zener diode as voltage regulator experiment circuit diagram

Zener Diode As A Voltage Regulator

Zener Diode as a Voltage Regulator

Zener diode is a silicon semiconductor with a p-n junction that is specifically designed to work in the reverse biased condition. When forward biased, it behaves like a normal signal diode, but when the reverse voltage is applied to it, the voltage remains constant for a wide range of currents. Due to this feature, it is used as a voltage regulator in d.c. circuit. The primary objective of the Zener diode as a voltage regulator is to maintain a constant voltage. Let us say if Zener voltage of 5 V is used then, the voltage becomes constant at 5 V, and it does not change.

What is a Voltage Regulator?

To vary or regulate the output voltage
To keep the output voltage constant at the desired value in spite of variations in the supply voltage.

Voltage regulators are used in computers, power generators, alternators to control the output of the plant.

There is a series resistor connected to the circuit in order to limit the current into the diode. It is connected to the positive terminal of the d.c. It works in such a way the reverse-biased can also work in breakdown conditions. We do not use ordinary junction diode because the low power rating diode can get damaged when we apply reverse bias above its breakdown voltage. When the minimum input voltage and the maximum load current is applied, the Zener diode current should always be minimum.

Since the input voltage and the required output voltage is known, it is easier to choose a Zener diode with a voltage approximately equal to the load voltage, i.e. VZ = VL .

Following is the link explaining the difference between Zener breakdown and Avalanche breakdown:

The circuit diagram of a voltage regulator using a Zener diode is shown:

Current through the diode increases when the voltage across the diode tends to increase which results in the voltage drop across the resistor. Similarly, the current through the diode decreases when the voltage across the diode tends to decrease. Here, the voltage drop across the resistor is very less, and the output voltage results normally.

Read more to learn about the Zener diode as a voltage regulator, uses of a Zener diode , and how it is used as a voltage regulator with BYJU’S engaging videos.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Name the factor which is required for voltage regulation to keep diode in the breakdown region..

Minimum reverse current is required for voltage regulation to keep the diode in the breakdown region.

How to set the breakdown region during manufacturing of the diode?

By controlling the doping level, the breakdown region can be set during the manufacturing of the diode.

What is a Zener breakdown?

When the breakdown occurs in Rectifier as well as the Zener diode, it is known as the Zener breakdown.

What happens to the DC output voltage when the input varies within the limits?

The DC output voltage remains constant when the input varies within the limits as the voltage regulator is used.

State true or false: Voltage regulator is used to vary or regulate the output voltage.

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Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button Check your score and answers at the end of the quiz

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Zener Diode

Zener Diode is one of the most important semiconductor diodes used in our daily life. It is a specific diode that works in reverse bias conditions. It allows current to flow from anode to cathode and it also works in the reverse direction. Let’s learn about Zener Diodes their function, and their construction, in detail in this article.

A heavily doped p-n junction diode that works in reverse bias conditions is called a Zener Diode. They are special semiconductor devices that allow the current to flow in both forward and backward directions. For the Zener diode, the voltage drop across the diode is always constant irrespective of the applied voltage. Thus, Zener diodes are used as a voltage regulator.

What is Zener Diode?

A Zener diode can be considered as a highly doped p-n junction diode which is made such that it works in reverse bias condition.

A Zener diode which is also called a Breakdown diode works in reverse bias conditions. An electrical breakdown occurring in the reverse-biased condition of the PN junction diode is called the Zener effect. In this condition when the electric field increases to a high value it enables the tunnelling of electrons from the valence band to the conduction band of a semiconductor, which suddenly increases the reverse current.

History of Zener Diodes

A theoretical physicist working at Bell Labs was the first man to describe the electrical properties of Zener Diode. His name was Clarence Melvin Zener, he was the first to tell about this special diode that works on reverse bias conditions so the diode is named after him Zener Diode. He first postulated the breakdown effect in a paper published in 1934.

Zener Diode Explanation

Zener diode that is also known as a breakdown diode is a heavily doped semiconductor device that has been specially designed to operate in the reverse direction. When the potential reaches the Zener voltage which is also known as Knee voltage and the voltage across the terminal of the Zener diode is reversed, at that point time, the junction breaks down and the current starts flowing in the reverse direction. This effect is known as the Zener effect.

Zener Diode Circuit Diagram

The figure given below is the circuit diagram of the Zener diode. The Zener diode has applications in various electronic devices and it works in reverse biasing conditions. In reverse biasing, the P-type material of the diode is connected with the negative terminal of the power supply, and the n-type material is connected with the positive terminal of the power supply. The diode consists of a very thin depletion region as it is made up of heavily doped semiconductor material.

