Basic Electronics Tutorial on Clippers, Clampers & Zener Diode

Date: 10-08-2016

Question 1:
Sketch the shape of the output voltage waveform for the clipper circuits shown, assuming an ideal
diode with no forward voltage drop:
a)

(ideal diode)

V
out

b)

V
out

c)
(ideal diode)

V
out

d)

V
out

(ideal diode)

Answers:
a)
(ideal diode)

b)

c)

(ideal diode)

d)

V
out

Question 2:
a) Determine the output waveform for the clipper network (Assume ideal
diode)

Answer:

b) Repeat the above with input to the circuit as

Answer:

Question 3:
Determine Vo for the clipper network (Assume silicon
diode with Vt = 0.7 v)

Answer:

Question 4:
Determine Vo for clamper circuit below (Assume ideal diode)

Answer:

Question 5: Draw the output waveform for the following clamper circuit

Answer:

Question 6:
The 6 volts Zener diode shown in figure has zero zener resistance and a knee current of 5 mA. The
minimum value of R so that the voltage across it does not fall below 6 volts is

Answer:
Rmin = 80 ohms

Question 7:
A Zener diode in the circuit shown has a knee current of 5 mA, and a maximum allowed power
dissipation of 300 mW. What are the minimum and maximum load currents that can be drawn safely
from the circuit, keeping the output voltage Vo constant at 6 volts ?

Answer: IL,min = 10 mA , IL,max = 55 mA