Zener breakdown is the phenomena wherein the Zener diode experiences reverse breakdown at a much lower voltage than a normal diode, which may breakdown in excess of 100 volts, depending on the type. This is useful because the Zener will hold the same voltage after breakdown, regardless of the input voltage, making them excellent for voltage controlled switches and references.
A: As voltage in the reverse direction is increased a point will be reached where the zener diode will breakdown an start conducting current therefore any additional input voltage across the zener will remain the same
because of its high break down voltage.
The breakdown voltage point for a Zener diode is 17 volts
A: Yes it does since the break down is not exactly very linear.
The point in the forward operating region of the characteristic curve where conduction starts to increase rapidly is called Knee voltage of a PN Junction Diode.The breakdown voltage of a diode is the minimum reverse voltage to make the diode conduct in reverse.(or) Breakdown voltage is a parameter of a diode that defines the largest reverse voltage that can be applied without causing an exponential increase in the current in the diode.-- Dinakar
A Zener diode is a type of diode that sends current in the forward way like a normal diode, but also in the reverse direction if there is voltage that is larger than the breakdown voltage which is also known as "Zener voltage". The apparatus was named after Clarence Zener, who discovered this electrical property.
Since they are in parallel, the 3.3V zener diode will "kick in" first when you reach 3.3V, and the circuit will pretty much act the same as if the 7V zener diode isn't there at all.
In a reverse bias higher than the break down voltage.
because of its high break down voltage.
The difference is , the break down in a zener is desirable, well designed, expected, healthy and designed for a particular value. After breakdown, it can and is expected to maintain that condition for a long time. zener is optimized to work in this region.They are designed to have very low breakdown voltages. In contrast, the break down in a rectifier diode is undesirable, not well designed, not respected. This diode is optimized to work in the rectifier region and optimized for that. Breakdown region is avoided in normal operation. The breakdown voltage is normally very high, above 100 volts.
The breakdown voltage point for a Zener diode is 17 volts
A: Yes it does since the break down is not exactly very linear.
Zener predicatively will break down at a voltage as manufactured and sustain that voltage as long as the source can provide the current. The limitation is the zener power dissipation for each device. It Regulates by maintaining that breakdown voltage until its current is reduced or its break down voltage is reduced.
There will be no "average" reverse breakdown voltage. When the applied voltage reaches 3.3v, the 3.3v zener will conduct and the voltage will go no higher. The 5v zener will never conduct because the voltage across it will never go higher than 3.3v The only way the 5 volt zener will ever conduct is if the 3.3v zener fails. ALAN H.
The point in the forward operating region of the characteristic curve where conduction starts to increase rapidly is called Knee voltage of a PN Junction Diode.The breakdown voltage of a diode is the minimum reverse voltage to make the diode conduct in reverse.(or) Breakdown voltage is a parameter of a diode that defines the largest reverse voltage that can be applied without causing an exponential increase in the current in the diode.-- Dinakar
A Zener diode is a type of diode that sends current in the forward way like a normal diode, but also in the reverse direction if there is voltage that is larger than the breakdown voltage which is also known as "Zener voltage". The apparatus was named after Clarence Zener, who discovered this electrical property.
A diode (some people incorrectly call them rectifiers) is a semiconductor device that allows a current to flow in one direction. A Zener diode allows a reverse to current to flow at a defined voltage. A common application for them is as a voltage regulator. Named for C M Zener , US Physicist. A zener diode is a diode and like all diodes it will conduct in both directions. If a reversed voltage is applied it will breakdown and conduct current. Most diodes when they breakdown the reversed voltage cannot be predictable. However a zener diode when they do breakdown in the reverse voltage mode that voltage can be made as predictable and remain +/- % of the breakdown voltage. Therefore this steady voltage can be used as a regulator for instance or a definite voltage drop if need be.
The zener diode can be used as a voltage regulator because its reverse bias (technically, reverse breakdown) current to voltage curve is particularly steep, resulting in very little voltage change even when current changes. Any diode, actually, exhibits this steep curve in the forward direction, but it is steeper in the reverse direction in zeners, making them more suitable for this application.This works because of the doping that is used in the PN junction, altering the tunneling behavior of electrons from the P side valence band to the N side conduction band. This allows controlled breakdown, without avalanche.The zener diode can be used as a voltage regulator because in the break-down region, the voltage of the zener diode becomes constant no matter how high the current goes.