A Zener diode can be packed in many ways. Some Zener diodes are used where high levels of power dissipation are required. The Zener diode which is the most commonly used is contained within a small glass encapsulation having a band around one end marking the cathode side of the diode.

There are two tags at the end of the bar in the circuit symbol of the Zener diode, one in the upward direction and the other in the lower direction, as shown in the figure given below. In this way, we can easily distinguish between the Zener diode and other diodes.

Zener Diode Working

High-level impurities are added to a Zener diode to make it more conductive and thus the Zener diodes can easily conduct electricity compared to other p-n junction diodes. These impurities reduce the depletion layer of the Zener diode and make it very thin. Thus, this diode also works even if the voltage applied is very small.

In no biassing condition of the Zener diode, all the electrons accumulate in the valence band of the p-type semiconductor material and thus no current flow occurs through the diode.

In reverse bias conditions, if the Zener voltage is equal to the supplied voltage, the diode conducts electricity in the direction of reverse bias. When the Zener voltage equals the supplied voltage the depletion layer vanishes completely.

Zener Diode Working in Reverse Biased

In forward-biased conditions, the Zener Diode works like any normal diode but in the reverse-bias condition, a small leak current flows through the diode. As we keep increasing the reverse voltage it reaches a point where the reverse voltage equals the breakdown voltage. The breakdown voltage is represented as V z and in this condition the current start flowing in the diode. After the breakdown voltage the current increase drastically until it reaches a stable value.

In reverse bias condition, two kinds of breakdowns occur for Zener Diode which are,

Avalanche Breakdown

Zener breakdown.

The phenomenon of Avalanche breakdown occurs both in the ordinary diode and Zener Diode at high reverse voltage. For a high value of reverse voltage, the free electron in the PN junction diode gains energy and acquires high velocity and these high-velocity electrons collide with other atoms and knock electrons from that atoms. This collision continues and new electrons are available for conducting current thus the current increase rapidly in the diode.

This phenomenon of a sudden increase in the current is called the Avalanche breakdown. This phenomenon damages the diode permanently whereas the Zener diode is a specific diode that is made to operate in this reverse voltage area.

If the reverse voltage is greater than 6V the avalanche breakdown happens in the Zener diode.

Zener breakdown happens in heavily doped PN junction diodes. In these diodes, if the reverse bias voltages reach closer to Zener Voltage, the electric field gets stronger and is sufficient enough to pull electrons from the valance band. These electrons then gain energy from the electric field and break free from the atom.

Thus, for these diodes in the Zener breakdown region, a slight increase in the voltage causes a sudden increase in the current.

Avalanche Breakdown vs Zener Breakdown

There is a clear difference between Avalanche Breakdown and Zener Breakdown which can easily be understood by the table discussed below,

VI Characteristics of Zener Diode

The graph given underneath shows the V-I characteristics of the Zener diode.

V-I characteristics of a Zener Diode can be studied under the following two headings,

Forward Characteristics of Zener Diode

Forward characteristics of the Zener Diode are similar to the forward characteristics of any normal diode. It is clearly evident from the above diagram in the first quadrant that the VI forward characteristics are similar to other P-N junction diodes.

Reverse Characteristics of Zener Diode

In reverse voltage conditions a small amount of current flows through the Zener diode. This current is because of the electrons which are thermally generated in the Zener diode. As we keep increasing the reverse voltage at any particular value of reverse voltage the reverse current increases suddenly at the breakdown point this voltage is called Zener Voltage and is represented as V z .

Applications of Zener Diode

Zener diode is a very useful diode. Due to its ability to allow current to flow in reverse bias conditions, it is used widely for various purposes. Some of the common uses of Zener Diode are discussed below,

Zener diode as Voltage Regulator

Zener diode is utilized as a Shunt voltage controller for managing voltage across little loads. The breakdown voltage of Zener diodes will be steady for a wide scope of current. The Zener diode is associated with corresponding to the heap to make it switch predisposition and when the Zener diode surpasses knee voltage, the voltage across the heap will become consistent.

Zener Diode in Over-Voltage Protection

At the point when the info voltage is higher than the Zener breakage voltage, the voltage across the resistor drops bringing about a short-out. This can be kept away from by utilizing the Zener diode.

Zener Diode in Clipping Circuits

Zener diode is utilized for adjusting AC waveform cutting circuits by restricting the pieces of it is possible that one or both the half patterns of an AC waveform.

