SMD marking

Q3in SOD-123F

Marking codes are not standardised, and the same code is reused by unrelated makers for unrelated parts. Below is every part in our tables printed with it, and any printed with a code that is easy to misread as it, from the manufacturers' own marking tables.

Not sure which one you have?

Answer up to 4 quick questions and these 6 parts are ranked, with a meter test that settles it. It works on a dead part too.

The only part printed Q3 in this package in our tables

BZD27C82P-M

What it is: Zener diode
Maker: Vishay
Package: SOD-123F
Pins: 2
Details: 82 V Zener diode
Source: From the manufacturer's datasheet

Is it dead?

Diode range for the forward check, part lifted, red probe on the anode. A bench supply for the Zener voltage.

Working, it reads

About 0.6 to 0.8 V forward and open in reverse on the diode range. Its Zener voltage shows only on a supply: feed it through a resistor that sets about 5 mA, cathode to positive, read quickly, and it should hold near its rated voltage.

Dead, it reads

The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
Open both ways, forward too: failed open.
Holds well off its rated voltage on the supply test: drifted.
A soft knee, or a voltage that creeps on the supply test: leaky.

On the board:: On the board this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:: If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:: A meter's diode range stops at about 2 to 3 V, so almost every Zener reads open in reverse on it, good or bad; a 3 V meter may just show a 2.4 or 2.7 V part. Above about 3 V the meter cannot tell a Zener from a plain diode.

A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.

Datasheet

Printed with a code easy to misread

These parts are printed with a character that is easy to misread as what you typed. The odd one out is marked on each.

1N914BWprinted D3SOD-123FSwitching diode, Taiwan SemiconductorSwitching diodeTaiwan Semiconductor
Printed D3 on the part. Easy to misread as Q3. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.
What it is
Switching diode
Maker
Taiwan Semiconductor
Package
SOD-123F
Pins
2
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted or one leg off the pad. Red probe on the anode.
Working, it reads
About 0.5 to 0.8 V anode to cathode, and open the other way. Small switching diodes read about 0.6 to 0.7 V; large rectifiers can read a little lower.
Dead, it reads
The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
Open both ways: failed open.
A reading the wrong way round as well: leaky.
On the board:
On the board this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
A three-pin body can hold two diodes. With a common pin they read two junctions from that pin, just like a transistor; in series they read two drops end to end. Test each pair the datasheet names.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor 1N914BW, opens in a new tab
BZD27C4V7Pprinted D3SOD-123FZener diode, VishayZener diodeVishay
Printed D3 on the part. Easy to misread as Q3. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.
What it is
Zener diode
Maker
Vishay
Package
SOD-123F
Pins
2
Details
4.7 V Zener diode
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range for the forward check, part lifted, red probe on the anode. A bench supply for the Zener voltage.
Working, it reads
About 0.6 to 0.8 V forward and open in reverse on the diode range. Its Zener voltage shows only on a supply: feed it through a resistor that sets about 5 mA, cathode to positive, read quickly, and it should hold near its rated voltage.
Dead, it reads
The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
Open both ways, forward too: failed open.
Holds well off its rated voltage on the supply test: drifted.
A soft knee, or a voltage that creeps on the supply test: leaky.
On the board:
On the board this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
A meter's diode range stops at about 2 to 3 V, so almost every Zener reads open in reverse on it, good or bad; a 3 V meter may just show a 2.4 or 2.7 V part. Above about 3 V the meter cannot tell a Zener from a plain diode.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor BZD27C4V7P, opens in a new tab
BZD27C12P-Mprinted O3SOD-123FZener diode, VishayZener diodeVishay
Printed O3 on the part. Easy to misread as Q3. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.
What it is
Zener diode
Maker
Vishay
Package
SOD-123F
Pins
2
Details
12 V Zener diode
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range for the forward check, part lifted, red probe on the anode. A bench supply for the Zener voltage.
Working, it reads
About 0.6 to 0.8 V forward and open in reverse on the diode range. Its Zener voltage shows only on a supply: feed it through a resistor that sets about 5 mA, cathode to positive, read quickly, and it should hold near its rated voltage.
Dead, it reads
The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
Open both ways, forward too: failed open.
Holds well off its rated voltage on the supply test: drifted.
A soft knee, or a voltage that creeps on the supply test: leaky.
On the board:
On the board this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
A meter's diode range stops at about 2 to 3 V, so almost every Zener reads open in reverse on it, good or bad; a 3 V meter may just show a 2.4 or 2.7 V part. Above about 3 V the meter cannot tell a Zener from a plain diode.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor BZD27C12P-M, opens in a new tab
2 more parts have no package on record. Nothing rules them out, so they stay.
- ESH1DMprinted D3Rectifier, Taiwan SemiconductorRectifierTaiwan Semiconductor
  Printed D3 on the part. Easy to misread as Q3. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.
  What it is
  Rectifier
  Maker
  Taiwan Semiconductor
  Package
  Not recorded
  Pins
  Not recorded
  Source
  From the manufacturer's datasheet
  Is it dead?
  Diode range, part lifted or one leg off the pad. Red probe on the anode.
  Working, it reads
  About 0.5 to 0.8 V anode to cathode, and open the other way. Small switching diodes read about 0.6 to 0.7 V; large rectifiers can read a little lower.
  Dead, it reads
  The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
  Open both ways: failed open.
  A reading the wrong way round as well: leaky.
  On the board:
  On the board this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
  Compare:
  If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
  Watch for:
  A three-pin body can hold two diodes. With a common pin they read two junctions from that pin, just like a transistor; in series they read two drops end to end. Test each pair the datasheet names.
  A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
  Datasheetfor ESH1DM, opens in a new tab
- ESH1DMHprinted D3Rectifier, Taiwan SemiconductorRectifierTaiwan Semiconductor
  Printed D3 on the part. Easy to misread as Q3. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.
  What it is
  Rectifier
  Maker
  Taiwan Semiconductor
  Package
  Not recorded
  Pins
  Not recorded
  Source
  From the manufacturer's datasheet
  Is it dead?
  Diode range, part lifted or one leg off the pad. Red probe on the anode.
  Working, it reads
  About 0.5 to 0.8 V anode to cathode, and open the other way. Small switching diodes read about 0.6 to 0.7 V; large rectifiers can read a little lower.
  Dead, it reads
  The same reading both ways round, near 0 V with a continuous beep or the same middling value: shorted.
  Open both ways: failed open.
  A reading the wrong way round as well: leaky.
  On the board:
  On the board this is a first look only: the meter reads every path between those pins, and a short can be a neighbour. Lift one leg before you condemn it.
  Compare:
  If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
  Watch for:
  A three-pin body can hold two diodes. With a common pin they read two junctions from that pin, just like a transistor; in series they read two drops end to end. Test each pair the datasheet names.
  A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
  Datasheetfor ESH1DMH, opens in a new tab

