BZT55C12-GS18

Diodes - Zener - Single

The BZT55C12-GS18 is a single Zener diode from Semtech’s broad range of semiconductor products. It is designed for applications such as voltage regulation, voltage clamping, circuit protection, stability enhancement, signal conditioning and ringing suppression.

Application Field

The BZT55C12-GS18 diode has extensive applications in power supplies, LED backlighting, and signal conditioning. In power supplies, Zener diodes are used in linear applications and switch mode power supplies (SMPS) to regulate the output voltage. They can also be used as voltage clamps to protect sensitive components in circuits from over-voltage conditions. For example, they can be used in automotive and industrial applications to provide protection against over-voltage conditions caused by things such as electrostatic discharge. In LED backlighting, Zener diodes can also be used to provide an efficient means of controlling the current in a lighting application. And in signal conditioning applications, Zener diodes can be used to provide a clean signal output, such as in audio applications.

Working Principle

A Zener diode is a type of diode that works on the reverse leakage principle. In essence, when a Zener diode is reverse biased (i.e., the anode is more negative than the cathode) the diode allows current to flow in the reverse direction, through the diode, until a pre-defined voltage level is reached known as the “Zener voltage”. This is the voltage at which the diode “breaks down”, allowing a current to flow from cathode to anode. This reverse leakage current is known as the “Zener current”.

For the BZT55C12-GS18 diode, this Zener voltage is 12V and the maximum Zener current is 18mA. This means that when the reverse bias voltage applied to the diode exceeds 12V, it will allow a maximum reverse leakage current of 18mA to flow. As the reverse bias voltage increases, the Zener current also increases linearly, up to the maximum of 18mA.

Aside from the Zener effect, the BZT55C12-GS18 diode also has a number of other features which make it suitable for wide range of applications. It has a high temperature coefficient, which means that it can be used in high temperature applications without the risk of excessive reverse leakage current due to thermal runaway. It also has low capacitance, making it suitable for RF applications where low channel insertion loss is required. Finally, it has an even forward voltage drop and a low reverse conduction characteristic, making it suitable for circuit protection applications.

In summary, the BZT55C12-GS18 is a single Zener diode from Semtech’s broad range of semiconductor products. It has a Zener voltage of 12V and a maximum Zener current of 18mA. It has a variety of applications such as voltage regulation, voltage clamping, circuit protection, stability enhancement, signal conditioning and ringing suppression, and is suitable for high temperature, RF and circuit protection applications.