1N5373/TR8

1N5373/TR8 is a single, silicon, zener diode that has various application fields, including voltage surge protection and voltage regulation. It is widely used in many different types of electrical and electronic equipment as a protecting part, as well as in measurement and control equipment, power supplies, and communication devices.

The 1N5373/TR8’s working principle is actually quite simple. A zener diode is an active device with a negative temperature coefficient, as well as a breakdown voltage that is determined by material doping. It operates in reverse bias, meaning the cathode and anode are reversed, with the reverse current flowing from anode to cathode. When the applied voltage reaches the breakdown voltage, electrons are swept through the junction, producing a reverse-biased current flow.

When the reverse current reaches a certain level, it produces a voltage drop across the diode’s junction and reduces the level of voltage applied. The voltage drop will remain constant regardless of the increase in reverse current. This behaviour of a zener diode is known as the Zener Effect, which helps to protect electrical and electronic components from voltage surges.

1N5373/TR8 is mainly used for voltage regulation application, like protecting voltage sensitive circuits from overvoltage, providing a stable reference voltage, or regulating the output voltage of switching power supplies. It can be connected across a circuit to limit voltage surges, and can act as a voltage regulator if connected in series below the circuit\'s input voltage, with a current-limiting resistor.

Another application of 1N5373/TR8 is voltage measurement, which is done using a Wheatstone bridge circuit with a zener diode. By applying two different voltages on either end of the bridge, the bridge can be balanced and the voltage measured at the junction of the zener diode in the circuit. The zener diode acts as a reference voltage and the measurement of the voltage across it can be used to determine the value of the applied voltages.

The 1N5373/TR8 can also be used in low-frequency oscillator circuits, such as time-delay circuits and pulse generators, as the voltage-regulating device. By adjusting the value of the current-limiting resistor, the output voltage from the oscillator circuit can be adjusted to the desired value.

In summary, the 1N5373/TR8 is a silicon, zener diode with multiple application fields such as voltage regulation, voltage measurement, and low-frequency oscillator circuits. It operates according to the Zener Effect, by producing a voltage drop across the diode’s junction when the applied voltage reaches its breakdown voltage, thus limiting voltage surges and providing a stable reference voltage.