Zener Diode Specifications

Zener Diode is one other most commonly used diode and some of the specifications of Zener diode are,

Zener Voltage: The voltage at which Zener breakdown occurs in the Zener diode is called as Zener Voltage. It is denoted by V z generally it ranges from 2.4 volts to 200 volts.
Current I z (max): The maximum current that the diode can achieve at the Zener Voltage is called max current. It ranges from 200μA to 200 A
Current I z (min): The minimum current required for the diode to break down is called min current.
Power Rating: The maximum power the Zener diode can dissipate is the power rating of that diode. Power is calculated by taking the product of the breakdown voltage and the value of current at that time.
Temperature Stability: Temperature stability of the Zener diode is greatest at 5V.
Voltage Tolerance: Voltage Tolerance for any Zener diode is normally ±5%
Zener Resistance (R z ): The resistance exhibited by the Zener diode is called Zener Resistance.

Diode p-n Junction Diode Difference Between Diode And Zener Diode

FAQs on Zener Diode

Question 1: what is a zener diode.

A Zener Diode, otherwise called a breakdown diode, is a highly doped diode that is intended to work in reverse bias cndition.

Question 2: Why is Zener Diode used as a regulator?

The voltage across Zener Diode always remains constant and thus Zener diode is used as a voltage regulator. Zener diode also works in reverse bias conditions.

Question 3: Who was the first person to describe the electrical properties of the Zener diode?

The first person to describe the electrical properties of the Zener diode was an American scientist Clarence Melvin Zener working at Bell Labs. Zener diode is named in his honour.

Question 4: What are the types of breakdowns for a Zener Diode?

The two types of breakdowns for a Zener Diode are, Avalanche Breakdown Zener Breakdown

Question 5: What is the other name of the Zener diode?

The other name of the Zener diode is Breakdown Diode.

Question 6: What is the difference between a Zener diode and a normal diode?

The difference Zener diode and an normal diode is that a normal diode allows to flow the current in one direcrtion whereas the zener diode allow the current to flow in both directions.

Question 7: What is the voltage tolerance of a Zener diode?

The voltage tolerance of a Zener diode is close to ±5%.

Question 8: What is Avalanche Breakdown in the Zener diode?

Avalanche breakdown happens in presence of a high electric field. In a reverse biased condition if a high electric field is applied, the electrons start to gain high kinetic energy. These energised electrons breaks other covalent bonds and creates electron-hole pairs which cause a sudden surge in current this is called Avalanche Breakdown.

Question 9: What are the Applications of the Zener diode?

Following are the applications of Zener diode: Zener diode is used as a voltage regulator Zener diode in over-voltage protection Zener diode in clipping circuits

Chapter Two Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Electric forces are responsible for almost every chemical reaction within the human body. These chemical reactions occur when the atoms and their charges collide together. In this process, some molecules are formed and some change their shape. Electric forces are experienced by charged bodies when t 7 min read
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Electric Potential is defined as the force experienced by a charge inside the electric field of any other charge. mathematically it is defined as the ratio of electric potential energy that is required to take a test charge from infinity to a point inside the electric field of any other charge with 8 min read
When an external force works to accomplish work, such as moving a body from one location to another against a force such as spring force or gravitational force, that work is collected and stored as the body's potential energy. When the external force is removed, the body moves, acquiring kinetic ene 10 min read
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When an external force is used to remove a body from a situation. Point to another in the face of a force like spring or gravitational force That work is stored in the body as potential energy. When the external environment When a force is eliminated, the body moves, gaining and losing kinetic energ 11 min read
Have you noticed how many of the insulators are made of wood, plastic, or glass? But why is that? When we utilise wood or plastic, why don't we receive electric shocks? Why do you only get severe shocks from metal wires? We'll look at dielectrics, polarisation, the dielectric constant, and more in t 10 min read
Answer: A Parallel Plate Capacitor is a capacitor with two parallel conducting plates separated by an insulating material and capable of storing electrical charge. Capacitance can be defined in Layman's terms as a physical quantity that indicates the ability of a component or circuit to collect and 8 min read
Capacitors are special devices that can hold electric charges for instantaneous release in an electric circuit. We can easily connect various capacitors together as we connected the resistor together. The capacitor can be connected in series or parallel combinations and can be connected as a mix of 7 min read
Capacitors are used in almost every electronic device around us. From a fan to a chip, there are lots of capacitors of different sizes around us. Theoretically, the basic function of the capacitor is to store energy. Its common usage includes energy storage, voltage spike protection, and signal filt 6 min read

