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SMD code search: identify a part by its marking

100 nF, 20 V capacitor. 1 part is printed 104D. 7 printed with a similar-looking code.

104D on a chip capacitor

100 nF, 20 V

100 nF, 20 V tantalum capacitor

A moulded tantalum capacitor: 104 is the capacitance in picofarads (100 nF) and D is the rated-voltage code (20 V).

Check it with a meter

Lift one end and measure it on a capacitance range. A good one reads close to 100 nF. In circuit the meter also sees everything connected across it, so the reading means little until it is out. It is polarised: the band on the body marks the positive end, and a tantalum fitted backwards fails short, sometimes with a flame. A failed tantalum usually reads near 0 Ω both ways, often with a burnt or cracked body. A failed reading does not change what to fit: the marking still says 100 nF, 20 V. Fit the same capacitance at the same or a higher voltage.

On a transistor or diode body (SOT-23-5, USP-6B, SMA), 104D is a part code instead. Those parts are listed below.

Not sure which one you have?

Answer up to 4 quick questions and these 8 parts are ranked, with a meter test that settles it. It works on a dead part too.

The only part printed 104D in our tables

SZ104D

What it is
Zener diode
Maker
EIC Semiconductor
Package
SMA
Pins
2
Details
Z-diode: 4.3V±10%, Izt=58mA, Zzt=9Ω, 1W
Source
Published code list

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
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.

Was it this one?

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.

  • BL8534CC3TR40printed LD40SOT-89DC-DC converter, 3 pins, Shanghai BellingDC-DC converterSOT-893 pinsShanghai Belling

    Printed LD40 on the part. Easy to misread as 104D. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.

    What it is
    DC-DC converter
    Maker
    Shanghai Belling
    Package
    SOT-89
    Pins
    3
    Details
    DC/DC voltage converter IC: PFM st-up, 4.0V±2%, 200mA
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead?

    Voltage with the board powered; ohms from each pin to ground with it off.

    Working, it reads

    Supply pin at its voltage and the output doing what the datasheet says. Readings between pins depend on the part.

    Dead, it reads

    • A pin near 0 Ω to ground or to the supply pin where an identical part does not read that: failed short.
    • Supply present, output stuck: failed, or its load has.
    On the board:
    A pin shorted to ground on the board can be anything on that net. Lift the pin to be sure.
    Compare:
    The surest reference is the same IC on a working board, measured pin by pin.
    Watch for:
    Its protection diodes can read like junctions between pins, even like a transistor. That proves nothing either way.

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

  • MIC5206-4.0BM5printed LD40SOT-23-55 pins, MicrelNot recordedSOT-23-55 pinsMicrel

    Printed LD40 on the part. Easy to misread as 104D. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.

    What it is
    Not recorded
    Maker
    Micrel
    Package
    SOT-23-5
    Pins
    5
    Details
    VR-IC: LDO, Low-Noise, CE, -Error, 4V±1%, 150mA
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead?

    Voltage, board powered, black probe on ground. Then ohms with the power off.

    Working, it reads

    Input pin at the supply, output pin at its rated voltage, and the enable pin high if it has one.

    Dead, it reads

    • Output equal to the input: the pass element has shorted. Everything after it may have taken the full input.
    • Input present, enable high, no output: failed open, or holding itself off into a shorted load. Power off and measure output to ground.
    • Power off, input to output near 0 Ω: shorted.
    On the board:
    An output at 0 V is often a shorted load with the regulator in current limit. Lift the output pin: if the short stays on the board, the regulator may be fine.
    Compare:
    The same regulator on another rail or another board shows the right voltages and the right resistances.
    Watch for:
    Makers put input, output and ground on different pins in the same package, so take them from this part's datasheet. Diode or ohms readings between its pins say little; check it powered.

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

  • MIC5206-4.0YM5printed LD40SOT-23-5LDO regulator, 5 pins, MicrelLDO regulatorSOT-23-55 pinsMicrel

    Printed LD40 on the part. Easy to misread as 104D. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.

    What it is
    LDO regulator
    Maker
    Micrel
    Package
    SOT-23-5
    Pins
    5
    Details
    Linear voltage regulator IC: LDO, LN, 4.0V±1%, 150mA, +CE, -Error, Pb-free
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead?

    Voltage, board powered, black probe on ground. Then ohms with the power off.

    Working, it reads

    Input pin at the supply, output pin at its rated voltage, and the enable pin high if it has one.