4 more parts have codes that begin with Q3

Codes that begin with Q3

For a marking with its end worn or burnt off. Each one shows its full printed code.

MOSFET. What differs:

AOD32324printed D32324Alpha & Omega SemiconductorAlpha & Omega Semiconductor
Printed D32324. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.
What it is
MOSFET
Maker
Alpha & Omega Semiconductor
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Details
Low-voltage (12-30 V) MOSFET
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted. Test drain to source first, then short gate to source and test again.
Working, it reads
One way between drain and source reads about 0.4 to 0.9 V, the body diode, and the other way open. The gate reads open to both other pins.
Dead, it reads
Drain to source the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep, and still so after shorting gate to source: shorted. The classic failure.
The gate reads low to source or drain: gate shorted.
No body diode at all: failed open.
On the board:
On the board the gate usually has a resistor to the source, which reads as that resistor and is not a fault. Lift a leg to be sure.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
The diode range can charge the gate enough to turn the part on, and then drain to source reads near 0 both ways on a good part. Short gate to source and test again before you condemn it.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor AOD32324, opens in a new tab
AOD32326printed D32326Alpha & Omega SemiconductorAlpha & Omega Semiconductor
Printed D32326. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.
What it is
MOSFET
Maker
Alpha & Omega Semiconductor
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Details
Low-voltage (12-30 V) MOSFET
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted. Test drain to source first, then short gate to source and test again.
Working, it reads
One way between drain and source reads about 0.4 to 0.9 V, the body diode, and the other way open. The gate reads open to both other pins.
Dead, it reads
Drain to source the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep, and still so after shorting gate to source: shorted. The classic failure.
The gate reads low to source or drain: gate shorted.
No body diode at all: failed open.
On the board:
On the board the gate usually has a resistor to the source, which reads as that resistor and is not a fault. Lift a leg to be sure.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
The diode range can charge the gate enough to turn the part on, and then drain to source reads near 0 both ways on a good part. Short gate to source and test again before you condemn it.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor AOD32326, opens in a new tab
PSMB033N10NS2printed 033N10NSPanjitPanjit
Printed 033N10NS. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.
What it is
MOSFET
Maker
Panjit
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted. Test drain to source first, then short gate to source and test again.
Working, it reads
One way between drain and source reads about 0.4 to 0.9 V, the body diode, and the other way open. The gate reads open to both other pins.
Dead, it reads
Drain to source the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep, and still so after shorting gate to source: shorted. The classic failure.
The gate reads low to source or drain: gate shorted.
No body diode at all: failed open.
On the board:
On the board the gate usually has a resistor to the source, which reads as that resistor and is not a fault. Lift a leg to be sure.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
The diode range can charge the gate enough to turn the part on, and then drain to source reads near 0 both ways on a good part. Short gate to source and test again before you condemn it.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor PSMB033N10NS2, opens in a new tab
PSMP033N10NS2printed 033N10NSPanjitPanjit
Printed 033N10NS. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.
What it is
MOSFET
Maker
Panjit
Package
Not recorded
Pins
Not recorded
Source
From the manufacturer's datasheet
Is it dead?
Diode range, part lifted. Test drain to source first, then short gate to source and test again.
Working, it reads
One way between drain and source reads about 0.4 to 0.9 V, the body diode, and the other way open. The gate reads open to both other pins.
Dead, it reads
Drain to source the same both ways, near 0 V with a continuous beep, and still so after shorting gate to source: shorted. The classic failure.
The gate reads low to source or drain: gate shorted.
No body diode at all: failed open.
On the board:
On the board the gate usually has a resistor to the source, which reads as that resistor and is not a fault. Lift a leg to be sure.
Compare:
If an identical part sits elsewhere on the board, measure it the same way: that is what this one should read.
Watch for:
The diode range can charge the gate enough to turn the part on, and then drain to source reads near 0 both ways on a good part. Short gate to source and test again before you condemn it.
A dead part still carries its marking. A short or an open says it has failed, not that it is a different part.
Datasheetfor PSMP033N10NS2, opens in a new tab

Open this in the search to correct a character or try another package.