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 IzM

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