Lab # 11 Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator

Electronics I
EEE231
Lab Report#11

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GROUP MEMBERS

USAMA ZAHID FA18-BEE-195

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ASAD AFAQ FA18-BEE-193

M. FURQAN SAAD AKRAM FA18-BEE-174

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SUBMITTED TO :

SIR MUHAMMAD ALI

DATE:30/09/2020

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 Lab # 11 Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator

Lab # 11 Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator(Open-ended)

Objectives
This is an open-ended lab where students will use their previous knowledge, which they learned
in theory/ lab, to design and implement the operation of a Zener diode as a voltage regulator.

Introduction:
Zener diode is like a general-purpose signal diode consisting of a silicon PN junction. When biased

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in the forward direction it behaves just like a normal signal diode passing the rated current, but as

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soon as a reverse voltage applied across the zener diode exceeds the rated voltage of the device,

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the diodes breakdown voltage VB is reached at which point a process called Avalanche Breakdown

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occurs in the semiconductor depletion layer and a current starts to flow through the diode to limit

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this increase in voltage.
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The current now flowing through the zener diode increases dramatically to the maximum circuit
value (which is usually limited by a series resistor) and once achieved this reverse saturation
current remains fairly constant over a wide range of applied voltages. This breakdown voltage
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point, VB is called the "zener voltage" for zener diodes and can range from less than one volt to
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hundreds of volts.
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The point at which the zener voltage triggers the current to flow through the diode can be very
accurately controlled (to less than 1% tolerance) in the doping stage of the diodes semiconductor
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construction giving the diode a specific zener breakdown voltage, ( Vz ) for example, 4.3V or
7.5V. This zener breakdown voltage on the I-V curve is almost a vertical straight line.
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 Lab # 11 Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator

Zener Diode I-V Characteristics

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Figure 1 IV characteristic curve of Zener diode

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The Zener Diode is used in its “reverse bias” or reverse breakdown mode, i.e. the diodes anode
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connects to the negative supply. From the I-V characteristics curve above, we can see that the
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zener diode has a region in its reverse bias characteristics of almost a constant negative voltage
regardless of the value of the current flowing through the diode and remains nearly constant even
with large changes in current as long as the zener diodes current remains between the breakdown
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current IZ(min) and the maximum current rating IZ(max).

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This ability to control itself can be used to great effect to regulate or stabilize a voltage source
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against supply or load variations. The fact that the voltage across the diode in the breakdown region
is almost constant turns out to be an important characteristic of the zener diode as it can be used in
the simplest types of voltage regulator applications.
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The function of a regulator is to provide a constant output voltage to a load connected in parallel
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with it in spite of the ripples in the supply voltage or the variation in the load current and the zener
diode will continue to regulate the voltage until the diodes current falls below the
minimum IZ(min) value in the reverse breakdown region.
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The Zener Diode Regulator

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Zener Diodes can be used to produce a stabilised voltage output with low ripple under varying
load current conditions. By passing a small current through the diode from a voltage source, via a
suitable current limiting resistor (RS), the zener diode will conduct sufficient current to maintain
a voltage drop of Vout.
Useful Formulas
2𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑉𝐷𝐶 = = 0.638𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝜋
Peak-to-peak ripple voltage:

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 Lab # 11 Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator

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𝑉𝑟𝑝𝑝 = ( )𝑉
𝑓𝑅𝐿 𝐶 𝑝(𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡)

DC value of the output voltage:

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𝑉𝐷𝐶 = (1 − )𝑉
2𝑓𝑅𝐿 𝐶 𝑝(𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡)

Ripple factor is:

𝑉𝑟𝑝𝑝
𝑟=
𝑉𝐷𝐶

Equipment and Materials

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Think of all the required lab equipment for performing the given lab

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Pre-Lab
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 The student is required to study about Zener diode’s working as a voltage regulator and
perform a comprehensive literature survey on selection of appropriate voltage regulators
for any particular application.
 Implement and analyze your designed circuit on any electronic simulator

In-Lab
 Design a circuit for a voltage regulated supply for the following specifications:
o Input Voltage: 20 Vp-p Sinusoidal AC voltage

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 Lab # 11 Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator

o Frequency Range: 50Hz to 1kHz

o Keep the ripple factor percentage less then 20%

 Regulate the DC output from above statement using diode.

 Implement your designed circuit on hardware and analyze the results of both software
simulation and hardware implementation.

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Post-Lab
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Design a printed circuit board (PCB) for regulated power supply designed in the lab.
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 Lab # 11 Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator

Critical Analysis / Conclusion

In this lab I learn about the zener diode, in which the current can flow in both the
direction forward and as well as reverse direction. After that I implement a circuit
using zener diode as a voltage regulator and saw the wave form of the
corresponding circuit in the oscilloscope. And at the end we get our desired
voltage from the circuit which was 6.2V.

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