Student Name:AMAR ARVIND NIMBALKAR

PRN No: 202408023

92
Experiment No: 05
AIM: To determine and analyze the V-I characteristics of Zener diode.

THEORY:
Zener diode is a P-N junction diode specially designed to operate in the
reverse biased mode. It is acting as normal diode while forward biasing. It
has a particular voltage known as break down voltage, at which the diode
break downs while reverse biased. In the case of normal diodes the diode
damages at the break down voltage. But zener diode is specially
designed to operate in the reverse breakdown region. The basic principle
of zener diode is the zener breakdown. When a diode is heavily doped,
it’s depletion region will be narrow. When a high reverse voltage is
applied across the junction, there will be very strong electric field at the
junction. And the electron hole pair generation takes place. Thus heavy
current flows. This is known as zener breakdown. The breakdown voltage
depends upon the amount of doping. For a heavily doped diode depletion
layer will be thin and breakdown occurs at low reverse voltage and the
breakdown voltage is sharp, whereas a lightly doped diode has a higher
breakdown voltage. This explains the zener diode characteristics in the
reverse bias region. So a zener diode, in a forward biased condition acts
as a normal diode. In reverse biased mode, after the break down of
junction current through diode increases sharply. But the voltage across it
remains constant. This principle is used in voltage regulator using zener
diodes.

Characteristic of Zener Diode

The VI characteristic graph of the Zener diode is shown in the figure below.
This curve shows that the Zener diode, when connected in forwarding bias,
behaves like an ordinary diode. But when the reverse voltage applies across it
and the reverse voltage rises beyond the predetermined rating, the Zener
breakdown occurs in the diode.

At Zener breakdown voltage the current starts flowing in the reverse

direction. The graph of the Zener breakdown is not exactly vertical shown
above which shows that the Zener diode has resistance. The voltage across
the Zener is represented by the equation shown below.

V = VZ + IZRZ

Applications of Zener Diode

The Zener diode is mostly used in the commercial and industrial applications. The
following are the main application of the Zener diode.

As Voltage Stabilizer – The Zener diode is used for regulating the voltage. It
provides the constant voltage from the fluctuating voltage source to the load.
The Zener diode is connected in parallel across the load and maintain the
constant voltage VZ and hence stabilises the voltage.

For Meter Protection – The Zener diode is generally used in multimeters for
controlling the movement of the meter against accidental overloads. It is connected in
 parallel with the diode. When the overload occurs across the diode most of the current
pass through the diode. Thus, protects the meter from damage.

For Wave Shaping – The Zener diode is used for converting the sine wave into the
square wave. This can be done by placing the two Zener Diodes in series with the
resistance. The diode is connected back to back and in the opposite direction.

APPARATUS/COMPONENTS REQUIRED:

1. Bread Board
2. Diode (Zener ) - IN4728A
3.Resistance - 1K
4.Multimeter - 02
5. Power supply - 0 – 15V DC
6. Connectors - 06

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:
Forward Bias

Reverse Bias
PROCEDURE:
A) I-V Characteristics of Zener Diode
1) Identify the components required and make the connections on bread board as per
circuit diagram.
2) Connect the circuit diagram for diode in forward biasing mode.
3) Switch on the power supply and increase applied voltage gradually.
4) Note down the required readings.
5) Repeat steps 2 to 4 for reverse bias mode.
6) Tabulate the observations and plot the I-V curve for zener diode in forward and
reverse bias.
7) From your observations obtain the value of cut-in voltage and breakdown voltage
VZ.

(A) FORWARD CHARACTERISTICS OF DIODE:

7 Make the connections as shown in the figure.
8 Vary the in built D.C. Supply voltage so that the diode voltage will vary in
steps of
0.1Vand note down the corresponding voltmeter and ammeter readings.
9 Plot the graph of forward voltage Vf (on X-axis) vs. forward current If (on Y-
axis) and compare it with theoretical.
(B) REVERSE CHARACTERISTRICS OF ZENER DIODE:
1. Make the connections as shown in the figure.
 2. Vary the in-built D.C. Supply voltage so that the diode voltage
varies in steps of 0.5V and take the corresponding voltmeter
and ammeter reading.
3. Mark the current and voltage reading at which ammeter reading
changes from micro to milli amperes.

Tinkercad Diagram of Zener diode Forward Bias:

Tinkercad Diagram of Zener Diode Reverse Bias:

Graphical Representation:
OBSERVATION TABLE:
A. Forward Bias

Supply VF (V) IF (A)

Voltage
(Vin)
0.1 mV 0 0

0.2 mV 0 0

0.3mV 0 0

0.4mV 4.54mV 0

0.5mV 45.2mV 261µA

0.6mV 120mV 12.6mA

0.7mV 206mV 604mA

0.8mV 297mV 5A
0.9mV 390mV 5A

1mV 484mV 5A

1.1V 597mV 5A

B. Reverse Bias

Supply Vr (V) Ir (mA)

Voltage
(Vin)
3V 0 0
 3.2V 0 0
3.4V 0 0
3.6V 0 0
3.8V 0 0

4V 0 0

4.2V 0 0

4.4V 0 0

4.6V 0 0

4.8V 0 0

5V 2.27mV 0

5.2V 9.94mV 883µA

5.4V 265mV 3.83mA

5.6V 442mV 7.17mA

5.8V 623mV 10.6mA

6V 807mV 14.1mA

6.2V 991mV 17.7mA

CALCULATION:
1. Plot a graph between voltage and current readings for forward and reverse Zener
diode 2. Determine Cut-in voltage for zener diode from graph.
3. Determine breakdown voltage of zener diode from graph.

CONCLUSION: Thus we have determined and analyzed the V-I characteristics of

Zener diode.
NOTEBOOK SOFTCOPY: