So, yes, it exploits the reverse breakdown voltage. That voltage is non destructive if the current is limited.

So lets say you have a 5.1 V 1W Zener diode. A typical Zener diode regulator drops the input voltage say it's 12V
So 12-5.1. You limit the total current to not to exceed whataver you need for your circuit and what might be dissipated by the diode. 5.1V is a special voltage because the avalanche and Zener mechanism occur at the same time. We don;t make a distinction between an avalanche and a Zener diode.

In series, it can subtract a voltage.

So, a 5.1V zener diode would drop 5.1V in one direction and 0.6 in the other. It is a strongly temperature dependent parameter.

 

So, yes, it exploits the reverse breakdown voltage. That voltage is non destructive if the current is limited.

So lets say you have a 5.1 V 1W Zener diode. A typical Zener diode regulator drops the input voltage say it's 12V
So 12-5.1. You limit the total current to not to exceed whataver you need for your circuit and what might be dissipated by the diode. 5.1V is a special voltage because the avalanche and Zener mechanism occur at the same time. We don;t make a distinction between an avalanche and a Zener diode.

In series, it can subtract a voltage.

So, a 5.1V zener diode would drop 5.1V in one direction and 0.6 in the other. It is a strongly temperature dependent parameter.

In SHUNT of the LED resister string, the zener holds the applied voltage close to 5 volts. That is what I have been stating all along. The FED-resistor pair is shunted by the zener diode. A second resistor in series between the motor voltage and the zener diode limits the zener current to a safe value when the motor is getting the full 36 volts. Is it really that hard to picture??

 

This https://www.powerelectronicsnews.com/power-supply-design-notes-zener-diode-voltage-regulator/ should make the picture crystal clear, I hope.

The TL431 https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/t...62&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.uy%2F is an "Adjustable Zener diode, but it maxes out at 36 V max input/.


References should be precision and not have any temperature instabiity. Sometimes, you don;t have to be that precise.

With Crystals, their oscillation frequency varies with temperature. So, to make it stable, you put it in an oven.

Detectors have thermal noise. We had an x-ray sensor that needed liquid nitrogen temperatures, 4 days at room temperature would kill the sensor.

 

Hello,
TS stands for thread starter, wich is given in a started thread by you at your user name.
Bertus

Thanks - I worked that out as soon as I posted the question and saw 'Thread Starter' against my last post. I guess I hadn't paid enough attention to my previous posts - just kept seeing TS in replies.

Cheers
Kent.

 

Thanks again @MisterBill2 and @KeepItSimpleStupid - some bedtime reading for me

Cheers
Kent.

 

OP or Original Poster is also used in place of TS.

 

Not sure why we got a dissertation on precision references when I was describing a voltage clampig application that would be OK with A 5% drift.

 

Not sure why we got a dissertation on precision references...

Do people tell him to KISS so often that he thought it was a nickname?