Zener Diode Tester
Description
Zener Diode Tester To find the rated voltage of a Zener diode, measure its voltage with a voltmeter or a multimeter (or simply just a voltmeter if you have one). The circuit is so simple that it may appear to be excessive to build the circuit into a component box. However, once you have it, it's one and done. In order for this test to determine the Zener diode's rated voltage, we must feed power to the Zener diode in reverse bias in series with a resistor. The voltage must be higher than the rated Zener voltage of the Zener diode. In the circuit schematic provided, we feed the Zener diode and a 1KΩ resistor from a variable voltage power supply. For a Zener diode rated for 5.1V, we adjust the supply voltage upward until the output voltage stabilizes. At this point the voltage across the Zener diode will indicate the rated Zener voltage of 5.1 volts. For this tester, I am using a variable power supply that supplies 3V to 24V DC which allows testing of Zener diodes within that range. I generally source electronic components from Aliexpress. Parts List [text within square brackets indicates Aliexpress description]. 1: pair red/black banana jacks [10pcs/lot 4mm Banana Socket Nickel Plated Binding Post Nut Banana Plug Jack Connector Red + Black] 1: round meter [DC 4-100V AC 50-500V Voltmeter LED Digital Display Two-wire Automotive Voltage Current Meter Detector Volt Tester Monitor Panel] 1: DC Power Jack Panel Mount [10pcs/lot 5.5 x 2.1 mm DC Power Jack Socket Threaded Female Panel Mount Connector Adapter with Dustproof Plug DC099] 1: 1K Ohm 1/4 watt resister 1: 3V-24V 2A Variable DC power Adaptor [Adjustable Power Supply Adapter 3V 5V 6V 9V 12V 18V 24V 1A 2A 5A Power Adapter Universal 220V To 12V Adapter Adjustable Charger] Printing No supports or brims are needed. The box is printed with the top oriented on the build plate. Assembly Push the meter through the hole it mounts into. The meter is on the right-hand side and the orientation is with the JST socket at its bottom. Put the black banana jack at the top hole and the red banana jack at the bottom hole; this is because the Zener diode is tested in a reverse direction. The Zener cathode connects to the black jack (+) and the anode of the Zener connects to the red jack (-). Solder a 1K resistor to the red lead of the DC jack; I protected the junction with a little piece of shrink wrap tubing. Wire the red lead of the meter cable to the other end of the resistor. Then solder those two to the black banana jack tab. Solder the black lead of the meter cable to the black lead of the DC power cable; then solder those two wires to the red banana jack. Plug the meter cable into its connectors. Tuck the wires into the interior of the box and press the bottom cover on to the box. To use tester, plug in the variable DC power supply, use a pair of banana plug leads to connect a Zener diode (black lead to the cathode band side of the diode, red lead to the other side of the diode). Increase the voltage of the power supply and note the voltage on the voltmeter. The voltage at some point will reach a maximum regardless of the voltage level of the supply; this is the Zener's voltage. For instance, a 5V1 (1N4733) Zener diode being tested will result in the voltmeter showing 5.1V maximum.
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