11 Lab Report

Electronics- I
Lab 11: Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator (Open-ended)
Submitted By
Masood Jalal FA21-BEE-082

Muhammad Hammad FA21-BEE-108
Muhammad Umar FA21-BEE-140
BEE-3B
Submitted to
Sir Ali Arshad

Electronics I
Date: 28th December 2022

Group Lead:
Masood Jalal FA21-BEE-082
Problem Statement:
Design a circuit for Voltage regulated Supply for 20VPP Input with frequency 50Hz-1KHz
and ripple factor less than 20% using 5.5V Zener Diode. Implement the circuit on
hardware and software, also compare measured and simulated data.
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.
Equipment
Breadboard
Function Generator: 20VPP
Oscilloscope
Digital Multimeter
Resistor: 1x45Ω, 1x70Ω, 1x250Ω
Capacitor: 1x4700µF
Diode: Silicon Diode 1N4001, Zener Diode 5.5V
Introduction
Zener diode is like a general-purpose signal diode consisting of a silicon PN junction. When biased
in the forward direction it behaves just like a normal signal diode passing the rated current, but
as soon as a reverse voltage applied across the Zener diode exceeds the rated voltage of the
device, the diodes breakdown voltage VB is reached at which point a process called Avalanche
Breakdown occurs in the semiconductor depletion layer and current starts to flow through the
diode to limit this increase in voltage.
Zener Diode I-V Characteristics

The Zener Diode is used in its “reverse bias” or reverse breakdown mode, ie the diodes anode
connects to the negative supply. From the I-V characteristics curve above, we can see that the
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 current IZ(min) and the maximum current rating IZ(max).
The Zener Diode Regulator
Zener Diodes can be used to produce a stabilized 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.
Pre-Lab
1: 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.
2: Implement and analyze your designed circuit on any electronic simulator
In Prelab task we simulated the circuit in LTSpice to examine the behavior of Zener. The
simulation is inline with the theory as the DC analysis of Zener circuit with 10VDC supply shows
an output of 5.12V across the Zener, which matches the model of the Zener diode used. Next,
we ran DC sweep determine the characteristics of Zener for a range of Voltages, as can be
witnessed in the second Waveform, which exhibits that the Zener voltage matches the source
voltage, however, after the source voltage exceeds the input Zener Voltage (Breakdown Voltage)
the Zener maintains a constant voltage drop across its terminals.
In the 3rd plot, AC analysis was performed on the circuit which can be noticed because of the
jagged lines. The smoothing capacitor is used to create a more stable DC voltage with less
fluctuations. However, the voltage is not perfect, but as can be noted that the Zener voltage after
Breakdown voltage is straight line with no fluctuations. The load receives clean DC voltage, it is
one of the main reason a lot of simple electronic devices use Zener Diodes to convert AC voltages
to clean DC voltages, as the smoothing capacitor alone is not enough to create clean DC
waveform. This ensures that sensitive components don’t get affected by AC noise which comes
with ripples in the DC waveform. Moreover, it also protects devices which are not suited for AC
or fluctuating Voltages.
Operating Point Analysis
DC Analysis
AC Analysis
In-Lab Task
1: Design a circuit for a voltage regulated supply for the following specifications:
• Input Voltage: 20 VPP Sinusoidal AC voltage
• Frequency Range: 50Hz to 1kHz
• Keep the ripple factor percentage less than 20%
2: Regulate the DC output from above statement using diode.

3: Implement your designed circuit on hardware and analyze the results of both software
simulation and hardware implementation.
Parameters
Frequency Wave Type VPP Offset VDC
50 Hz Sine 20V 0
Rectifier
In the lab we experience issues with Full Bridge Rectifier which yielded unexpected and unusable
waveform. The issue was partially resolved by replacing the Silicon diodes; however, the DC
output was not stable. To resolve the issue and move towards our primary goal of building a
regulator using Zener Diode.
As such we built a Halfwave rectifier which yielded less Voltage RMS but was working properly
to be used with Voltage regulator.
Half-wave Rectifier Output Waveform

Parameter Formula Value
F 50 Hz
Vm rect 9.800 V
VDC Avg 0.319𝑉𝑚 3.126 V
VrPP 𝑉𝑝(𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡)⁄𝑓𝑅𝐿 𝐶 0.417 V
1
VDC Out (1 − )𝑉𝑝(𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡) 9.590 V
2𝑓𝑅𝐿 𝐶
R 𝑉𝑟𝑝𝑝 ⁄𝑉𝐷𝐶 𝑂𝑢𝑡 0.04348 %
From the Data we gather that the ripple factor would be around 0.04348% which is very less than
20% acceptable limit. This value is low because of high value Smoothing Capacitor which takes
time to discharge (has high value of τ), thus it retains the potential difference for longer giving us
a smoother output DC voltage with low ripple factor.
Zener Diode Voltage Regulator

A typical Zener Diode Voltage Regulator consists of a Zener Diode in Reverse Bias, a Source
Resistance and Load Resistance. When the voltage is lower than the breakdown of Zener the
input voltage flows through the Load as the Zener acts as Open Circuit. However, as the Input
voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage, the Zener starts regulating the voltage across the Source
resistance to maintain a constant Voltage across its terminals and by extension across the load.
Circuit Diagram
Zener Diode Voltage Regulator Output
Parameters
VZ Pmax IZM VS
5.5 V 550 mW 100 mA 9.8 V
(𝑉𝑠−𝑉𝑧) 9.8−5.5
𝑅𝑠 = = = 43Ω ~45Ω
𝐼𝑍𝑀 100𝑚
𝑉𝑧×𝑅𝑠 5.5 ×45 247.5

𝑅𝐿 (𝑀𝑖𝑛) = 𝑉𝑠−𝑉𝑧 = = = 57.56Ω
9.8−5.5 4.3
𝐼𝐿 (𝑀𝑖𝑛) = 𝐼𝑅 − 𝐼𝑍𝑀 = 122𝑚𝐴 − 100𝑚𝐴 = 22𝑚𝐴
𝑅𝐿 (𝑀𝑎𝑥) = 5.5⁄22𝑚𝐴 = 250Ω
RL (min) RL (max)
Calculated 57.56 Ω 250 Ω
Measured 70 Ω -
The minimum values of load resistance, both measured and calculated, were nearly identical with
a difference of only 12.44Ω, however, the calculated maximum load resistance read 250Ω, while
in simulated/measured values showed a great disparity. As the calculations suggest that the
maximum value should be around 250Ω while the Zener was ON for load resistances of over 1KΩ.
Post Lab
Design a printed circuit board (PCB) for regulated power supply designed in the lab.
Circuit Diagram
PCB Layout
Conclusion
From the lab we can conclude that Zener can be used as Voltage Regulators to provide
constant DC voltage. However, the Zener operation is limited by the Source and Load
Resistances. While keeping the Source Resistance constant, the impedance of load must
be less than RL(max) for Zener to be ON. Zener diode also have low power ratings hence
it is recommended to use them within those limits; However, it is essential to filter
AC/ripple noise from voltage (if the input is taken from Mains) and provide a constant DC
power to noise sensitive devices like sensors.
Critical Analysis:
1: In the open-ended lab we made voltage regulator using Zener diode as Zener diodes
regulate voltage to maintain a constant voltage drop across its terminals.
2: We also made rectifier circuit to convert AC wave from function generator to a suitable
DC voltage using smoothing capacitor.
3: In lab we experienced problems with full bridge rectifier which failed to provide the
desired DC output so we created Half-wave rectifier instead. It had no impact on the
circuit apart from low RMS Voltage.
3: Using the power rating of Zener diode we measured maximum current and thereafter
calculated the minimum load resistance. Using this parameter, we measured minimum
current and calculated maximum load resistance.
4: Another problem encountered was the weak power output of the function which
struggled to maintain peak to peak voltage while working with lower resistances, which
was a limiting factor in this lab.
5: The experiment yielded expected results and demonstrated the use of Zener as a
voltage regulator to create a clean noise free DC Voltage from AC Voltage.

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Electronics- I

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

Masood Jalal FA21-BEE-082

Sir Ali Arshad

Date: 28th December 2022

Zener Diode I-V Characteristics

Operating Point Analysis

2: Regulate the DC output from above statement using diode.

Half-wave Rectifier Output Waveform

Zener Diode Voltage Regulator

𝑉𝑧×𝑅𝑠 5.5 ×45 247.5

𝐼𝐿 (𝑀𝑖𝑛) = 𝐼𝑅 − 𝐼𝑍𝑀 = 122𝑚𝐴 − 100𝑚𝐴 = 22𝑚𝐴

𝑅𝐿 (𝑀𝑎𝑥) = 5.5⁄22𝑚𝐴 = 250Ω

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