Zener Diode

 A zener diode is a p-n junction diode designed for stabilizing ( or regulating) i.e.
keeping steady the output voltage of a d.c. power supply.

 Power supplies are needed to provide a d.c. output voltage for electronic circuits
such as computers, telephone systems and radios. The symbol for a zener diode
and its characteristic curve is shown.

 The characteristic curve shows that when forward biased, the zener conducts like
an ordinary diode.

 However, it is normally used in reverse bias where the reverse current is

negligible until the reverse voltage VR reaches a certain value, Vz called the zener
or reference voltage.

 Once Vz is reached, the current suddenly increases and the voltage Vz is

maintained across the zener.

 For operation, the reverse current must fall between minimum and maximum
values IzMIN and IZMAX.

 A zener current below IzMIN will not turn the zener on, while a current above
IZMAX will destroy the zener.

 A minimum value of reverse current IZK must be maintained in order to keep the
diode in breakdown for voltage regulation.

 A nominal zener voltage VZT is usually specified on a data sheet at a value of

reverse current called the zener test current IZT.

 All zeners come with ratings from the manufacturer such as the reference
voltage Vz and maximum power rating, PZmax (where PZmax = Vz x IZmax).
 Electrical circuit
symbol zener diode

IF/mA

Forward
Bias

VR/V V @ I
Z ZT

IZmin IZK (zener knee current) VF/V

IZT (zener test current)

Reverse
IZmax Bias
IZK (zener maximum current)
IR/mA

(Vz is usually specified at the zener test current IZT, and is designated VZT.)

Zener Equivalent Circuit

 The figures show the ideal and practical models of a zener diode in reverse
breakdown.

Vz

(a) Ideal (b) Practical

 It has a constant voltage drop equal to the nominal zener voltage.

 This constant voltage drop is represented by a dc voltage even though the zener
diode does not actually produce an emf voltage.
  The dc source simply indicates the effect of reverse breakdown is a constant
voltage across the zener terminals.
 The zener impedance ZZ is included in the practical model of a zener diode.
 Since the actual voltage curve is not ideally vertical, a change in zener current
(IZ) produces a small change in zener voltage (VZ)

VZ
0
VR
IZK

ZZ = VZ/IZ
Z

IZM

IR

 By Ohm’s law the ratio of VZ to I Z is the impedance as expressed in the

VZ
following equation Z z 
I Z

 Normally ZZ is specified at IZT and is designated ZZT.

 In most cases the assumption is made that ZZ is constant over the full linear
range of zener current values and is purely resistive.

Example
A zener diode exhibits a certain change in VZ for a certain change in IZ on a portion of
the linear characteristic curve between IZK and IZM as shown. What is the zener
impedance?
 VZ = 50mV
0
VR
IZK

10 mA

ZZ = VZ/IZ
Z= 5 mA

15 mA

IZM

IR

VZ 50mV
Zz    10
I Z 5mA

Example
A certain zener diode has a ZZT of 5. The data sheet gives VZT = 6.8 V at
IZT = 20mA, IZK = 1 mA and IZM = 50 mA. What is the voltage across the zener
terminals when the current is 30 mA? When the current is 10 mA?
 
Iz Vz
-
Vz
VZ =VZT

For IZ = 30mA: The 30 mA current is a 10 mA increase above IZT = 20 mA.

I Z  I Z  I ZT  10mA

VZ  I Z Z ZT  (10mA)(5)  50mV

The change in voltage due to the increase in current above the IZT value causes the zener
terminal voltage to increase.
The zener voltage for IZ = 30 mA is VZ  6.8V  50mV  6.85V

For IZ = 10mA: The 10 mA current is a 10 mA decrease below IZT = 20 mA

I Z  I Z  I ZT  10mA

VZ  I Z Z ZT  (10mA)(5)  50mV

The change in voltage due to the decrease in current below the IZT value causes the
zener terminal voltage to decrease.
The zener voltage for IZ = 10 mA is VZ  6.8V  VZ  6.8V  50mV  6.75V

Circuit Diagram of a simple voltage regulator

 Current limiting
Resistor
RS

+ Load Resistor

Vi RL

Input voltage to
be regulated -

 Note that the zener diode is reverse biased

Circuit Approximations

 When V Vz, the zener is ON and behaves like a constant dc voltage source of
value Vz

 When 0 < V < Vz, the zener is OFF and behaves like an open circuit.

Example

For the voltage regulator circuit shown, if Vi = 16 V, Rs = 1 k, RL =1.2 k ,

Vz = 10 V and Pzmax = 30 mW, determine:

(a) the voltage across RL

(b) the voltage across Rs
(c) the current through the zener Iz
(d) the current through RL
(e) the power dissipated through the zener Pz.

Solution

Step 1: Determine if the zener is ON or OFF by removing it from the network and
calculating the voltage across the resulting open circuit.
 RS

+ +
Vi V
RL

- -

Vi  RL
Using the voltage divider rule, V  which is less than the zener reference
Rs  R L
voltage, Vz = 10 V. The zener is therefore OFF and can be approximated as an open-
circuit.

