EXPERIMENT No.

I/V CHARACTERISTICS OF A ZENER DIODE

AIM: To study the I-V characteristics of a Zener diode.

APPARATUS: DC power supply, ammeter, voltmeter, connecting wires and a zener diode

THEORY: A zener diode is a heavily doped pn-junction designed to operate in the breakdown
region under reverse bias condition. A zener diode maintains a constant voltage Vz across its
terminals when the reverse bias exceeds the breakdown voltage. For this reason it is often used
as a voltage reference diode. When the diode is reverse biased, a small reverse saturation current
flows through the diode. This current remains constant with increasing voltage upto a certain
value, called the zener voltage Vz. In the vicinity of Vz, it grows rapidly and at Vz breakdown
occurs. As a result, a large current flows through the diode. Vz does not change once the diode
gets in the breakdown condition. Usually a series resistor is connected in series with the diode to
avoid passing of very large current through the diode.

PROCEDURE:

1) The circuit is connected as shown in diagram, such that the zener diode is forward biased.
2) The power supply knob is kept in minimum position and the power supply is switched on.
3) The current at 0V is recorded. The voltage is varied in suitable steps and the corresponding
current is noted and recorded in observation table.
4) The circuit is connected as shown in diagram, such that the zener diode is reverse biased.
5) The voltage is varied in steps suitable steps and reverse current is noted.
6) A graph is plotted using the above set of readings with the forward voltage on the X-axis and
the forward current on the Y-axis.
7) The cut-in voltage and the zener breakdown voltage is determined from the graph.
OBSERVATIONS:

Obs. Forward Voltage Forward

No. VF Current IF
1    
2    
3    
4    
5    
6    
7    
8    
9    
10    

Obs. Reverse Voltage Reverse

No. VR Current IR
1    
2    
3    
4    
5    
6    
7    
8    
9    
10    

CONCLUSION: