Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video I describe what a Zener diode is - how they work and where and how they can be used. I also answer the question about when a Zener diode may not be a Zener diode - find out the answer in the video. I also give some tips about using Zener diodes or voltage reference diodes in electronic circuit designs so you can understand all you need to know about Zener diodes.
Zener diodes are very useful devices which are used all over the electronics industry and one of the most common uses in electronic circuits is to provide a stable reference voltage for power lines in various equipment and power supplies.
The circuit symbol is similar to that of a diode but has extra elements to the bar in the symbol to distinguish it from other forms of diode.
It's necessary to understand that a Zener diode has the same forward voltage characteristic as other PN junction diodes, but in the reverse direction the breakdown voltage is well defined, enabling it to be used as a voltage reference.
The Zener diode or voltage reference diode is most commonly used in power supplies or voltage regulators - the simplest circuit is a simple Zener-resistor shunt regulator, but other circuits can used emitter or source followers, etc and others have feedback and allow the output voltage to be adjusted while using the Zener voltage as a reference voltage.
More information so you can understand about Zener reference voltage diodes can be found at: electronics-notes.com/articles/electronic_components/diode/zener-diode.php
Information about the theory of operation and breakdown mechanisms:
electronics-notes.com/articles/electronic_components/diode/zener-diode-theory-operation.php
Information about linear voltage regulators including some Zener diode circuits: electronics-notes.com/articles/analogue_circuits/power-supply-electronics/linear-psu-series-regulator-circuit.php
Website homepage: electronics-notes.com
Please don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/electronicsnotes?sub_confirmation=1
In this video I describe what a Zener diode is - how they work and where and how they can be used. I also answer the question about when a Zener diode may not be a Zener diode - find out the answer in the video. I also give some tips about using Zener diodes or voltage reference diodes in electronic circuit designs so you can understand all you need to know about Zener diodes.
Zener diodes are very useful devices which are used all over the electronics industry and one of the most common uses in electronic circuits is to provide a stable reference voltage for power lines in various equipment and power supplies.
The circuit symbol is similar to that of a diode but has extra elements to the bar in the symbol to distinguish it from other forms of diode.
It's necessary to understand that a Zener diode has the same forward voltage characteristic as other PN junction diodes, but in the reverse direction the breakdown voltage is well defined, enabling it to be used as a voltage reference.
The Zener diode or voltage reference diode is most commonly used in power supplies or voltage regulators - the simplest circuit is a simple Zener-resistor shunt regulator, but other circuits can used emitter or source followers, etc and others have feedback and allow the output voltage to be adjusted while using the Zener voltage as a reference voltage.
More information so you can understand about Zener reference voltage diodes can be found at: electronics-notes.com/articles/electronic_components/diode/zener-diode.php
Information about the theory of operation and breakdown mechanisms:
electronics-notes.com/articles/electronic_components/diode/zener-diode-theory-operation.php
Information about linear voltage regulators including some Zener diode circuits: electronics-notes.com/articles/analogue_circuits/power-supply-electronics/linear-psu-series-regulator-circuit.php
Website homepage: electronics-notes.com
Please don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/electronicsnotes?sub_confirmation=1