Step 2: Substitute the appropriate circuit approximation and solve for the desired
unknowns.

RS IL

+ Iz + +
IR
+ VR -
Vi V VL
RL

- - -

(a) VL = V = 8.73 V
(b) VR = Vi – VL =16 – 8.73 V = 7.27 V
(c) Iz = 0 A
(d) IL = VL/RL = 8.73 mA
(e) Pz = Vz x Iz = 10 x 0 = 0 W

Exercise

Repeat with RL = 3 k

Temperature Coefficient
  The temperature coefficient specifies the percent change in zener voltage for each
oC change in temperature.
 For example, a 12V zener diode with a positive temperature coefficient of
0.01%/oC will exhibit a 1.2 mV increase in VZ when the junction temperature
increases one degree Celsius.
 The formula for calculating the change in zener voltage for a given junction
temperature change for a specified temperature coefficient is:
VZ  VZ  TC  T
where VZ is the nominal zener voltage at 25 0C, TC is the temperature coefficient
and T is the change in temperature.
 A positive TC means that the zener voltage increases with an increase in
temperature or decreases with a decrease in temperature.
 A negative TC means that the zener voltage decreases with an increase in
temperature or increases with a decrease in temperature.
 In some case the TC is expressed in mV/0C rather as % 0C.
 For these cases VZ is calculated as VZ  TC  T

Example
An 8.2 V zener diode (8.2 V at 25 0C) has a positive temperature coefficient of 0.05%/0C.
What is the zener voltage at 60 0C?
The change in zener voltage is
VZ  VZ  TC  T  (8.2V )(0.05%oC)(60oC  25oC)  144mV

The zener voltage at 60oC is VZ  VZ  8.2  144mV  8.34V

Zener Power Dissipation and Derating

 Zener diodes are specified to operate at a maximum power called the maximum
dc power dissipation, PDmax.
 For example the 1N746 zener is rated at a PDmax of 500 mW and the 1N3305A is
rated at a PDmax of 50 W. The dc power dissipation is determined by the formula
PD  VZ I Z

Power Derating

 The maximum power dissipation of a zener diode is typically specified for

temperatures at or below a certain value (50oC, for example).
 Above the specified temperature, the maximum power dissipation is reduced
according to a derating factor.
 The derating factor is expressed in mW/oC
 The maximum derated power can be determined with the following formula:
PD( derated)  PD(max)  (mW / oC )T

Example

A certain zener diode has a maximum power rating of 400 mW at 50 oC and a derating
factor of 3.2 mW/oC. Determine the power the zener can dissipate at a temperature of
90 oC.

PD( derated)  PD(max)  (mW / oC )T  400mW  (3.2mW / oC )(90oC  50oC )  272mW
Maximum Zener Current The maximum dc current, IZM, is specified based on the
power rating, the zener voltage at IZM and the zener voltage tolerance.
An approximate value for IZM can be calculated using the maximum power dissipation
PD (max)
PD(max) and VZ at IZT as follows I ZM 
VZ

Zener Regulation with varying input voltage

Zener diodes are widely used for voltage regulation. The figure below shows how a
zener diode can be used to regulate a varying dc voltage.

Vin 1N4740 10V

 This is called input or line regulation

 As the input voltage varies (within limits), the zener diode maintains a nearly
constant output voltage across its terminals.
 However as Vin changes I Z will change proportionally so that the limitations on
the input voltage variation are set by the minimum and maximum current values
(IZK and IZM) within which the zener can operate.
 R is the series current limiting resistor.
  For example, suppose that the 1N4740 10 V zener diode can maintain regulation
over a range of zener current values from IZK =0.25 mA to
IZM = 100 mA (IZM = PDmax/VZ = 1 W/10 V = 100 mA).
For the minimum zener current the voltage across the 220 resistor
is VR = IZKR = (0.25 mA)(220 ) = 55mV. Since VR = Vin - Vz
Vin(min)  VR  VZ  55mV  10V  10.055V
For the maximum zener current, the voltage across the 220 
resistor is VR = IZMR = (100 mA)(220 V
Therefore Vin(max)  VR  VZ  22V  10V  32V

This shows this zener diode can regulate an input voltage from 10.005 V to 32 V and
maintain an approximate 10 V output. The output will vary slightly because of the
zener impedance which has been neglected in these calculations.

Example

Determine the minimum and maximum input voltages that can be regulated by the
zener diode shown below.

R = 100 
+

Vin 1N4733 Vout

From the data sheet we would learn the following information for the 1N4733:
VZ = 5.1 V at IZT = 49 mA, IZK = 1 mA and Zz = 7 at IZK.
Assume the value of Zz over the range of current values.

The equivalent circuit is shown below

R = 100 
5.1V  VZ

Vin


5.1 V
At , IZK = 1 mA, the output voltage is
Vout  5.1V  VZ  5.1V  ( I ZT  I ZK )Z Z  5.1V  (48mA)(7)  4.76V
Therefore Vin(min) = IZKR + Vout = (1 mA) (100 Vout = 4.86 V
To find the maximum input voltage , first calculate the maximum zener current.
Assume the temperature is 50oC or below so from the data sheet the power dissipation
is 1 W.

