Experiment 04 ›Diode Applications

Zener Diode Voltage Regulator

Analyze how a Zener diode clamps output voltage. Switch to Wired Sandbox to build your own regulator circuit, set component values, and run a real physics simulation.

Circuit Parameters
Input Voltage (Vin)0.0 V
0V15V
Series Resistance (Rs)220 Ω
50Ω1kΩ
Load Resistance (RL)1000 Ω
100Ω10kΩ
Zener Parameters (1N4733A)
Breakdown Voltage (Vz)5.1 V
Max Power Dissipation500 mW
Knee Current (Iz_min)1 mA
Max Zener Current98 mA
Key Concepts

🔵 Line regulation — Zener maintains Vout despite Vin changes.

🟡 Load regulation — Vout stays stable as RL varies.

🔴 Breakdown region — Unlike normal diodes, Zener operation requires reverse breakdown.

📡 Live Circuit — DC Source · Rs · Zener · RL · Meters
DC SRC + − 0.0 V Rs 220Ω A K Dz (5.1V) RL 1kΩ V 0.00 V
Load Voltage (Vout)
0.00 V
Zener Current (Iz)
0.00 mA
Load Current (IL)
0.00 mA
Power (Pz)
0.00 mW
⭕ OFF — Increase Vin above 5.1V to enter breakdown region
📈 Voltage Transfer Curve
📐 Key Observations
BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE
Vz = 5.1V for 1N4733A. Output clamped above this Vin level.
REGULATION PRINCIPLE
Rs limits current. Excess current flows through Zener. RL sees stable Vz.
POWER LIMIT
Pz = Vz × Iz ≤ 500mW. Exceeding this destroys the Zener diode.