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Changed "LED" to diode
DerStrom8
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Why are there no easy to solder SMD diodes in 0603 packages?

What seem to be the most popular SMD diodes currently come in SC-79 packages, but they super tiny and really hard to hand solder...

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...and they also can be a hassle even for reflow.

So I thought I'd replace them with easy to solder 0603 equivalent parts, but all the parts I can find on DigiKey have footprints with bottom exposed pins that are even harder to hand solder...

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There are also some SOT-23 diodes that would be easy to solder, but are not as easy a swap out because they are a different shape....

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Why don't diodes come in normal, easy to hand solder 0603 packages?

Is there some other 2-pin package that they do come in that is easy to solder and is easy to swap out for the SC-79 footprints?

NB: Of course Light Emitting Diodes do come in all manner of nice 0603 packages...

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...and for prototypes I have been using them in place of the normal diodes (sometimes the feedback is actually nice!), but it is not always practical to use LEDs in place of a normal diode (if you need a low-drop shottky, for example).

bigjosh
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