Experiment No.

4
Diode Application: Voltage Regulation Using Zener Diode

NAME: ____________________________________________ Date Performed: __________________

Grade: __________________________

I. Objectives:
1. To understand the characteristic and operation of a zener diode.
2. To distinguish the difference between a loaded and unloaded regulator.
3. To determine the effect of changing loads in a regulator circuit.
4. To determine the effect of changing input voltage in a regulator circuit.
5. To observe how a zener diode function as a simple voltage regulator.
6. To distinguish the difference between a zener diode and a rectifier diode.

II. Equipment and Components

(1) Volt-ohmmeter (VOM)
(1) Digital Multi-meter (DMM)
(1) Zener Diode 5V/1W
(1) DC Power Supply
(1) 100 resistor
(1) 330 resistor
(1) 4.7k resistor
(1) Breadboard
Alligator Clips and Connecting Wires

III. Schematic Diagrams

Figure 1
 Figure 2

IV. Procedure
1. Connect the circuit shown in Figure 1.
2. Turn on the power supply, and slowly increase the applied voltage until 5V appears
across the Zener diode. Measure the applied voltage and record the value in Table 1.
3. Measure and record the total current in Table 1.
4. Measure the voltage across RS and record the result in Table 1. Calculate the current
through RS and record the result in Table 1.
5. Increase the applied voltage by 2V and repeat steps 3-4.
6. Increase the applied voltage by 2V more and repeat steps 3-4.
7. Connect a 4.7k load resistor across the Zener diode as shown in Figure 2.
8. Repeat steps 2-4 for the circuit with 4.7k load connected. Turn-off the power when
you have finished.
9. Repeat steps 2-4 for the circuit with 100 load connected. Turn-off the power when
you have finished.
10. Remove the load resistor and connect the Zener diode in opposite polarity. Vary the
power supply voltage between 0-10V and measure the voltage across the Zener at 1-V
intervals. Also measure IT and record the results in Table 2.
 V. Data
Table 1

Procedure Measured Supply Voltage, IT, mA Measured VRS,

(Steps) VZ, Volts Volts Volts
Measured Calculated
2 to 4 5
5
6
8 5
9 5

How does a zener diode act when it is connected as a voltage regulator or as a protection device? _____

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What was the purpose of the series resistance RS in the circuit? _________________________________

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What is the effect if a 100 load resistor is used instead of the 4.7k resistor? _____________________

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What is the effect of increasing the supply voltage to the zener diode, to the load resistance and to the
series resistance? ______________________________________________________________________

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Table 2

Supply Voltage,
VZ, Volts IT, mA
V
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

How does a zener diode act when it is connected in the forward-bias manner? _____________________
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Explain the difference between a zener diode and a rectifier diode. ______________________________
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VI. Data Analysis/Interpretation of Results

VII. Conclusions