PZU18B,115

PZU18B.115

Application Field and Working Principle

Zener diodes are semiconductor components which are mainly used for regulating voltages. The PZU18B.115 Zener diode is a single-piece device that has a maximum power of 0.25 watts and a nominal power of 0.2 watts. This diode has a breakdown voltage of 18 V and a nominal current of 115 mA, with a maximum current of 225 mA.

This component can be used for various voltage regulating applications, such as stabilizing power supplies or for configuring systems for low power or low voltage. The device has a reverse breakdown voltage of greater than 18V, which provides a higher level of protection from overvoltage events than other similar components.

The Zener diode operates according to the Zener breakdown effect that exists in the diode when it is reversed biased. As the voltage across the diode reaches its breakdown voltage, electrons start to be pushed away to one direction and move through the depletion region. As the applied potential increases, the depletion region shrinks and the current flow increases steeply until it reaches the breakdown current. A Zener diode regulator works as a voltage regulator by maintaining a nearly constant voltage across its terminals. Therefore, the voltage between its two terminals is clamped to the Zener diode\'s reverse breakdown voltage.

The basic architecture of this component requires two resistors, a capacitor, and a Zener diode. One of the resistors is connected to the source voltage, with the other resistor connected to the load, which is the point in the circuit at which power is dissipated. The capacitor is then connected between the two and is used to smooth the current and reduce ripple. Finally, the Zener diode is connected in such a way that the voltage from the source is cut off when it reaches a particular level. However, the voltage going to the load is still regulated and remains constant as it is not affected by the supply voltage.

The PZU18B.115 Zener diode is used in a variety of electronic circuits, such as voltage regulators, current regulators, and voltage references. This component can be used to protect sensitive electronic components from exposure to high voltages, resulting in increased safety and longer component system lifespans. This diode can also be used to control the voltage in a power supply, or as an indication of when a circuit reaches an overflow condition.