Power Supply Regulators Unit 2 – Shunt Voltage Regulator
Exercise 1 – Shunt Regulator Operation
EXERCISE OBJECTIVE
When you have completed this exercise, you will be able to describe shunt voltage regulator
operation by using a typical voltage regulator circuit. You will verify your results with a
multimeter.
DISCUSSION
- A shunt regulator uses the current flow through RS to maintain a nearly constant output
voltage. - Output voltage of the shunt regulator is developed by the zener diode (VZ) and the transistor
base-emitter junction (VBE). - Changes in line voltage or load current cause a change in base current. This change forces a
change in collector current which creates a change in the voltage drop across RS. This change
in VRS maintains the circuit output voltage.