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:________________

EE216:Electronic Devices & Circuits

Experiment 5
Objectives

 To characterize a Zener diode by finding its test current and small-signal

resistance

 Design a Zener diode regulated power supply

Components required

5V and 3V Zener diodes, 4 x 1N4007 diodes, 1KΩ resistor.

Abbreviations

DSO: Digital Storage Oscilloscope

DMM: Digital Multimeter

NOTES
 Keep all connections as short as possible.
 Before applying DC power supplies to the circuit make sure that they are all set to
zero volts.
 Switch off the power supplies before making any change in the circuit.
 Always measure a resistor “out of circuit”
 Use a pencil to draw all the graphs.

1- The characteristics of a Zener diode are shown below in Figure 1. We think we have a 5V
and 3V Zener diodes in the lab. However, we need to verify. Moreover we don’t know
their test current and rz .
2- Using one 5V Zener diode at a time connect the circuit of Figure 2. Keep Vin at 10 V pk-
pk 1KHz triangular wave. Using the XY mode of the DSO, plot the reverse
characteristics The XY- mode in the DSO is under the display button. Also, invert the X-
channel. R1 is 1 KΩ. Find the test current IZT (test current) at VZ. Also find the small-
signal AC resistance rz = ∆V/∆I at V =VZ = 5 V.

VZ = _______

IZT (test current) = _______

rz = _______

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Figure 1

gnd
CH-Y
sig
R1
gnd
Generator
D1
ZENER CH-X
1kHz

sig

Figure 2

3- Using one 3V Zener diode at a time connect the circuit of Figure 3. Keep Vin at 10 V pk-
pk 1KHz triangular wave. Insert a DC power supply in series the generator to add a -5V
offset. Using the XY mode of the DSO, plot the reverse characteristics. The XY- mode in
the DSO is under the display button. Also, invert the X-channel. R1 is 1 KΩ. Find the test
current IZT (test current) at VZ. Also find the small-signal AC resistance rz = ∆V/∆I at V
=VZ = 3 V.

VZ = _______

IZT (test current) = _______

rz = _______

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gnd
CH-Y
sig
R1
gnd
V1
+
D1
Generator ZENER CH-X

1kHz sig

Figure 3

4- Using the values found in step-1, design a Zener regulated 5 V DC power supply with a
bridge rectifier. The ripple in Vout ( voltage across the Zener diode) should not be more
than 100 mVpk-pk. The ripple across the filter capacitor should not be more than 1 Vpk-pk.
The input voltage is applied via 50 Hz sine wave from the signal generator. Set the input
peak voltage to meet the requirements. Neglect the diode voltage drops during the design.

Write below the analysis and design of the power supply

5- Connect the circuit and verify that it meets all the requirements.

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