COIMBATORE INSTITUTE OF

TECHNOLOGY
(AN AUTONOMOUS AFFILATED TO ANNA UNIVERSITY,
CHENNAI)

ZENER DIODE AS A VOLTAGE REGULATOR

Dr.S.Vasantha,CIT.
ZENER DIODE AS VOLTAGE
REGULATOR
• DEFINITION
• OPERATION
DEFINITION

• A Zener diode can be used as a voltage

regulator to provide a constant voltage
regardless of changes to its input voltage or
load resistances
• The Zener diode of Zener voltage Vz is reverse
connected across the load resistance RL
across which constant output is desired.
• The series resistance RS absorbs the output
voltage fluctuations so as to maintain constant
voltage across the load.
Output voltage = Vin-IRs
1. Input voltage Vin increases
• Current through Zener diode Iz increases
• Total current I = I z +IL
• When I Z increases, I increases while load current remains
constant
• Voltage drop across R s will increase
• Hence output voltage V out remains constant
2. Input voltage Vin decreases - reverse could be true
3. Load current I L increases