Working Principle

The 3EZ33D/TR12 works on the same principle as all other Zener diodes. It is a semiconductor device with a heavily doped P-type semiconductor connected to a heavily doped N-type semiconductor. When the diode is forward biased, it behaves in the same way as a normal diode, allowing electricity to flow in one direction only, with a voltage drop of about 0.7V. When the diode is reverse biased, however, the diode has a breakdown voltage at which the majority of the current begins to flow from the P-type semiconductor to the N-type semiconductor.

The 3EZ33D/TR12 is designed to have a Zener breakdown voltage of 33V, meaning that when the reverse bias voltage reaches 33V, most of the current will begin to flow in the reverse direction, and the voltage drop reduces to about 0.2V or less. This breakdown voltage can be adjusted by changing the doping concentration of the diode, allowing it to be used in a wide range of applications.