General electronics questions - smd component

[kuksul08]

Taking apart a piece of electronics on my car and found these two chipped components. I believe they are capacitors or at least something directional (diode?). Is this correct? There is one for each of four solenoids.

Secondly, does anyone know how to read the code on these? I assume SG is a brand, and 3BA indicates the capacitance and/or voltage tolerance code, but I can't find any info on it.

Lastly, could chips on the corners of the package affect their function? How 'deep' beneath the plastic shell are the functional parts of it?

 

[jtr1962]

Taking apart a piece of electronics on my car and found these two chipped components. I believe they are capacitors or at least something directional (diode?). Is this correct? There is one for each of four solenoids.

Those are diodes. Their purpose is this case is to absorb voltage spikes with the solenoids turn off.

Secondly, does anyone know how to read the code on these? I assume SG is a brand, and 3BA indicates the capacitance and/or voltage tolerance code, but I can't find any info on it.

SG=SGS Thomson

3BA is a code which likely specifies current rating and maximum reverse voltage.

Lastly, could chips on the corners of the package affect their function? How 'deep' beneath the plastic shell are the functional parts of it?

The active part is probably more or less in line with the metal contacts coming out of the ends of the package. In all likelihood you could sand one-third off the top of the package and it will still work. I've actually done that in cases where I wanted to hide the part numbers to prevent reverse engineering my circuit.

 

[kuksul08]

jtr, thank you very much for the help. I figured they were caps to smooth the voltages, or diodes to prevent back emf like you mentioned.

I've received some parts with the tops ground off, so that makes sense!