A Zener diode is the simplest known type of voltage limiter (Figure 1) As soon as the voltage exceeds the rated voltage of the Zener diode, a current can flow through the diode to limit the voltage.

We always enjoy [w2aew’s] videos, and his latest on zener diodes is no exception. In it, he asserts that all Zener diodes are not created equal. Why? You’ll have to watch the video below to find out.

As useful as the rectification properties of diodes are, the forward voltage drop they create can vary widely with temperature. This increases losses and can introduce tolerance errors in power ...