    Dead, it reads

    • Output equal to the input: the pass element has shorted. Everything after it may have taken the full input.
    • Input present, enable high, no output: failed open, or holding itself off into a shorted load. Power off and measure output to ground.
    • Power off, input to output near 0 Ω: shorted.
    On the board:
    An output at 0 V is often a shorted load with the regulator in current limit. Lift the output pin: if the short stays on the board, the regulator may be fine.
    Compare:
    The same regulator on another rail or another board shows the right voltages and the right resistances.
    Watch for:
    Makers put input, output and ground on different pins in the same package, so take them from this part's datasheet. Diode or ohms readings between its pins say little; check it powered.

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

  • R3134Q49EAprinted L040SOT-23-5Voltage supervisor, 5 pins, RicohVoltage supervisorSOT-23-55 pinsRicoh

    Printed L040 on the part. Easy to misread as 104D. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.

    What it is
    Voltage supervisor
    Maker
    Ricoh
    Package
    SOT-23-5
    Pins
    5
    Details
    Voltage detector IC: 4.9V±1.8%, -Reset ODO, -MR
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead?

    Voltage with the board powered; ohms from each pin to ground with it off.

    Working, it reads

    Supply pin at its voltage and the output doing what the datasheet says. Readings between pins depend on the part.

    Dead, it reads

    • A pin near 0 Ω to ground or to the supply pin where an identical part does not read that: failed short.
    • Supply present, output stuck: failed, or its load has.
    On the board:
    A pin shorted to ground on the board can be anything on that net. Lift the pin to be sure.
    Compare:
    The surest reference is the same IC on a working board, measured pin by pin.
    Watch for:
    Its protection diodes can read like junctions between pins, even like a transistor. That proves nothing either way.

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

  • XC6219D43ADRprinted L D4DUSP-6BLDO regulator, 6 pins, TorexLDO regulatorUSP-6B6 pinsTorex

    Printed L D4D on the part. Easy to misread as 104D. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.

    What it is
    LDO regulator
    Maker
    Torex
    Package
    USP-6B
    Pins
    6
    Details
    VR-IC: LDO, -CE, 4.35V±2%, 240mA
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead?

    Voltage, board powered, black probe on ground. Then ohms with the power off.

    Working, it reads

    Input pin at the supply, output pin at its rated voltage, and the enable pin high if it has one.

    Dead, it reads

    • Output equal to the input: the pass element has shorted. Everything after it may have taken the full input.
    • Input present, enable high, no output: failed open, or holding itself off into a shorted load. Power off and measure output to ground.
    • Power off, input to output near 0 Ω: shorted.
    On the board:
    An output at 0 V is often a shorted load with the regulator in current limit. Lift the output pin: if the short stays on the board, the regulator may be fine.
    Compare:
    The same regulator on another rail or another board shows the right voltages and the right resistances.
    Watch for:
    Makers put input, output and ground on different pins in the same package, so take them from this part's datasheet. Diode or ohms readings between its pins say little; check it powered.

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

  • XC6219D402DRprinted L D40USP-6BLDO regulator, 6 pins, TorexLDO regulatorUSP-6B6 pinsTorex

    Printed L D40 on the part. Easy to misread as 104D. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.

    What it is
    LDO regulator
    Maker
    Torex
    Package
    USP-6B
    Pins
    6
    Details
    VR-IC: LDO, -CE, 4V±2%, 240mA
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead?

    Voltage, board powered, black probe on ground. Then ohms with the power off.

    Working, it reads

    Input pin at the supply, output pin at its rated voltage, and the enable pin high if it has one.

    Dead, it reads

    • Output equal to the input: the pass element has shorted. Everything after it may have taken the full input.
    • Input present, enable high, no output: failed open, or holding itself off into a shorted load. Power off and measure output to ground.
    • Power off, input to output near 0 Ω: shorted.
    On the board:
    An output at 0 V is often a shorted load with the regulator in current limit. Lift the output pin: if the short stays on the board, the regulator may be fine.
    Compare:
    The same regulator on another rail or another board shows the right voltages and the right resistances.
    Watch for:
    Makers put input, output and ground on different pins in the same package, so take them from this part's datasheet. Diode or ohms readings between its pins say little; check it powered.

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

  • 1 more part has no package on record
    • R1190S040Bprinted L040RicohNot recordedNot recordedNot recordedRicoh

      Printed L040 on the part. Easy to misread as 104D. Check that character with a loupe before you order anything.

