My background is computer programming, so I can figure out the logic part, and I can research topics to figure out how to build simple circuits... but once I've gotten close to what I need to create I have no clue where to buy the parts. I've done some googling but have no need to purchase a stack of 1000 zeners, and the sites I've found which sell single items/low qty I'm having trouble finding what I need.
My circuit is simple, automotive application, sensor outputs 0-5v normally. Under certain circumstances (say when the motor is producing 3 times the power it came from the factory with), the sensor might go above 5v... to 6 or 10v. If it goes any higher than 5v, it creates a fault code, which I need to get rid of.
Below 5v, I want to Vout whatever my Vin is.
At something below 5v, I want to clamp the Vout to a set level, say 4.5 or 4.75v.
It seems easy to do with a 1kO resistor and zener diode of the right size and orientation... from what I've read I'd need a 4.75v diode or whatever level I wanted to clamp at.
The resistor I can find, but the correct V zener I've having trouble locating.
Any resources to nab a few for my project would be greatly appreciated.
TIA-
Val
My circuit is simple, automotive application, sensor outputs 0-5v normally. Under certain circumstances (say when the motor is producing 3 times the power it came from the factory with), the sensor might go above 5v... to 6 or 10v. If it goes any higher than 5v, it creates a fault code, which I need to get rid of.
Below 5v, I want to Vout whatever my Vin is.
At something below 5v, I want to clamp the Vout to a set level, say 4.5 or 4.75v.
It seems easy to do with a 1kO resistor and zener diode of the right size and orientation... from what I've read I'd need a 4.75v diode or whatever level I wanted to clamp at.
The resistor I can find, but the correct V zener I've having trouble locating.
Any resources to nab a few for my project would be greatly appreciated.
TIA-
Val