Zener diodes are used for voltage regulation, as reference elements, surge suppressors, and in switching applications and clipper circuits. The load voltage equals breakdown voltage VZ of the diode. The series resistor limits the current through the diode and drops the excess voltage when the diode is conducting.
What is the most common use for a Zener diode?
voltage references
How can a Zener diode be used as a voltage regulator?
Zener diodes are widely used as voltage references and as shunt regulators to regulate the voltage across small circuits. When connected in parallel with a variable voltage source so that it is reverse biased, a Zener diode conducts when the voltage reaches the diode's reverse breakdown voltage.
What is a Zener diode used for?
Because of this property, Zener diodes are widely used as constant-voltage devices. A Zener diode permits Zener current, Iz, to flow when the voltage is above the specified Zener voltage. Thus, a Zener diode can be used for voltage detection by sensing Zener current with some other device.
Can we use Zener diode as normal diode?
Zener diode always act as normal diode. In addition to acting like normal diode, it has a property, now named “Zener Breakdown” above its knee voltage. And that property is useful to use zener as voltage regulator.
What is the most useful characteristic of a Zener diode?
What is the most useful characteristic of a Zener diode? A Zener Diode is a diode that allows voltage to flow from anode to cathode under normal circumstances, but also allows voltage to reverse direction (called the Zener effect) when it reaches its Zener Voltage. They are commonly used in voltage reference circuits.
What is Zener diode and its VI characteristics?
V-I characteristics of Zener diode initially a small reverse saturation current Io flows across the diode. As the reverse voltage is increased, at a certain value of reverse voltage, the junction will be breakdown and drastically a large reverse current flow through the device. This breakdown is called Zener breakdown.