      What it is
      Not recorded
      Maker
      Ricoh
      Package
      Not recorded
      Pins
      Not recorded
      Details
      Linear voltage regulator IC: 4.1V±1.5%, 1A, +CE
      Source
      Published code list

      Is it dead?

      Voltage, board powered, black probe on ground. Then ohms with the power off.

      Working, it reads

      Input pin at the supply, output pin at its rated voltage, and the enable pin high if it has one.

      Dead, it reads

      • Output equal to the input: the pass element has shorted. Everything after it may have taken the full input.
      • Input present, enable high, no output: failed open, or holding itself off into a shorted load. Power off and measure output to ground.
      • Power off, input to output near 0 Ω: shorted.
      On the board:
      An output at 0 V is often a shorted load with the regulator in current limit. Lift the output pin: if the short stays on the board, the regulator may be fine.
      Compare:
      The same regulator on another rail or another board shows the right voltages and the right resistances.
      Watch for:
      Makers put input, output and ground on different pins in the same package, so take them from this part's datasheet. Diode or ohms readings between its pins say little; check it powered.

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

2 more parts have codes that begin with 104D

Codes that begin with 104D

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

LDO regulator, all SOT-23-5, 5 pins, all Unisonic.

  • LD1985G-40-AF5printed LD40GSOT-23-5

    Printed LD40G. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.

    What it is
    LDO regulator
    Maker
    Unisonic
    Package
    SOT-23-5
    Pins
    5
    Details
    Linear voltage regulator IC: LDO, 4.0V±2%, 150mA, +CE, H-free
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead?

    Voltage, board powered, black probe on ground. Then ohms with the power off.

    Working, it reads

    Input pin at the supply, output pin at its rated voltage, and the enable pin high if it has one.

    Dead, it reads

    • Output equal to the input: the pass element has shorted. Everything after it may have taken the full input.
    • Input present, enable high, no output: failed open, or holding itself off into a shorted load. Power off and measure output to ground.
    • Power off, input to output near 0 Ω: shorted.
    On the board:
    An output at 0 V is often a shorted load with the regulator in current limit. Lift the output pin: if the short stays on the board, the regulator may be fine.
    Compare:
    The same regulator on another rail or another board shows the right voltages and the right resistances.
    Watch for:
    Makers put input, output and ground on different pins in the same package, so take them from this part's datasheet. Diode or ohms readings between its pins say little; check it powered.

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

  • LD1985L-40-AF5printed LD40LSOT-23-5

    Printed LD40L. Only the start matches what you typed, so this fits only if the rest of the marking is worn off.

    What it is
    LDO regulator
    Maker
    Unisonic
    Package
    SOT-23-5
    Pins
    5
    Details
    Linear voltage regulator IC: LDO, 4.0V±2%, 150mA, +CE, L-Free
    Source
    Published code list

    Is it dead?

    Voltage, board powered, black probe on ground. Then ohms with the power off.

    Working, it reads

    Input pin at the supply, output pin at its rated voltage, and the enable pin high if it has one.

    Dead, it reads

    • Output equal to the input: the pass element has shorted. Everything after it may have taken the full input.
    • Input present, enable high, no output: failed open, or holding itself off into a shorted load. Power off and measure output to ground.
    • Power off, input to output near 0 Ω: shorted.
    On the board:
    An output at 0 V is often a shorted load with the regulator in current limit. Lift the output pin: if the short stays on the board, the regulator may be fine.
    Compare:
    The same regulator on another rail or another board shows the right voltages and the right resistances.
    Watch for:
    Makers put input, output and ground on different pins in the same package, so take them from this part's datasheet. Diode or ohms readings between its pins say little; check it powered.

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

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One code, several parts

Marking codes are not unique. In the standard code book, 6H on a SOT-23 is an NPN transistor, a varicap, an N-channel JFET, two digital transistors, a 3.6 V voltage detector: six parts from five makers. So a search on WhatSMD (What SMD) shows the parts we hold under that code and under codes easily misread as it, with only the columns that tell them apart.

6Hon a SOT-23, in the code book
  • NPN transistor
  • Varicap
  • N-channel JFET
  • Digital transistor ×2
  • 3.6 V voltage detector

When more than one is left

Tap Help me choose. Up to 4 quick answers: whether the part has failed, then what separates the parts left. Those get ranked with the reasoning and a test that settles it. That uses one identification: 2 a month are free without an account, and 3 with a free account.

When you cannot read it

Tap the camera in the field. We read the characters, keep the ones we are unsure of, and search every reading. A photo too soft to read is turned back on your phone first; if it is the only one you can get, you can still send it.

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