PD (max) 1W
I ZM    196mA
VZ 5.1V
Vout  5.1V  VZ  5.1V  ( I ZM  I ZT ) Z Z
At IZM, the output voltage is
Vout  5.1V  (147mA)(7)  6.13V

Therefore Vin(max)  I ZM R  Vout  (196mA)(100)  6.13V  25.7V

Zener Regulation with variable Load

IT
Vin IZ IL RL

 The figure above shows a zener voltage regulator with a variable load resistor
across the terminal.
 The zener diode maintains a nearly constant voltage across RL as long as the
zener current is greater than IZK and less than IZM.
 This is called load regulation.

From No load to Full Load

 When the output terminals of the zener regulator are open (RL = ), the load
current is zero and all of the current passes through the zener.
 When the load resistor RL is connected, part of the total current is through the
zener and part through RL.
 As RL is decreased, the load current IL increases and IZ decreases.
 The zener diode continues to regulate until IZ reaches its minimum value IZK.
 At this point the load current is at a maximum.
 The total current through R remains essentially constant.
Example

Determine the minimum and the maximum load currents for which the zener diode in
the figure below will maintain regulation. What is the minimum RL that can be used?
Given VZ = 12 V, IZK = 1 mA and IZM = 50 mA. Assume ZZ = 0  and VZ remains a
constant 12 V over the range of current values.

R = 470 

IT
24 V IZ IL RL

When IL = 0 A (RL = ), IZ is a maximum and equal to the total circuit current IT.
V  VZ 24V  12V
I Z (max)  I T  in   25.5mA .
R 470
Since IZ(max) is less than IZM, 0 A is an acceptable minimum value for IL because the zener
can handle all of the 25.5 mA.
This means RL can be removed from the circuit and regulation will be maintained.
IL(min) = 0 A
The maximum value of IL occurs when IZ is minimum (IZ = IZK) so we solve for IL(max) as
follows:
IL(max) = IT – IZK = 25.5 mA – 1 mA = 24.5 mA
The minimum value of RL is :
VZ 12V
RL(min) =   490
I L (max) 24.5mA
Therefore if RL is less than 490  RL will draw more current away from the zener and IZ
will be reduced below IZK. This will cause the zener to lose regulation.
Regulation is maintained for any value of RL between 490 and infinity.

Example

For the circuit shown,

(a) Determine Vout at IZK and at IZM.
 (b) Calculate the value of R that should be used
(c) Determine the minimum value RL that can be used.

R
+
24 V 1N4744 RL Vout

The 1N4744 zener used in the regulator circuit is a 15 V diode. The data sheet gives the
following information: VZ = 15 V @ IZT, IZK = 0.25 mA, IZT = 17 mA and ZZT = 14.

(a) For IZK: Vout = VZ = 15 V – IZZZT = 15 V – (IZT – IZK)ZZT

= 15 V – (16.75 mA)(14 ) = 14.76 V

Calculate the zener maximum current. The power dissipation is 1 W.

PD (max) 1W
I ZM    66.7mA
VZ 15V

For IZM: Vout = Vz = 15 V + IZZZT = 15 V + (IZM – IZT)Zzt

= 15 V + (49.7 mA)(14 = 15.7 V

(b) The value of R is calculated for the maximum zener current that
occurs when there is no load.

VIN  VZ 24V  15.7V

R   124
I ZM 66.7mA

(c) For the minimum load resistance (maximum load current), the zener
current is minimum (IZK = 0.25 mA)

VIN  VOUT 24V  14.76V

IT    71.0mA
R 130
I L  I T  I ZK  71.0mA  0.25mA  70.75mA
VOUT 14.76V
RL    209
IL 70.75mA

Percent Regulation
  Regulation expressed as a percentage is a figure of merit used to specify the
performance of a voltage regulator.
 It can be in terms of input (line) regulation or load regulation.
 Line regulation specifies the change in the output voltage (Vout) for a given
change in input voltage (VIN) expressed as a percentage.

 V 
Line regulation   OUT 100%
 VIN 
 Load regulation specifies the change in the output voltage over a certain range of
load current values, usually from minimum current (no load, NL) to maximum
current (full load, FL).
 It is normally expressed as a percentage and can be calculated with the following
formula:

VNL  VFL
Load regulation = 100%
VFL
where VNL is the output voltage with no load and VFL is the output voltage
with full (maximum current) load.

The ZENER Shunt Regulator

The dc supply that is to be regulated is connected to a resistor R and the Zener diode in
series.

The (constant) output voltage is taken across the Zener.

Vs

R
IL

Vo RL
Iz
The Equivalent Circuit

Vs

R
IL

Vzo
Vo RL
rz

Iz

V o r
Define Line Regulation = (mV/V) = z
V s rz  R

V o Rrz
Load Regulation = = (mV/mA)
I L R  rz

Vs  ( I z  I L ) R  Vzo  I z Rz

R rz Rrz
Vo  Vzo  Vs  IL
R  rz R  rz R  rz