Zener diode in place of regular diode

Thread Starter

cktboy

Joined Apr 24, 2020
45
Hello,
Can we use zener diode in place of regular diode like 1N4004? I understand the zener diode is meant for breakdown voltage but still how much difference would it be?
 

crutschow

Joined Mar 14, 2008
34,280
If the reverse voltage doesn't exceed the rated Zener breakdown voltage, than the Zener will act as a regular diode.
But to carry the forward current of a 1N4004 (1A), the Zener will need to be 1W or greater.
 

BobTPH

Joined Jun 5, 2013
8,804
Unless, of course, you have 2 minutes to disarm a bomb and you need a diode and you only have Zener diodes. Then there is MacGyver, who would make one from a rusty razor blade.

Bob
 

MisterBill2

Joined Jan 23, 2018
18,167
MacGyver bombs always had fancy digital countdown timers. "Normal" ordinance does not.

And as others have cautioned, a zener diode is a poor choice as a diode substitute.
 
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