1N4001 Diode : Pin Configuration & Its Applications

The 1N4001 is a member of the 1N400X series, a popular one-ampere general-purpose silicon rectifier diode family.
The 1N4001 is a Rectifier Diode with a plastic molded case. The rectifier diode has a high forward voltage drop and a high current capability.

A diode is a type of electronic component that has two electrodes known as the anode and the cathode. A diode’s fundamental property is its ability to conduct electric current in only one direction.
Current flows through the diode when the cathode is negatively charged relative to the anode at a voltage greater than a certain minimum known as forwarding breakover. The diode does not conduct current if the cathode is positive concerning the anode, is at the same voltage as the anode, or is negative by less than the forward break over voltage.
This is a simplified view, but it is correct for diodes used as rectifiers, switches, and limiters. The forward break-over voltage is about 6 tenths of a volt (0.6 V). The forward breakover voltage for silicon devices is approximately six-tenths of a volt (0.6 V), 0.3 V for germanium devices, and 1 V for selenium devices.

Pin Configurations

See, the diode has only two terminals so in pin configuration there is nothing but showing a diode with its two terminals, a band which represents the cathode(negative) terminal and the other end is the anode(positive) terminal of the diode.

They are commonly used as rectifiers in electrical appliance AC adapters to convert AC to DC.
They are also used as freewheeling diodes to protect circuits from inductive loads in other types of power converters.
Can be used to avoid reverse polarity issues.
Rectifiers, both half-wave and full-wave.
Current flow regulators.