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.
How a Zener diode regulate voltage?
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. From that point on, the low impedance of the diode keeps the voltage across the diode at that value.
What is the zener breakdown voltage?
The breakdown voltage of the commonly available Zener diode varies between 1.2V to 200V. Zener diode exhibits a controlled breakdown and does not require any external circuitry to limit the current.
What is meant by zener breakdown voltage?
When reverse biased voltage applied to the zener diode reaches zener voltage, it starts allowing large amount of electric current. At this point, a small increase in reverse voltage will rapidly increases the electric current. Because of this sudden rise in electric current, breakdown occurs called zener breakdown.
What is zener breakdown voltage and zener current?
A Zener diode is a special type of diode designed to reliably allow current to flow "backwards" when a certain set reverse voltage, known as the Zener voltage, is reached. Both breakdown types are present in Zener diodes with the Zener effect predominating at lower voltages and avalanche breakdown at higher voltages.
How do you calculate zener breakdown voltage?
The reverse current that results after the breakdown, is called Zener current (Iz). At breakdown, increase of VI increases II by large amount, so that V0 = VIRI II becomes constant. This constant value of V0 which is the reverse breakdown voltage, is called Zener voltage.Dec 2, 2016
Is breakdown voltage and Zener voltage same?
Voltage Vz: The Zener voltage refers to the reverse breakdown voltage—2.4 V to about 200 V; can go up to 1 kV while the maximum for the surface-mounted device (SMD) is about 47 V).
What is called Zener effect?
The Zener effect is a type of electrical breakdown that occurs in a reverse-biased PN junction when the electric field enables tunnelling of electrons from the valence to the conduction band of a semiconductor, leading to a large number of free minority carriers which suddenly increase the reverse current.
What is avalanche effect in physics?
avalanche effect, in physics, a sudden increase in the flow of an electrical current through a nonconducting or semiconducting solid when a sufficiently strong electrical force is applied.
What is the difference between Zener and avalanche multiplication effect?
The main difference between Zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown is their mechanism of occurrence. Zener breakdown occurs because of the high electric field whereas, the avalanche breakdown occurs because of the collision of free electrons with atoms. Both these breakdowns can occur simultaneously.