Clipping Diodes - BAT41 vs. BAT46?

[jasonsguild]

Newbie question here about clipping diodes.

Is there a big difference between a BAT41 and BAT46 when used as a clipping diode? Will the only difference between the two be that the BAT41 will start clipping sooner?

Thanks

[skylark44]

BUMP!...I'm also curious whether there would be a noticeable difference, in tone...if I substituted 2 parallel BAT46's for BAT 41's, in a passive "distortion" circuit. Or would the 41's clipping just start slightly sooner, compared to the 46's?

[skylark44]

Double-BUMP!!

[jasonsguild]

Not sure if it helps any, I still don't know that actual answer myself, but I breadboarded a L.Lius clone with the bat41s in place of the bat46s. The LL has three clipping settings, one being parallel diodes I believe. It sounded pretty dern good to me. The only thing I noticed was that there was volume drop when in the parallel clipping mode, but I was expecting that anyways. Perhaps the volume drop would be less with the bat46s if they are clipping a little later.

-J

[briggs]

It's all about the diode's forward voltage (how much voltage is needed to turn them on.). BAT46 require around 0.25v to turn on while BAT41 require around 0.4v to turn on. Therefore the BAT46 will turn on sooner and clip more of the signal than BAT41 diodes will.

[jasonsguild]

Thanks for clearing that one up. Guess I mixed up the specs between the two

[skylark44]

Thanx, from me as well...now I won't bother getting any BAT 41's, if they're not neccessary for what I'm building.

[skylark44]

Slightly OT, but how would it effect the clipping, if I put two BAT 46's (or 41's) in series...or would that alter the tone (clipping) at all?

[jtn191]

diodes in series raise the clipping threshold, giving you a more dynamic clipping pattern

[briggs]

diodes in series raise the clipping threshold, giving you a more dynamic clipping pattern

Yep, so if the forward voltage of one diode is 0.25v two in series will require 0.5v to turn on (clip).

[skylark44]

So if I use teo diodes, in series...it will clip more, giving more of a "distortion" effect? (am I understanding this correctly? ). Also, will doing this be slightly louder, than using parallel diodes?

[briggs]

other way round - two diodes in series means less clipping (half as much)