Chapter Three Current Electricity

Electric current is the type of energy that is responsible for the working of modern-day society. We define electric current as the flow of electric charge. Electric current is used to power our everyday life, we use mobiles, computers, ACs, TVs, Fridges, etc in our daily life all these are powered 11 min read
Electric current in conductors is the movement of electric charge through a substance, usually a metallic wire or other conductor. Electric current is the rate at which an electric charge flows past a certain point in a conductor, and it is measured in amperes. When a potential difference (voltage) 8 min read
Electric energy is the most important form of energy and is widely used in almost all the electrical devices around us. These devices have a rating written on them. That rating is expressed in Watts and intuitively explains the amount of electricity the device will consume. Bigger devices like AC, r 9 min read
Resistors are devices that obstruct the flow of electric current in the circuit. They provide the hindrance to the path of the current which flows in the circuit. Resistors consume the current in any circuit and convert them to other forms of energy as required. Various resistors can be added to the 9 min read
Kirchhoff's Laws are the basic laws used in electrostatics to solve complex circuit questions. Kirchhoff's Laws were given by Gustav Robert Kirchhoff who was a famous German Physicist. He gave us two laws Kirchhoff’s Current Law and Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law which are discussed in this article. These 8 min read
An electric flow is a flood of charged particles, like electrons or particles, traveling through an electrical conveyor or space. It is estimated as the net pace of stream of electric charge through a surface or into a control volume. The moving particles are called charge transporters, which might 7 min read
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Chapter Four Moving Charges and Magnetism

When a charge is moving under the influence of a magnetic field. It experiences forces, which are perpendicular to its movement. This property of charge is exploited in a lot of fields, for example, this phenomenon is used in the making of motors which in turn are useful for producing mechanical for 5 min read
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Chapter Five Magnetism and Matter

A permanent magnet is a bar magnet, but an electromagnet is a solenoid that operates as a magnet only when an electric current is supplied through it. When a bar magnet is split in half, both parts behave like magnets with the same magnetic characteristics, however, when a solenoid is sliced in half 7 min read
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We've all had fun with magnets as kids. Some of us are now even playing with them! What makes them magnetic though? Why aren't there magnetic fields in all materials and substances? Have you ever given it any thought? The subjects of magnetization and magnetic intensity will be covered in this chapt 6 min read
The genesis of magnetism is due to the spin motion of electrons and their interactions with one another. Describing how materials respond to magnetism is the greatest approach to present different sorts of magnetic materials. You might be surprised to learn that all matter is magnetic. The main dist 6 min read
There are several types of magnetism, with ferromagnetism being the most powerful. Ferromagnetic materials have a spontaneous net magnetization at the atomic level, even when no external magnetic field is present. When ferromagnetic materials are exposed to an external magnetic field, they become hi 7 min read

Chapter Six Electromagnetic Induction

For a long time, electricity and magnetism were thought to be separate and unrelated phenomena. Experiments on electric current by Oersted, Ampere and a few others in the early decades of the nineteenth century established the fact that electricity and magnetism are inter-related. They discovered th 5 min read
Magnetic Flux is defined as the surface integral of the normal component of the Magnetic Field(B) propagating through that surface. It is indicated by φ or φB. Its SI unit is Weber(Wb). The study of Magnetic Flux is done in Electromagnetism which is a branch of physics that deals with the relation b 6 min read
Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction is the basic law of electromagnetism that is used to explain the working of various equipment that includes an electric motor, electric generator, etc. Faraday's law was given by an English scientist Michael Faraday in 1831. According to Faraday's Law of El 10 min read
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When a coil made of copper wire is placed inside a magnetic field, the magnetic flux gets added to the coil. Faraday found that when the magnetic flux attached to the coil is charged, an electric current is introduced into the coil, provided that the coil is closed. If the coil is open, then an elec 7 min read
A changing magnetic flux produces a voltage or current in a conductor, which is known as electromagnetic induction. It can happen when a solenoid's magnetic flux is changed by moving a magnet. There will be no generated voltage (electrostatic potential difference) across an electrical wire if the ma 7 min read

Chapter Seven Alternating Current

Alternating Currents are used almost as a standard by electricity distribution companies. In India, 50 Hz Alternating Current is used for domestic and industrial power supply. Many of our devices are in fact nothing but resistances. These resistances cause some voltage drop but since the voltage thi 5 min read
Alternating Currents and Voltages vary and change their directions with time. They are widely used in modern-day devices and electrical systems because of their numerous advantages. Circuits in everyday life consist of resistances, capacitors, and inductances. Inductors are devices that store energy 5 min read
Alternating Currents and Voltages vary and change their directions with time. They are widely used in modern-day devices and electrical systems because of their numerous advantages. Circuits in everyday life consist of resistances, capacitors, and inductance. Capacitors are the devices that accumula 6 min read
In contrast to direct current (DC), which travels solely in one direction, Alternating Current (AC) is an electric current that occasionally reverses direction and alters its magnitude constantly over time. Alternating current is the type of electricity that is delivered to companies and homes, and 8 min read
Alternating Current and Voltages change their magnitude and direction with time. This changes the way calculations for power and other quantities are done in circuits. Furthermore, with the introduction of capacitors and inductances, many other effects come into play which alters the power calculati 6 min read
The Difference between the Direct and Alternating current is that the direct current (DC), travels only in one direction while the alternating current (AC) is an electric current that alternates direction on occasion and alters its amplitude continuously over time. Alternating current is the type of 9 min read
Transformer is the simplest device that is used to transfer electrical energy from one alternating-current circuit to another circuit or multiple circuits, through the process of electromagnetic induction. A transformer works on the principle of electromagnetic induction to step up or step down volt 15+ min read

