Zener Diode

Zener diode is similar to the ordinary PN junction diode. But, normally

it is operated in the reverse biased condition. This diode is a specially
designed, highly doped PN junction diode. Therefore, we may say that a
heavily doped semiconductor diode, designed to operate in the reverse
direction is referred to as the Zener diode. Also, we may say that the
diode which is specially designed for optimizing the breakdown region
is the Zener diode. It means that the n-type material of the diode is
connected to the positive terminal of the power supply. Also, the P-type
material is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply. The
depletion region of the diode is very thin due to having heavily doped
semiconductor material.

A Zener diode is the silicon semiconductor device which permits

the current to flow in either forward direction or reverse direction. This
diode consists of the special and heavily doped p-n junction. It is
designed to conduct in the reverse direction while certain specified
voltage is reached.
The Zener diodes are having the well-defined reverse-breakdown
voltage. At such voltage, it starts conducting the current. Furthermore, it
continues operating continuously in the reverse-bias mode without any
damaged ahead. Also, the voltage drop across the diode remains the
constant value over a wide range of voltages. This feature makes the
Zener diodes suitable for use in the voltage regulation.

This diode operates similar to the normal diode when in the forward-
bias mode. And it has the turn-on voltage of values between 0.3 V and
0.7 V. whereas when connected it in the reverse mode, which is usual in
most of its applications, then a small leakage current may also flow.
Since the reverse voltage increases to the predetermined breakdown
voltage. So, a current starts flowing through the diode. The current
increases to its maximum level. It can be determined by the series
resistor, after which it stabilizes and remains the constant over a wide
range of applied voltage.

Zener Diode Specifications

Zener diodes are varying in the specifications like the nominal working
voltage, power dissipation, maximum reverse current as well as the
packaging. Some commonly used specifications of Zenor Diode include
the following:

• Voltage (Vz): The Zener voltage means the reverse breakdown

voltage, which may be 2.4 V to about 200 V. Even, it may go
up to 1 kV while the maximum for the surface-mounted device
is approximately 47 V.
• Current (Iz -max.): The maximum current at the rated Zener
voltage Vz will be 200 Micro Ampere to 200 Ampere.
• Current (Iz-min.): The minimum current required for the diode
to break down will be 5 mA and 10 mA.
 • Power rating: The maximum power, which may be dissipated
by the Zener diode, is given by the product of voltage across the
diode with the current flowing through it. Some typical values
are 400 mW, 500 mW, 1 W, and 5 W.
• The voltage tolerance is typically ±5%.
• Temperature stability of the diodes is around 5 V.
• The leaded devices and the surface mount either as discrete
devices or within integrated circuits.
• Zener resistance (i.e. Rz): The diode exhibits some resistance
value too, which may be evident from the I-V characteristics.

Zener Breakdown

The breakdown is either due to the Zener breakdown effect which

occurs below the 5.5 Volt. Or it may impact the ionization which occurs
above 5.5 Volt. Both mechanisms result in the same behaviours and
hence do not require different circuitry. But, each mechanism has a
different temperature coefficient. The Zener effect is having the
negative temperature coefficient while the impact effect experiences as
a positive coefficient. The two temperature effects are almost equal and
therefore cancel out each other. It makes the Zener diodes the most
stable over a wide range of temperature conditions.

Zener Diode Applications

Zener diodes are applicable for the voltage regulation, as the reference
elements, as the surge suppressors, and also in switching applications
and clipper circuits. Its detailed applications are as follows:

1. Voltage regulator:
The load voltage equals the breakdown voltage Vz of the diode. The
series resistor limits the current value flowing through the diode. It also
drops the excess voltage when the diode is conducting. Thus, it provides
the constant voltage from the fluctuating voltage source to the load. For
this purpose, Zener diode is connected in parallel across the load.

2. Zener diode in overvoltage protection:

If the input voltage increases to the value higher than its breakdown
voltage. Then, the current flows through the diode and hence creates a
voltage drop across the resistor. This drop will trigger the SCR and as a
result, creates a short circuit to the ground. The short circuit opens up
the fuse and hence it then disconnects the load from the supply.

Thus, it is generally in use in the multimeters also for controlling the

movement of the meter against any overloads. So, it is connected in
parallel with the diode. It protects the meter from damage also.

3. Zener Diode Clipping Circuits:

Zener diodes are in use to modify or shape the AC waveform clipping
circuits. The clipping circuit limits or some parts of one or both of the
half cycles of an AC waveform. It is needed to shape the waveform or
provide protection. Therefore the Zener diode is useful for converting
the sine wave into the square wave. This is possible by placing the two
Zener Diodes in series with the resistance. It is connected back to back
and in the opposite direction.
Shunt Voltage Regulators

Zener Diodes are used as Shunt Voltage Regulators in order to regulate the
voltage across small loads.

• Zener Diodes have sharp reverse breakdown voltage that will remain constant
for a wide range of currents.
• Therefore, we connect the Zener diode parallel to the load so that the applied
voltage will reverse bias it.
• Therefore, if the reverse bias voltage across the Zener diode exceeds the knee
voltage, the voltage across the load will remain constant.

Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator Formula

The maximum current that can flow through a Zener diode can be calculated using the
formula,

Where,

• IzM → Maximum Current that can flow through the Zener diode
• PzM → Maximum power the Zener diode can handle
• Vz → Zener voltage
Solved Example

The maximum current that a 15 Volt, 60 Watt Zener diode, can endure is –

Iz = Pz / Vz

= 60/15

=4A

Applications of Zener Diode

The applications of Zener Diode are as follows –

• Zener diodes allow electricity to flow in a forward direction.

• When the voltage is over a specific level, Zener diodes also allow the current to
flow in the opposite direction.
• The Zener voltage is the term given to the breakdown voltage.
• The Zener voltage in a conventional diode is high.
• If a reverse current greater than that value is allowed to travel through it,
the diode will be completely wrecked.
• There is no reverse current flow in the reverse bias direction until the
breakdown voltage is achieved.
• There is a significant rise in reverse current when this happens.
• The diode can withstand varying amounts of reverse current without being
damaged.

The breakdown voltage of Zener Diode