A 1-watt, 10-volt Zener diode with the...

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Question 1 of 20nFIzjsYgp8TpulTEvCII

A 1-watt, 10-volt Zener diode with the following characteristics: Imin. = 5 mA; Imax. = 95 mA; and Z = 8 ohms, is to be used as part of a voltage regulator in a 20-V power supply. Approximately what size current-limiting resistor would be used to set its bias to the midpoint of its operating range?

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Question 1 of 20

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🔍 Key Concepts

• Zener diode operating range from Imin to Imax and what the midpoint current is • Using Ohm’s Law with the supply voltage, Zener voltage, and series resistor • Effect of Zener dynamic resistance (Z) on the actual Zener voltage at different currents

💭 Think About

• How do you find the current that corresponds to the midpoint between Imin and Imax for the Zener diode? • Once you know the desired Zener current, how do you compute the series resistor value from the difference between the supply voltage and the Zener voltage? • How does the Zener’s dynamic resistance slightly change the Zener voltage, and does that significantly change the required series resistor compared to the approximate value?

✅ Before You Answer

• First, calculate the midpoint Zener current between 5 mA and 95 mA • Use R = (Vsupply − Vzener) / Iseries to estimate the resistor, remembering that Iseries ≈ IZener at no-load condition • Check which resistor choice gives a current that stays within Imin and Imax and is close to the midpoint value

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