Chapter Eight Electromagnetic Waves

Displacement current is the current that is produced by the rate of change of the electric displacement field. It differs from the normal current that is produced by the motion of the electric charge. Displacement current is the quantity explained in Maxwell's Equation. It is measured in Ampere. Dis 12 min read
A wave is a propagating dynamic disturbance (change from equilibrium) of one or more quantities that is commonly described by a wave equation in physics, mathematics, and related subjects. Electromagnetic waves are a mix of electric and magnetic field waves produced by moving charges. The origin of 11 min read
Electromagnetic (EM) waves are waves that are related to both electricity and magnetism. These waves travel in space and are made up of time-varying electric and magnetic fields. An electromagnetic wave is a wave radiated by an accelerating or oscillatory charge in which a varying magnetic field is 7 min read
Electromagnetic Spectrum: The sun is our planet's principal source of energy, and its energy travels in the form of electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic energy moves across space at the speed of light in the form of waves of electric and magnetic fields with a range of frequencies or wavelengt 12 min read
Radio waves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum and waves with one of the largest wavelengths. These waves are used for long-range communication as they are capable of propagating along the curvature of the earth. They are sent using the transmitter and are received using the antenna called the 8 min read

Chapter Nine Ray Optics and Optical Instruments

Refraction is an important term used in the Ray Optics branch of Physics. Refraction of light is defined as the change in direction or the bending of a wave passing from one medium to another due to the change in speed of the wave. Some natural phenomena occurring in nature where refraction of light 11 min read
In Physics, total internal reflection is the complete reflection of a light ray within the medium (air, water glass, etc). For example, the total internal reflection of rays of light takes place in a Diamond. Since Dimond has multiple reflecting surfaces through which the Total internal reflection t 8 min read
When the medium changes, the velocity and wavelength vary, but the frequency remains constant. The velocity of light remains constant in a particular medium. Light seems to travel along a straight-line path in a transparent medium. But what happens when it travels from one transparent medium to anot 9 min read
Dispersion of Light happens when white light is split into its constituent hues due to refraction. Dispersion of Light can be achieved through various means but the most common way to achieve dispersion of light is through Prism. Dispersion of light by a prism results in the breaking of white light 6 min read
Scattering of Light is a fascinating phenomenon that occurs when light travel through different mediums and is scattered by the particles of the medium or other irregularities. Light is nothing but energy which can be either considered waves or particles (dual nature of light) and travels in a strai 11 min read
Wave optics, also known as Physical optics, deals with the study of various phenomena such as diffraction, polarization, interference, resolution, and other occurrences. Wave optics is the segment of optics that focuses on the study and behavior of light and its wave characteristics. Wave optics par 10 min read

Chapter Ten Wave Optics

Christiaan Huygens proposed the Huygens principle. In 1678, he changed the way we think about light and its properties. You've probably heard of the rectilinear theory of light, which states that light travels in straight lines. One of the most important ways for examining various optical phenomena 8 min read
Diffraction is a phenomenon shown by light. When the wave of light interacts with the particle in the atmosphere it bends at the corners and scatters in the area to illuminate the whole area, this phenomenon is called the Diffraction of light. It is a property of light which is used to explain vario 8 min read
The bending of light at the edges of an obstacle whose size is comparable to the wavelength of light is called diffraction. To put it another way, it is the spreading of waves when they go through or around a barrier. Diffraction of light, as it is used to describe light, occurs more explicitly when 7 min read
Polarization of Light: If you were to leave your house on a hot, sunny day, you would undoubtedly wear sunglasses. This is because the light emitted by the sun is unpolarized light and the sunglasses we wear transform the unpolarized light. Polarized light is light in which the electric field vector 10 min read
Physical optics, frequently known as wave optics, is a discipline of optics that looks at obstruction, diffraction, polarization, and different peculiarities for which the mathematical optics beam estimate isn't material. The connection between waves and light beams is very much portrayed by wave op 11 min read

Chapter Eleven Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Photoelectric effect refers to the phenomenon in which electrons are emitted from a material when it is exposed to light (electromagnetic radiation) of sufficient energy. Photoelectric effect provided evidence for the quantized nature of light and supported the wave-particle duality of electromagnet 10 min read
Albert Einstein published an equation to explain this effect in 1905, the annus mirabilis (wonder year) of Physics. Light, according to Einstein, is a wave that interacts with matter as a packet of energy or a quantum of energy. The photon was the quantum of radiation, and the equation was known as 9 min read
Dual nature of light describes that light has dual nature. It behaves as both particle i.e. corpuscles nature (Energy particle of Planck) and waves nature i.e. electromagnetic waves. In phenomena like the Compton effect, the Photoelectric effect light behaves as the particle, and in the phenomenon o 5 min read
One of physics' most perplexing ideas is the wave nature of matter. A particle is constrained to a certain location, but a wave is dispersed over space. It has been demonstrated that light can have a particle or wave nature. As with a billiard ball, electrons and photons display particle characteris 7 min read
Davisson Germer Experiment established the wave nature of electrons and validated the de Broglie equation for the first time. De Broglie proposed the dual nature of the matter in 1924, but it wasn't until later that Davisson and Germer's experiment confirmed the findings. The findings provided the f 8 min read

Chapter Twelve Atoms

In today's universe, the smallest particle of matter is an atom. It is the smallest possible result obtained by dividing the matter without releasing electrically charged particles. It was first proposed by John Dalton in the name of the Atomic Theory. This theory has its own evolution given by diff 8 min read
Atomic Spectra is the spectrum of radiation of electromagnetic waves produced due to the transition of an electron from one energy level to another level within an atom. Atoms have an equal number of negative and positive charges. Atoms were described as spherical clouds of positive charges with emb 9 min read
Electrons in a hydrogen atom circle around a nucleus. Because of the electromagnetic force between the proton and electron, electrons go through numerous quantum states. Neil Bohr's model helps in visualizing these quantum states as electrons orbit the nucleus in different directions. When Electrons 7 min read

Chapter Thirteen Nuclei

Physics requires an understanding of matter's underlying structure. Without the Rutherford gold foil experiment, it would be impossible to determine the size of the nucleus, which is the subject of this article. The Rutherford atom model was the first proper interpretation of the atom, and it served 7 min read
During the twentieth century, Albert Einstein, a well-known scientist, developed the revolutionary theory known as "the theory of relativity." Mass and energy are interchangeable, according to the theory; mass can be turned into energy and vice versa. This additional dimension to physics benefited i 5 min read
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Zener Diode As Voltage Regulator Circuit Diagram

Are you looking for an easy-to-understand circuit diagram for a Zener diode voltage regulator? Then you’ve come to the right place! With just a few components and a bit of knowledge, you can learn how to build a great voltage regulator that is reliable and simple. For those unfamiliar with the term, a Zener diode is a type of semiconductor that is used in many electronic applications. It allows a current to flow in one direction while blocking it in the opposite direction. This is useful for regulating and controlling voltages in a variety of circuits. As a voltage regulator, the Zener diode is a relatively straightforward circuit. All you need are a Zener diode, a resistor, and a power source. The resistor connects to the two power supply terminals, while the Zener diode is connected in series between one power source and the resistor. The rest of the circuit is very simple, with just three connections connecting the components together. When constructing a Zener diode voltage regulator circuit, it’s important to remember that Zener diodes are polarity sensitive. This means that the diode must be connected in the correct orientation for the circuit to work correctly. Also, the resistor must be of sufficient value to ensure the circuit operates properly. Once everything is connected up correctly and the circuit is powered up, the Zener diode should begin to regulate the voltage. It will allow a maximum amount of current to flow through the circuit, and this current will be limited by the resistance of the resistor. As long as the voltage remains below the Zener diode's reverse breakdown voltage, the circuit will remain regulated. If you’re looking to build a reliable and simple voltage regulator circuit, a Zener diode is a great way to go. With just a few components and basic knowledge of electronic circuits, you can easily construct a reliable circuit. Hopefully, this article helped you understand the circuit diagram for a Zener diode voltage regulator and gave you the information you need to build your own voltage regulator.

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Zener Diode Voltage Regulator | Explanation and How to Build

A Zener diode voltage regulator is an electrical circuit that maintains a constant DC output voltage using a Zener diode. A perfect regulator would produce a constant voltage regardless of input fluctuations or load current variations.

Zener diode is a popular one in types of diode .

What is Zener Diode

A Zener diode is a type of diode that is specifically engineered to perform under reverse biased situations. They feature a narrower depletion region than typical diodes because they are more highly doped.

