1N4745CP/TR12

Diodes - Zener - Single

The 1N4745CP/TR12 is a single Zener diode, which offers single pole overvoltage protection solutions. It is a medium power diode suitable for a wide range of applications. Its application field and working principle are described in this article.

Application Field

The 1N4745CP/TR12 Zener diode is used in different application fields of electronics, such as in voltage regulation and noise suppression. Some of the applications include:

• Clipping circuits to limit or clip the voltage level.
• In complementing diodes to regulate batteries.
• In flyback diodes for overvoltage protection in power supply.
• In voltage multiplier circuits for supplying high voltage.
• In regenerative feedback amplifier circuits to stabilize the voltage levels.
• In booster circuits for boosting a signal.
• In noise suppression circuits.
• In voltage regulation circuits.

Working Principle

A Zener diode is a special type of diode which follows these two principles:

• A reverse biased Zener diode experiences a large reverse voltage when it is connected to an external source with the intention of allowing current to flow through.
• When the reverse bias voltage exceeds the Zener voltage, the Zener diode becomes forward biased, providing conduction of current without affecting the voltage.

The 1N4745CP/TR12 offers a wide range of reverse bias voltage which can be set by adjusting the applied voltage. This is done by connecting the diode to a source of alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) with a small step-down transformer which acts as the Zener voltage supply. When the voltage across the Zener diode exceeds its breakdown voltage, the diode starts conducting current, thereby regulating the voltage. When the voltage drops below the breakdown voltage, the current is interrupted, cutting off the overvoltage condition.

The 1N4745CP/TR12 Zener diode also offers the valuable feature of thermal overload protection. The overload protection is provided by the Zener diode\'s internal thermal shutdown circuit, which monitors the device temperature and decides whether to shut off the conduction of current. This ensures that the diode does not keep supplying current in the event of a high voltage overload.

Conclusion

The 1N4745CP/TR12 Zener diode is a versatile device that offers single pole overvoltage protection solutions for different applications. It is suitable for a wide range of electronics applications, such as in voltage regulation and noise suppression. The working principle of the 1N4745CP/TR12 Zener diode involves a reverse biased Zener and forward biased Zener current flow. The protection feature of the device is provided by the internal thermal shut-down circuit which monitors the device temperature.