Tutorial -2

Zener voltage regulator

1. (a) Determine VL, IL, IZ, and IR for the network Fig. shown below if RL =180Ω.
(b) Repeat part (a) if RL= 470 Ω.
(c) Determine the value of RL that will establish maximum power conditions for Zener diode.
(d) Determine the minimum value of RL to ensure that the Zener diode is in the “on” state.

2. Consider the circuit shown in Figure below. The Zener diode voltage is VZ = 3.9 V and the
Zener diode incremental resistance is 𝑟𝑍 = 0.
(a) Determine IZ, IL and the power dissipated in the diode.
(b) Repeat part (a) if the 4 kΩ load resistor is increased to 10 kΩ.

3. Consider the Zener diode circuit shown in Figure below. Assume VZ = 12 V and is 𝑟𝑍 = 0.
(a) Calculate the Zener diode current and the power dissipated in the Zener diode for RL = ∞.
(b) What is the value of RL such that the current in the Zener diode is one-tenth of the current
supplied by the 40 V source?
(c) Determine the power dissipated in the Zener diode for the conditions of part (b).
4. For the Zener voltage regulation shown below, determine the range of RL and IL that gives the
constant load voltage of 10 V.

5. Consider the Zener diode circuit shown in Figure below. Let VI = 60 V, Ri = 150Ω, and
VZO = 15.4 V. Assume 𝑟𝑍 = 0. The power rating of the diode is 4 W and the minimum zener
diode current is to be 15 mA.
(a) Determine the range of diode currents.
(b) Determine the range of load resistance.

6. (a) Design the network of Fig. shown below to maintain VL at 12 V for a load variation (IL)
from 0 to 200 mA. That is, determine Rs and VZ.
(b) Determine PZmax for the Zener diode of part (a).

7. For the network of Fig. shown below, determine the range of Vi that will maintain VL at 8V and
not exceed the maximum power rating of the Zener diode.
8. Determine the range of input voltage that maintains the output voltage of 10 V, for the regulator
circuit shown below.

9. Design a voltage regulator that will maintain an output voltage of 20 V across a 1-kΩ load with
an input that will vary between 30 and 50 V. That is, determine the proper value of Rs and the
maximum current IZM.