When the voltage across a conventional diode exceeds the reverse breakdown voltage, the diode is broken, but Zener diodes only work in this range. When the reverse voltage is withdrawn from a Zener diode, the depletion zone returns to its original state.

Zener diodes are helpful as voltage regulators because of this feature. Let’s see how this plays out.

Before we can grasp how a Zener diode voltage regulator works, we must first understand how it works.

When a reverse voltage is applied to a Zener diode, very little current flows through the circuit. Zener breakdown occurs when a voltage greater than the Zener breakdown voltage is applied.

What is Zener Breakdown

The Zener Breakdown principle governs the operation of Zener diodes. A high voltage can allow electrons to tunnel through the depletion zone, to the other side of the junction, when a P-N junction is narrowed.

Because the electron exhibits wave-particle duality, tunneling is a quantum mechanical event. Electrons are treated as wave functions rather than basic ‘particles’ in quantum mechanics.

They are dispersed throughout space, with a chance of meeting at a specific location. Because of this probabilistic character, if a barrier (such as the depletion region) is made tiny enough, the electron has a chance of tunneling through it to the opposite side.

Zener breakdown occurs when a large quantity of current passes through a diode while the voltage drops only little. When the reverse voltage is increased further, the voltage across the diode remains constant at the Zener breakdown voltage, but the current through it continues to rise, as shown in the graph above.

The Zener breakdown voltage is denoted by Vz in the graph. Depending on the application, the breakdown voltage of a zener might range from 1.2 V to 200 V.

The exciting part about this diode is that we can use it as a voltage regulator in our circuit by selecting a Zener diode with a sufficient breakdown voltage.

For example, let’s imagine we want the voltage across a load in our circuit to be less than 12 volts. Then we can connect a Zener diode across the load with a breakdown voltage of 12 volts.

The voltage across the load will never exceed 12 volts, even if the input voltage surpasses that figure.

Let’s look at a circuit diagram to see what we’re talking about.

The Zener diode is connected across the load RL in this example. The voltage across the load should be regulated and should not exceed Vz.

We select a Zener diode with a Zener breakdown voltage close to the voltage we require across the load based on our needs. The Zener diode is connected in reverse bias mode.

A considerable quantity of current flows through the diode when the voltage across it surpasses the Zener breakdown voltage. The voltage drop across the load is equal to the Zener breakdown voltage since the load is in parallel with the diode.

The Zener diode offers a route for current to travel, protecting the load from excessive currents. As a result, the Zener diode serves two functions: it acts as a voltage regulator and it protects the load from excessive current.

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What is Zener Diode Voltage Regulator

A Zener diode is used in the Zener diode regulator to generate a constant voltage output. It’s simple and inexpensive, which makes it perfect for a variety of applications and for teaching people about voltage regulators.

Zener diodes are a form of semiconductor diode that is unique. They are made up of a doped P-N junction, just as conventional diodes.

While forward biased, all diodes allow current to pass. Zener diodes, unlike other diodes, are intended to allow current to flow even when they are negatively biased.

When reverse biased, Zener diodes have a Zener voltage V Z , which makes them excellent for use as a voltage reference or regulator. Even if the current fluctuates, the Zener voltage V Z remains generally constant.

The current-voltage curve of the Zener diode demonstrates this.

The actual value of V Z is determined by the semiconductor materials used and the diode’s structure. There are hundreds of Zener diodes available with various V Z values.

This means you can choose the Zener diode based on the needed voltage output when creating a Zener regulator.

How to Build a Zener Diode Voltage Regulator

A Zener diode is a voltage regulator that is particularly useful. It can operate as a voltage regulator by connecting it in the appropriate way in a circuit, regulating the amount of voltage it delivers to a device.

To use a zener diode in a circuit to provide voltage control, it should be reverse biased and linked in parallel to the power source that provides the zener diode’s voltage, with the power source connected to a resistor. A 1KΩ resistor will be used in this project.

How a Zener Diode Voltage Regulator Circuit Works

The circuit below is ideal for creating a zener diode voltage regulator. The 12V power supply is cut off when it passes through the 1KΩ resistor and the zener diode. The zener diode in question has a breakdown voltage of 5.1 volts.

This results in a 5.1V voltage drop across the zener diode, with the remaining 6.9V falling across the 1KΩ resistor. A steady, consistent voltage of 5.1V will be maintained across the zener diode.

The load that the zener diode powers is then connected in parallel with it. This is due to the fact that voltage in parallel is equal. So, if a zener diode is connected in parallel, the voltage it emits to a device will be 5.1V.

This is how a zener diode works in terms of voltage regulation.

