is another application of this same electrical component.
I typically use
1N4001 diode (1amp, blocking voltage 50V).
