Zener Diode: Electronics and Communication Circuits Lab. Experiment #5

Electronics and Communication Circuits Lab.
EXPERIMENT #5
Zener Diode
Objective:
 Measure and plot VI Characteristics of zener diodes.
 To study zener diode as voltage regulator.
Theory Overview:
Part 1 : V-I Characteristics of zener diodes
 A zener diode is a special kind of diode, the symbol for a zener diode is shown in Figure 1.
 A zener diode is a silicon pn junction device that is designed for operation in the reverse-
breakdown region. The breakdown voltage of a zener diode is set by carefully controlling the
doping level during manufacture. Recall, from the discussion of the diode characteristic curve,
that when a diode reaches reverse breakdown, its voltage remains almost constant even though
the current changes drastically, and this is the key to zener diode operation. This volt-ampere
characteristic is shown in Figure 2.
 Zener diode is used for voltage regulation purpose. Zener diodes are designed for specific reverse
breakdown voltage called Zener breakdown voltage (Vz). The value of Vz depends on amount of
doping. Zener diodes are available in various families (according to their general characteristics,
encapsulations and power ratings) with reverse breakdown (Zener) voltages in the range 2.4 V to
200 V.
Figure 2: General zener diode V-I

characteristic Figure 1: Zener diode symbol
Breakdown Characteristics:
Figure 3(a) shows the reverse portion of a zener diode’s characteristic curve. Notice that as the reverse
voltage (VR) is increased, the reverse current (IR) remains extremely small up to the “knee” of the curve.
The reverse current is also called the zener current, IZ. At this point, the breakdown effect begins; the
internal zener resistance, also called zener impedance (ZZ), begins to decrease as the reverse current
increases rapidly. From the bottom of the knee, the zener breakdown voltage (VZ) remains essentially
constant although it increases slightly as the zener current, IZ, increases.
Reverse characteristic of a zener diode. VZ is usually specified at a value of the zener current known as the
test current.
(a) Practical characteristic model (b) Ideal characteristic model
Figure 3
Part 2: zener diode as voltage regulator

A zener diode operating in breakdown acts as a voltage regulator because it maintains a nearly constant
voltage across its terminals over a specified range of reverse-current values.
A minimum value of reverse current, I ZK, must be maintained in order to keep the diode in breakdown for
voltage regulation. You can see on the curve in Figure 3(a) that when the reverse current is reduced below
the knee of the curve, the voltage decreases drastically and regulation is lost. Also, there is a maximum
current, IZM, above which the diode may be damaged due to excessive power dissipation. So, basically,
the zener diode maintains a nearly constant voltage across its terminals for values of reverse current
ranging from IZK to IZM. A nominal zener voltage, VZ, is usually specified on a datasheet at a value of
reverse
current called the zener test current.
Basically there are two type of regulations such as:
a. Line Regulation: In this type of regulation, series resistance and load resistance are fixed, only
input voltage is changing. Output voltage remains the same as long as the input voltage is
maintained above a minimum value.
b. Load Regulation: In this type of regulation, input voltage is fixed and the load resistance is
varying. Output volt remains same, as long as the load resistance is maintained above a minimum
value.
Materials Needed:
1- Multisim simulator.
2- Zener Diodes (1N4735A) as Breakdown Voltage = 5.1V
3- Resistors (1K , 3.3 ).
4- Dual DC Regulated power supply (0 - 15V)
5- DC Ammeter
6- DC Voltmeter
7- Potentiometer (variable resistor).
Procedure:
Part 1: V-I Characteristics of zener diodes
a) Forward Bias Condition:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in figure 4.
2. Vary Vs gradually in steps of 0.1V up to 15V and note down the corresponding readings
of Vzf and Izf.
Table 1: Forward Bias Condition:
Vs(volts) Vzf (volts) Izf (mA) Figure 4

0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
2
3
4
Vs(volts) Vzf (volts) Izf (mA)
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
b) Reverse Bias Condition:
2. Vary Vs gradually in steps of 0.1V up to 15V and note down the corresponding readings
of Vzr and Izr.
Table 2: Reverse Bias Condition:
Vs(volts) Vzr (volts) Izr (mA) Figure 5

0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
2
3
4
5
6
Vs(volts) Vzr (volts) Izr (mA)
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1Plot the graph between Vzf and Izf , then Plot the graph between Vzr and Izr
Part 2: Zener diode as voltage regulator

9
a) Zener Diode as Line Regulator (for variations in supply voltage):
8
7
0.5
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 -0.5 0.5 1 2 3 4 5
-0.5
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
2. Vary supply voltage (Vs) in steps of 1volt from 0 - 15 volts and note the corresponding
Zener Current (IZ), Load Current (IL) and Output Voltage (VO).
3. Plot the graph between VS and VO.
V S (V ) I Z (mA ) I L (mA ) V O (V ) Figure 6

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
b) Zener Diode as Load Regulator (for variations in load connected):

1. Connect the circuit for Load regulation as shown in figure 7.
2. Now fix the power supply voltage, Vs at 10V.
3. vary the resistance in steps 1K from 1K to10K in steps of 10 K from10K to
100K and note the corresponding Zener Current (IZ), Load Current (IL) and Output
Voltage (VO)
4. Plot the graph between RL and VO
R L (KΩ) I Z (mA ) I L (mA ) V O (V ) Figure 7

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
5.105
5.104
5.103
5.102
5.101
5.1
5
4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Zener Diode Characteristics in oscilloscope:

2. Give the input as Sine wave voltage waveform from Function Generator (both positive and
negative peaks are 10V-Peak).
3. Connect the CH-A across the input and CH-B across zener.
4. Zener diode characteristics can be observed figure 9.
Figure 8
Figure 9
Questions:
1. What are the applications of Zener diode?
2. What is zener voltage?
3. What is voltage regulator?
4. Why the series resistor in the zener circuit is necessary?

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Electronics and Communication Circuits Lab.

Figure 2: General zener diode V-I

(a) Practical characteristic model (b) Ideal characteristic model

Part 2: zener diode as voltage regulator

Table 1: Forward Bias Condition:

Vs(volts) Vzf (volts) Izf (mA) Figure 4

Table 2: Reverse Bias Condition:

Vs(volts) Vzr (volts) Izr (mA) Figure 5

Part 2: Zener diode as voltage regulator

V S (V ) I Z (mA ) I L (mA ) V O (V ) Figure 6

b) Zener Diode as Load Regulator (for variations in load connected):

4. Plot the graph between RL and VO

R L (KΩ) I Z (mA ) I L (mA ) V O (V ) Figure 7

Zener Diode Characteristics in oscilloscope:

1. What are the applications of Zener diode?

2. What is zener voltage?

3. What is voltage regulator?

4. Why the series resistor in the zener circuit is necessary?

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