Experiment with alternate settings if you don’t have the exact values above, such as DC voltage or the exact zener diode.

All you need is a voltage that is higher than the zener diode’s breakdown voltage, as well as a resistor to dissipate excess voltage from the zener diode, which is what the 1KΩ resistor is for.

Zener Diode Voltage Regulator Circuit Diagram and Formula

A zener diode voltage regulator is made by connecting a Zener diode to a resistor in series, with the Zener diode in reverse-biased mode. The Zener diode replaces the second resistor, making this equivalent to a voltage divider.

The voltage output is taken across the Zener diode, V out = V Z :

Normally, this output is linked across the load, as shown by load resistor R L :

The Zener diode’s V Z will not change greatly with a change in current, unlike the resistor in a voltage divider, hence Vout should remain constant.

Zener regulators rely on the Zener voltage of the diode, which is based on the quantum mechanical tunneling principle. The voltage across the diode can be thought of as being equivalent to the Zener voltage V Z in general.

The load will encounter a total voltage of V Z since the load voltage is applied across the Zener diode.

The remaining voltage must be decreased across R 1 through the resistor. To put it another way,

We can rewrite this using Ohm’s Law as:

The total current through the circuit is equal to the current through the Zener diode plus the current through the load, and it is calculated as follows:

Although all of the current must pass through R 1 , the Zener diode and load will only see a portion of it.

We can see that load resistance can play a considerable influence in the dynamics of the circuit because the load current is also dependent on the load resistance.

How to Build Zener Diode Voltage Regulator Circuit

Let’s use the same circuit above to fully understand how to build a zener diode voltage regulator circuit.

When designing and building a zener diode voltage regulator circuit, there are several steps to follow:

Calculate power rating

The maximum power rating of a Zener diode specifies the greatest amount of electric power it can safely dissipate.

Because a Zener diode’s Zener voltage V Z is largely constant, the power rating essentially determines the maximum current that the diode can handle:

Select a zener diode

The Zener diode is the first design option to consider. Zener voltages are available in a wide range of diodes. The method begins with selecting a diode with a Zener voltage (V Z ) that corresponds to the output voltage that the regulator will give.

Power and current should also be considered; different Zener diodes with the same V Z can be built for different applications. The data sheet for a diode will usually inform you of the diode’s intended applications as well as technical information.

In order to choose a resistor, you’ll need to know two specifications:

(1) The breakdown current of a diode, often known as the knee current or minimum current (Imin).

(2) The power rating of the diode, which is the maximum power at which it may be operated safely. The maximum current can be calculated using the power rating and the Zener voltage VZ:

Select a Resistor

The two parameters discovered can be utilized to calculate the resistor value required to finish the circuit.

Calculate the Minimum Resistance

Using the highest current and entering it into Ohm’s Law, you can find the minimal value of resistance (Rmin):

Calculate the maximum resistance

Using the minimal current and entering it into Ohm’s Law, you can find the maximum resistance value (Rmax):

Calculate the Ideal Resistance Value with a Load

We can utilize the load resistance to get the optimum resistor now that we know the minimum and maximum resistor values required to properly use the chosen Zener diode.

Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) says that the current exiting any junction must match the current entering the junction. The current flowing through the resistor (I.R) must be equal to the current flowing through the Zener diode plus the current flowing through the load in this case:

Using both the minimum and maximum values for resistor R 1 (remember that the voltage across the load is equal to V Z ), we calculate the maximum and minimum load currents:

Maximum load current:

Minimum load current:

Zener Diode Voltage Regulator as Power Supply Component

Following the rectifier filter and bleed resistor, zener regulators are often employed in power supply.

A sinusoidal AC signal is converted to a pulsed DC signal by the rectifier .

The rectifier filter smooths the pulsed DC signal, resulting in a ripple-free triangular/sawtooth waveform.

If the circuit is unplugged from the power source, a bleed resistor dissipates any stored charge in the filter capacitors.

Finally, the Zener regulator produces a constant voltage while absorbing voltage and current fluctuations.

Frequently Asked Questions

In order to keep the diode in the breakdown area, what factor is required for voltage regulation, how do you set the breakdown region during diode manufacturing, what is a zener breakdown, 3 thoughts on “zener diode voltage regulator | explanation and how to build”.

please advice what to do avoid the heating of series resistor to limit current flow to zener diode. i conformed to the design considerations explained in your tutorials above but still it is a shock to note the heating of a series resistor!

In a situation where the input voltage varies. Say having a 12v input and using with a 1k resistor and a 6v zener diode. Now if the input voltage gets to 9v, will the zener diode still conduct? Let’s say as voltage cutoff

What is zener Knee current? What is zener Maximum current?