In this circuit, a typical voltage reference or regulator, an input voltage, Uin, is regulated down to a
stable output voltage Uout. The breakdown voltage of diode D is stable over a wide current range and
holds Uout approximately constant even though the input voltage may fluctuate over a wide range.
Because of the low impedance of the diode when operated like this, resistor R is used to limit current
through the circuit.
In the case of this simple reference, the current flowing in the diode is determined using Ohm's law
and the known voltage drop across the resistor R;
The value of R must satisfy two conditions:
R must be small enough that the current through D keeps D in reverse breakdown. The value of this
current is given in the data sheet for D. For example, the common BZX79C5V6[8] device, a 5.6 V 0.5
W Zener diode, has a recommended reverse current of 5 mA. If insufficient current exists through D,
then Uout is unregulated and less than the noIn this circuit, a typical voltage reference or regulator, an
input voltage, Uin, is regulated down to a stable output voltage Uout. The breakdown voltage of diode
D is stable over a wide current range and holds Uout approximately constant even though the input
voltage may fluctuate over a wide range. Because of the low impedance of the diode when operated
like this, resistor R is used to limit current through the circuit.
In the case of this simple reference, the current flowing in the diode is determined using Ohm's law
and the known voltage drop across the resistor R;
The value of R must satisfy two conditions:
1. R must be small enough that the current through D keeps D in reverse breakdown. The
value of this current is given in the data sheet for D. For example, the common
BZX79C5V6[8] device, a 5.6 V 0.5 W Zener diode, has a recommended reverse current
of 5 mA. If insufficient current exists through D, then Uout is unregulated and less than
the nominal breakdown voltage (this differs from voltage-regulator tubes where the
output voltage is higher than nominal and could rise as high as Uin). When calculating R,
allowance must be made for any current through the external load, not shown in this
diagram, connected across Uout.
2. R must be large enough that the current through D does not destroy the device. If the
current through D is ID, its breakdown voltage VB and its maximum power
dissipation Pmax correlate as such: .
A load may be placed across the diode in this reference circuit, and as long as the Zener stays
in reverse breakdown, the diode provides a stable voltage source to the load. Zener diodes in
this configuration are often used as stable references for more advanced voltage regulator
circuits.
Shunt regulators are simple, but the requirements that the ballast resistor be small enough to
avoid excessive voltage drop during worst-case operation (low input voltage concurrent with
high load current) tends to leave a lot of current flowing in the diode much of the time, making for
a fairly wasteful regulator with high quiescent power dissipation, only suitable for smaller loads.
These devices are also encountered, typically in series with a base-emitter junction, in transistor
stages where selective choice of a device centered on the avalanche or Zener point can be used
to introduce compensating temperature co-efficient balancing of the transistor p–n junction. An
example of this kind of use would be a DC error amplifier used in a regulated power
supply circuit feedback loop system.
Zener diodes are also used in surge protectors to limit transient voltage spikes.
Another application of the Zener diode is the use of noise caused by its avalanche breakdown in
a random number generator.
1. minal breakdown voltage (this differs from voltage-regulator tubes where the output
voltage is higher than nominal and could rise as high as Uin). When calculating R,
allowance must be made for any current through the external load, not shown in this
diagram, connected across Uout.
2. R must be large enough that the current through D does not destroy the device. If the
current through D is ID, its breakdown voltage VB and its maximum power
dissipation Pmax correlate as such: .
A load may be placed across the diode in this reference circuit, and as long as the Zener stays
in reverse breakdown, the diode provides a stable voltage source to the load. Zener diodes in
this configuration are often used as stable references for more advanced voltage regulator
circuits.
Shunt regulators are simple, but the requirements that the ballast resistor be small enough to
avoid excessive voltage drop during worst-case operation (low input voltage concurrent with
high load current) tends to leave a lot of current flowing in the diode much of the time, making for
a fairly wasteful regulator with high quiescent power dissipation, only suitable for smaller loads.
These devices are also encountered, typically in series with a base-emitter junction, in transistor
stages where selective choice of a device centered on the avalanche or Zener point can be used
to introduce compensating temperature co-efficient balancing of the transistor p–n junction. An
example of this kind of use would be a DC error amplifier used in a regulated power
supply circuit feedback loop system.
Zener diodes are also used in surge protectors to limit transient voltage spikes.
Another application of the Zener diode is the use of noise caused by its avalanche breakdown in
a random number generator.
