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How To Read Zener Diode Ratings

Zener diodes are used to regulate voltage levels and maintain a constant voltage even when supply voltage varies. To design a voltage regulator using a Zener diode, you need to understand its key ratings: (1) power dissipation rating, (2) minimum knee current rating, (3) maximum current rating, and (4) Zener voltage rating. These ratings determine if a Zener diode can withstand the load and maintain the regulated voltage level without damage.

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76 views2 pages

How To Read Zener Diode Ratings

Zener diodes are used to regulate voltage levels and maintain a constant voltage even when supply voltage varies. To design a voltage regulator using a Zener diode, you need to understand its key ratings: (1) power dissipation rating, (2) minimum knee current rating, (3) maximum current rating, and (4) Zener voltage rating. These ratings determine if a Zener diode can withstand the load and maintain the regulated voltage level without damage.

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Mohammad
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How to Read Zener Diode Ratings

Zener voltage is also referred to as the Zener breakdown voltage or the Zener
avalanche voltage.

Zener diodes are often used to regulate power supply voltage, that is, produce a voltage
level that is constant even when the supply’s voltage varies. However, a Zener diode is
not perfect. The Zener voltage will only be generated over a specific current range. And
the Zener voltage will vary slightly over this current range.

The Zener diode ratings that are needed to design a voltage regulator include

i) the power dissipation rating,

ii) the minimum knee current rating,

iii) the maximum current rating and

iv) the Zener voltage.

With these ratings, you can determine if the Zener diode will work for a specific
voltage regulator design.

Translate the Zener diode rating acronyms to the actual electrical specification. Don’t
get confused by acronyms like Pd, Vz, Izk or Izm. They are shorthand notations for
electrical specifications.

i) Pd means power dissipation,

ii) Vz means Zener voltage,

iii) Izk, means minimum knee current and


iv) Izm means maximum Zener current.

Learn what a Zener diode does. It requires a minimum current level to flow through it to
generate the Zener voltage. The manufacturer does not explicitly state a minimum
current level that will guarantee the Zener voltage.

Understand that if the current that flows through a Zener diode is too high, the Zener
diode will be damaged. This maximum rated current is often called the maximum Zener
current, often abbreviated Izm. Also, if the power dissipation of a Zener diode exceeds
the maximum power dissipation rating, Pd, the Zener diode will be damaged.
Remember that the power dissipation of the Zener is equal to the current flowing
through the Zener multiplied by the Zener voltage produced.

The minimum Zener knee current, Izk, is used to guarantee a minimum voltage that is
less than the Zener voltage. Instead, the current flowing through the Zener must be
greater than the maximum reverse current, abbreviated Izr, to absolutely guarantee
that the Zener diode will produce the Zener voltage, Vz. However, a Zener may produce
a voltage very close to the Zener voltage at current levels much lower than the reverse
current and as low as the minimum Zener knee current, Izk. Because of this, it is often
common to assume that for applications that don’t require precision voltage regulation,
the minimum current required to produce the Zener voltage, Vz, is 10 percent of
the maximum Zener current, Izm.

The Zener test current rating, abbreviated Izt, is another current level that will guarantee
the Zener voltage, but it is not a minimum value. And the variation in the Zener voltage,
Vz, with Zener current will be minimized when the variations in current flowing through
the Zener is near Izt. For best voltage regulation, the current flowing through the Zener
should be near the test current rating and above the reverse current rating, Izr.

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