Zener

diode
as voltage
regulator

Normal Diodes
Diodes

Vs.

Zener

Normal Diode
In

the forward direction, when the

threshold voltage is met the diode
will be in the ON state

In

reverse direction, there is a

small leakage of current from 0V
called the Reverse Saturation
Current (Is).

Zener Diodes
In

the forward direction, the

characteristics is same of that
an ordinary diode

In

reverse direction, there is a

small leakage of current from 0V
and when that current reaches the
Zener Breakdown Voltage point
suddenly current can flow freely
through it.

What is a Zener Diode?

a special type of semiconductor diode that
allows

current

direction

but

to
also

flow
flow

not
in

only
the

in

one

opposite

direction, but only when exposed to enough

voltage.

Trivia!
The device was named
after Clarence Zener,
an American physicist,
who
discovered
this
electrical property

Symbol and Meaning

Symbol and meaning

Like

a normal diode, the arrowhead points to the direction of

the forward current

The

Zener diode is normally in

reverse breakdown and the
current direction is from anode
to cathode

Symbol and meaning

Like
Anode
Cathode

a normal diode, the arrowhead points to the direction of

the forward current

The

Zener diode is normally in

reverse breakdown and the
current direction is from anode
to cathode

Symbol and Meaning

Anode
Cathode

You make think its from the

letter Z from Zener Diode but
it actually came from its graph

Symbol and Meaning

You make think its from the
letter Z from Zener Diode but
it actually came from its graph
Anode
Cathode

Equivalent Circuits

The equivalent circuit of a Zener Diode is still the same

as of that a Normal Diode during On and Off state.

The Zener conducts electricity in the forward

direction like any other diode, but it also conducts in the
reverse direction, if the voltage applied is reversed and
larger than the Zener breakdown voltage.

Why it is used as regulator

Why it is used as regulator?

As you can see in the graph

the when it reaches the
point of the Zener Voltage,
Voltage becomes
constant

Simplest Circuit
The simplest of Zener
diode networks is
composed of a fixed
applied dc voltage and a
fixed load resistor.

The analysis can fundamentally be broken down into

two steps.

2 fundamental steps in
Zener Diode
Analysis
1. Determine the state of the Zener diode by
removing

it

from

the

network

and

calculating the voltage across the resulting

open circuit.
2. Substitute

the

appropriate

equivalent

circuit and solve for the desired unknowns.

State of the diode

Condition:
i. If V Vz, the Zener diode is on
ii. If V < Vz, the Zener diode is off

Solving for V:
R

KVL:

V = VL

;(Parallel)

VL = ILRL
I = IL

;(Series)

I = ___Vi___
R + RL
Voltage

Divider Formula:

KVL:

ON State:

Solving for IZ:

KCL:
IR = I L + I Z
IZ = I R IL

Solving

for Pz (Power dissipated by the Zener Diode):

P Z = V Z IZ
which must be less than the PZM specified for the
device

Example:
a)
b)

Determine VL, VR, IZ, and PZ for the diode circuit given.
Repeat (a) with RL = 3k .

Solution (a) :
Determine the state:

8.73V < 10V

V < Vz
Condition:
i. If V Vz, Z.D. = on
ii. If V < Vz, Z.D. =
off

Solution (a) :
o

VL = V
VL = 8.73 V

VR = Vi VL
= 16V 8.73V
VR = 7.27V

IZ = 0A ;(open circuit)

PZ = VZIZ
PZ = 0W

Solution (b) :
Determine the state:

12V < 10V

V > Vz
Condition:
i. If V Vz, Z.D. = on
ii. If V < Vz, Z.D. =
off

Solution (b) :
o

IZ = I R IL
= _VR_ _VL_
R

RL

= _6V_ _10V_
1k
o

3k

VL = VZ

= 6mA 3.33mA

VL = 10 V

= 2.67 mA

VR = Vi VL
= 16V 10V
VR = 6V

Fixed , Variable
Due

to the offset voltage VZ, there

is a specific range of resistor values
which will ensure that the Zener is
in the on state.

When

the Load resistance is too

small, voltage across the Zener
diode will be smaller than the Zener
Voltage. Therefore the Zener diode
will remain in the Off state.

Fixed , Variable
To

determine the minimum load resistance that

will turn the Zener diode on, simply calculate the
value of RL that will result in a load voltage,

Remember that:
Condition:
i. If V Vz, Z.D. = on
ii. If V < Vz, Z.D. =
off

Fixed , Variable
By

manipulating the equation or solving for RL, we

get:

Any

load resistance value greater than the RL

obtained will ensure that the Zener diode is in the
On state and the diode can be replaced by its VZ
source equivalent.

Fixed , Variable
When

RL is minimum current flowing across

the Load will be maximum,

If

we apply KCL at node A:

IR= IZ + IL

resulting in a min IZ when IL is max

and a max IZ when IL is min value
since IR is constant.

AA

Fixed , Variable
Calculating

for Maximum Load resistance:

To get the min IL, consider that IZ is limited to IZM

and affects the range of RL. Therefore, substituting
IZM for IZ establishes the minimum IL as:

Example:
a)

Determine the range of RL and IL that will result

in VL being maintained at 10 V.

b)

Determine the maximum watt rating of the

diode

Solution (a):
From

the derived and formulated equations

earlier:

= _10 V_ = 40 mA
250

Solution (a):
where:
Therefore,

Solution (a):
A plot of VL versus RL appears in (a) and for VL vs. IL in
(b)

Solution (b):

Fixed , Variable

Fixed , Variable

DISCLAIMER!

All pictures and data in this

presentation was taken from
various authors and materials.
Thank you.