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Zener Diode-Voltage Regulator

THEORY (#) PROCEDURE (#) SIMULATION (#) QUIZ (#) ASSIGNMENT (#) REFERENCES (#)

Theory

Objective

At the end of the experiment, the student will be able to

1. Explain the function of a Zener diode
2. Explain Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator

Zener Diode

A Zener Diode is a special kind of diode which permits current to flow in the forward direction as normal, but will also
allow it to flow in the reverse direction when the voltage is above the breakdown voltage or ‘zener’ voltage. Zener
diodes are designed so that their breakdown voltage is much lower - for example just 2.4 Volts.

Figure:1

Figure:2

Function of Zener Diode

1. Zener diodes are a special kind of diode which permits current to flow in the forward direction.
2. Zener diodes will also allow current to flow in the reverse direction when the voltage is above a certain value.
This breakdown voltage is known as the Zener voltage. In a standard diode, the Zener voltage is high, and the
diode is permanently damaged if a reverse current above that value is allowed to pass through it.
3. In the reverse bias direction, there is practically no reverse current flow until the breakdown voltage is reached.
When this occurs there is a sharp increase in reverse current. Varying amount of reverse current can pass
through the diode without damaging it. The breakdown voltage or zener voltage (VZ ) across the diode remains
relatively constant.
Zener Diode As A Voltage Regulator

A voltage regulator is an electronic circuit that provides a stable DC voltage independent of the load current,
temperature and AC line voltage variations. A Zener diode of break down voltage VZ is reverse connected to an input
voltage source VI across a load resistance RL and a series resistor RS . The voltage across the zener will remain
steady at its break down voltage VZ for all the values of zener current IZ as long as the current remains in the break
down region. Hence a regulated DC output voltage V0 = VZ is obtained across RL , whenever the input voltage
remains within a minimum and maximum voltage. Basically there are two type of regulations such as:
Line Regulation: In this type of regulation, series resistance and load resistance are fixed, only input voltage is
changing. Output voltage remains the same as long as the input voltage is maintained above a minimum value.
Load Regulation: In this type of regulation, input voltage is fixed and the load resistance is varying. Output volt
remains same, as long as the load resistance is maintained above a minimum value.

Line Regulation

Figure:3

In Line Regulation, Load resistance is constant and input voltage varies. VI must be sufficiently large to turn the Zener
Diode ON.

VI min × RL
VL = VZ =
(RS + RL )

So, the minimum turn-on voltage VI min is :

VZ × (RS + RL )
VI min =
RL

The maximum value of VI is limited by the maximum zener current I Z max

I Rmax = I Z max + I L

IL is fixed at :

VZ
S ince, VL = VZ
RL

So maximum VI is

VI max = VRmax + VZ

or,
 VI max = I Rmax × R + VZ

For VI < VZ ,

VO = VI

For VI > VZ ,

VO = VI − I S × RS

Load Regulation

Figure:4

In Load Regulation , input voltage is constant and Load resistance varies. Too small a Load Resistance RL ,will result
in VT h < VZ and Zener Diode will be OFF.

VI min × RL
VL = VZ =
(RS + RL )

So the minimum load resistance RL

VZ × RS
RLmin =
VI − VZ

Any load resistance greater than RLmin will make Zener Diode ON

IS = IL + IZ

RLmin will establish maximum IL as

VL VZ
I Lmax = = S ince, VL = VZ
RLmin RLmin

VS is the voltage drop across RS

VS = VI min − VZ
 VI min − VZ
IS =
RS

For RL < RLmin ,

VO = VI

For RL > RLmin ,

VO = VI − I S × RS

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