Lab #4 – Zener Diode Characterization and Voltage Regulator Operations

EE 345 - (Fall 2021)

Name: -------------------------------------

Objectives
▪ Determine the reverse bias i-v curve of the 1N5245B Zener diode;
▪ Construct a specified voltage regulator circuit and investigate the effect of
o Load variations on output voltage regulation;
o Voltage source variations on output voltage regulation.
Pre-lab Assignment:
1) Show the “symbol with reference voltage and current” of a Zener diode and that of a
regular diode?

2) What is the i-v characteristic of a Zener diode?

3) What is the circuit Model (electrical equivalent circuit) and governing equations for a
Zener diode?

4) In which respect, a Zener diode is different from other types of diodes?

5) How should a Zener diode be placed in a circuit (forward or reverse biased)? Why? Draw
an example.

1
In-lab Assignment

Procedure:
(1) Zener Diode Characterization: By selecting an appropriate R1 and varying VS in the
following simple circuit, measure and plot the i-v characteristic of the 1N5245B Zener
diode. Note that the breakdown voltage of the above Zener diodes is around 15V so you
need to increase VS such that to have high resolution around knee and breakdown region.

Figure 1: A circuit for Zener Diode characterization

Table 1: Experimental data for Zener diode i-v curve

VS (V) VZ (V) VR (V) IZ (A)

(Measured) (Measured) (Calculated)
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

2
(2) Voltage Regulator Operations: Construct the following voltage regulated circuit, in
which the load is modeled by a 10-kΩ variable resistance. Assume that Vs has a nominal
value of 20 V, but can vary by +/- 10% and R1 has a value of 1 kΩ.

Figure 2: A shunt voltage regulator using a Zener diode

(3) With Vs = Vsnom, measure and plot the load voltage VL with the load resistance varied
from 0 to 10-kΩ. What is the minimum load resistance that can be used if we want to
maintain a load regulation (say, within 1%)?
(4) With RL fixed at 1-kΩ, vary Vs from 10 V to 20 V in 1-V increments and measure VL (as
shown Table-2.) This represents a +/- 50% variation in the source voltage.
(5) Repeat (4) with RL = 5-kΩ and RL = 10-kΩ as shown in the Table.
Table 2: Experimental data for load regulation

VL (V)
VS (V) RL = 1 kΩ RL = 5 kΩ RL = 10 kΩ
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

3
Post-lab Assignment:
1. Using Table-II,
1.1. Plot VL vs. Vs for all values of RL.

1.2. What is the percent variation in the regulated voltage?

1.3. What is the minimum source voltage that is needed to ensure ‘good’ regulation (say,
within 1%)?

2. List two or three “key learning points” in a bullet wise manner.

3. Did you learn anything new that changed your fundamental understanding (your mental
model) of the topic? If yes, explain what your original thinking was and what your new
thinking is now.

4. Recommendations for lab improvement: Make at least one recommendation to improve

this lab either on technical content or lab processes. (This section has its own grade.)