Semiconductor Fundamentals Unit 4 – Diode Wave Shaping and Zener Regulation
Exercise 3 – Zener Diode Voltage Regulation
EXERCISE OBJECTIVE
When you have completed this exercise, you will be able to demon-state voltage regulation by
using a zener diode voltage regulator. You will verify your results with a multimeter.
DISCUSSION
- Zener diodes are used in voltage regulator circuits because of the nearly constant zener
voltage. - The zener diode maintains an output voltage that is equal to the zener voltage, regardless of
variations of the supply voltage and load resistance. - Total current in a zener diode voltage regulator circuit is the sum of the zener current and the
load current. - Zener diodes function well for voltage regulation because IZ can vary significantly with small
changes in applied voltage when operating in the breakdown region. - Increases in load current are compensated for by equal decreases in zener current; this
characteristic provides the load regulation property of a voltage regulator. - Percent load regulation is a measure of the voltage change across the load due to a change in
load.