Department of Mechatronics Engineering

ELECTRONIC DEVICES & CIRCUITS

Lab Manual

Experiment No.4

Semester BEMTS-II A

Submitted By
M. Zohaib Ali

Roll No. 201110

Submission Date June 21, 2021

Checked By

Objective:
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To observe the V-I Characteristics of Zener diode. To develop a Voltage regulator

circuit using Zener diode and observe its voltage regulation characteristics.

Apparatus:
Sr. No Name of Apparatus
1 Zener Diode
2 Resistors
3 Regulated Power Supply
4 Bread Board
5 Digital Multi-Meter
7 Connecting Wires

Explanation:
An ideal P-N Junction diode does not conduct in reverse biased condition. A
zener diode conducts excellently even in reverse biased condition. These diodes operate at a
precise value of voltage called break down voltage. A zener diode when forward biased behaves
like an ordinary P-N junction diode. A zener diode when reverse biased can either undergo
avalanche break down or zener break down.
Avalanche break down:
If both p-side and n-side of the diode are lightly doped, depletion region
at the junction widens. Application of a very large electric field at the junction may rupture
covalent bonding between electrons. Such rupture leads to the generation of a large number of
charge carriers resulting in avalanche multiplication.
Zener break down:

If both p-side and n-side of the diode are heavily doped, depletion region at the
junction reduces. Application of even a small voltage at the junction ruptures covalent bonding
and generates large number of charge carriers. Such sudden increase in the number of charge
carriers results in zener mechanism.
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Circuit Diagrams:

Figure 1: Reverse Biased

Figure 2: Zener Diode as shunt voltage regulator

Model Graph:
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Procedure:
To plot V-I characteristics

a) Connect the Zener diode in Reverse bias i.e; anode is connected to negative of the
power supply and cathode is connected to positive of the power supply as in circuit.
b) Vary the input voltage in steps of 1V and note down reverse voltage(V R) and the
corresponding values of reverse current (IR).
c) Plot the graph between reverse voltage (VR) and the reverse current (IR).

Observations:
 Practical results:
Sr. No Vs (Volts) VR (Volts) IR (mA)
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1. 1V 0.972 V 0.04 mA

2. 2V 1.92 V 0.03 mA

3. 3V 3.0 V 0.09 mA

4. 4V 4.03 V 0.15 mA

5. 5V 4.95 V 0.21mA

6. 6V 5.12 V 0 mA

7. 10V 5.16V 0mA

8. 15V 5.18V 0mA

 Graph:

Proteus results:
S no Vs (Volts) Vr (Volts) Ir (Ma)
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1 0 0 0

2 2 2 0

3 4 4 0

4 6 5.03 2.07

5 8 5.08 6.22

6 10 5.11 10.4

7 12 5.14 14.6

8 14 5.17 18.8

9 16 5.2 23

10 18 5.22 27.2

11 20 5.25 31.4

12 22 5.27 35.6

13 24 5.29 39.8

14 26 5.32 44

15 28 5.34 48.2

16 30 5.36 52.4

To plot the load regulation characteristics

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a) Connect the Zener diode in Reverse bias i.e., anode is connected to negative of the
power supply and cathode is connected to positive of the power supply as in circuit.
b) In finding load regulation, input voltage (Vsz) is kept constant i.e., source voltage is
chosen as a voltage at which Zener voltage V Z is remaining constant while the current is
increasing (Vsz from 1stcircuit characteristics)
c) Measure VNL (No load voltage) by opening the load resistance.
d) Connect the load resistance, and vary the load resistance from 1100Ω to 100Ω in steps
of 100Ω and note down the readings of VL and IZ
e) Calculate % Regulation by using the formula given below.

Observations:
Sr. RL (ohms) Iz (mA) VL (V) % Regulation
No
1. 1100 0.45mA 3.48V 42.2%
2. 1000 0.45mA 3.37V 46.8%
3. 900 0.43mA 3.27V 51.3%
4. 800 0.43mA 3.14V 57%%
5. 700 0.43mA 3.05V 62%
6. 600 0.45mA 2.78V 78%
7. 500 0.43mA 2.55V 94%
8. 400 0.43mA 2.26V 119%
9. 300 0.43mA 1.93V 156%
10. 200 0.43mA 1.49V 232%
11. 100 0.43 mA 0.84 V 489%

Task:
I. Draw the graph of V-I and regulation characteristics of zener diode from the measured
values using Microsoft Excel and attach it with the manual.
II. Use Proteus to sketch the schematic of zener diode based voltage regulator circuit
(Figure 2) and compare the ideal and practical results of the given circuit.

Conclusion:
In this lab we learned about the use of a Zener diode and how its applied for a
Circuit. We learned the voltage regulation characteristics of the circuit using Zener diode.
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We were able to understand its importance in an Electronic Circuit as an Electronic Switch.