3.

1 ZENER DIODES

VOLTAGE REGULATION
A voltage regulator circuit
automatically maintains the output
voltage of a power supply constant,
regardless of
- a change in the load
- a change in the source voltage

ZENER DIODES
The simplest of all voltage
regulators is the zener diode
voltage regulator.
A zener diode is a special diode
that is optimized for operation in
the breakdown region.

ZENER DIODE CIRCUIT

The zener diode is typically

connected
reverse biased, in parallel with the
load.
Resistor Rs limits current to zener.

ZENER DIODE
CHARACTERISTICS
In the forward
region, the zener
diode acts like a
regular silicon
diode, with a 0.7
volt drop when it
conducts.

ZENER DIODE
CHARACTERISTICS
In the reverse bias
region, a reverse
leakage current
flows until the
breakdown voltage
is reached.
At this point, the
reverse current,
called zener current
Iz, increases
sharply.

ZENER DIODE
CHARACTERISTICS
Voltage after
breakdown is
also called zener
voltage Vz.
Vz remains nearly
a constant, even
though current Iz
varies
considerably.

ZENER DIODE
RATINGS
A zener spec sheet typically provides
- the maximum power rating Pz
- the nominal zener voltage Vz at test
current IzT
- the maximum DC zener current Iz M
Example:
- 1N752 has a power rating of 500mW, a
nominal zener voltage of 5.6V at a test
current of 20 mA, a maximum zener
current of 80 mA.

ZENER DIODE CIRCUIT EXAMPLE

In a zener diode voltage regulator circuit,
VDC(IN) = 20V, Vz = 9V, Rs = 82, RL =
100
Q: Calculate IL.
A: IL = VL/RL = VZ/RL = 9V/100 = 90 mA
82

20V

9V

100

ZENER DIODE EXAMPLE

(CONTD)

Q: Calculate IT.
A: IT = VRs/Rs = [VDC(IN) - Vz]/Rs
= [20 - 9]/82
= 134 mA

82

20V

9V

100

ZENER DIODE EXAMPLE

(CONTD)

Q: Calculate Iz
A: Iz = IT - IL
= 134mA - 90mA
= 44mA

82

20V

9V

100

ZENER DIODE EXAMPLE

(CONTD)

Q: If zener Pz = 500mW, is Iz safe ?

A: IzM = Pz / Vz
= 500 mW / 9V
= 55 mA
Since circuit Iz
= 44 mA (< 55mA),
zener is safe

ZENER DIODE EXAMPLE

(CONTD)

Q: Suppose load changes from 100 to

200 .
Find new IL, Iz, IT. Is Iz safe ?
A: IL = VL/RL = VZ/RL = 9V/200 = 45 mA

20V

9V

200

ZENER DIODE EXAMPLE

(CONTD)

A: IT = VRs/Rs = [VDC(IN) - Vz]/Rs

= [20 - 9]/82 = 134 mA (no
change)
Iz = IT - IL = 134mA - 45mA = 89mA
Since IzM = 55mA, zener is not safe.

20V

9V

200

ZENER DIODE EXAMPLE

(CONTD)

Q: Suppose load changes from 100 to

80 .
Find new IL, Iz, IT. Is Iz safe ?
A: IL = VL/RL = VZ/RL = 9V/80 = 112.5
mA

20V

9V

80

ZENER DIODE EXAMPLE

(CONTD)

A: IT = VRs/Rs = [VDC(IN) - Vz]/Rs

= [20 - 9]/82 = 134 mA (no
change)
Iz = IT - IL = 134mA - 112.5mA = 21.5
mA
Since IzM = 55 mA, zener is safe.

20V

9V

80

ZENER DIODE EXAMPLE

(CONTD)

Q: Suppose zener regulator circuit has

no load
connected, is Iz safe ?
A: IT = VRs/Rs = [VDC(IN) - Vz]/Rs
= [20 - 9]/82 = 134 mA (no
change)
Iz = IT = 134 mA this is very Unsafe

20V

9V

ZENER DIODE EXAMPLE

(CONTD)

Q: In the previous example, suppose

VDC(IN)
changes from 20V to 30V. Is Iz safe ?
A: IL = 9V/100 = 90 mA
IT = [30-9]/82 = 256 mA
Iz = IT - IL = 256 mA - 90 mA = 166 mA
Very Unsafe
82

30V

9V

100

ZENER DIODE EXAMPLE

(CONTD)

Q: Suppose VDC(IN) changes from 20V to

18V.
Is Iz safe ?
A: IL = 9V/100 = 90 mA
IT = [18-9]/82 = 110 mA
Iz = IT - IL = 110 mA - 90 mA = 20 mA
Safe
82

18V

9V

100