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Zener diode transfers current forward and backward, while traditional diodes are only capable of transferring current forward.

Many different electronic systems use Zener diodes to control their circui's voltage levels.

While there are several ways of doing this, Zener diodes provide efficient voltage regulation without damaging the diode itself.

How Zener Diodes Work
Zener diode acts like a regular diode as current moves in a forward direction in its circuit.

However, when a large enough voltage is applied to the diode in the reverse direction, it travels against the current from the output to the input.

Zener diodes can limit the amount of current that passes through them so that the voltage going backward limits the voltage going forward.

Advantages
Zener diodes are very small and can be integrated into virtually any electronic device, especially small circuits that cannot accommodate other forms of voltage regulation technology.

Zener diodes are also relatively inexpensive and are compatible with most other systems, making them the preferred voltage regulation device.

Hi, dear, do you want to know what size bridge you need to use when replacing? Here I want to share with you my experience.

I get variations of this question quite often, such as: I don't see the bridge used in the Atari AC power "brick"....

My Tempest manual says I need a MDA3501 bridge & I can't find one....What's a suitable replacement for my T3501... and so on.

Like diodes & many other components, the key is usually in the part number. I have added more info on the Parts Page beside each one listed to better aid you.

But I will put a brief note here, as well. In both the examples cited above the bridge is ...from the part number.... a 35[amp]01[ 100 volt].

Generally speaking the first digit/s will refer to the amperage that the bridge is capable of handling & the ending digit/s the voltage it is capable of handling.

As Scotie would say...if you put a 2501 in place of the cited bridge, she's gonna blow!... since the bridge is only able to handle up to 25 amps of current even though the 100 volts is sufficient.

You could go to an "02" 200 volt, "04" 400 volt or higher & still end up with a blown bridge. You need to at least meet both amperage & voltage of the original when replacing.

A good replacement for the cited bridge would be a 3502... disregarding mrf's prefix or suffix.... for 35 amps & capable of handling 200 volts before popping a leg.

Much like sister components.... diodes, capacitors & resistors, you can safely go beyond specs, but not below.

1N4001 [1A50v] can be replaced by any in the series up to 1N4007 [1A1000V]
100uF 160V cap can be replaced by a 100uF 200V or better cap
220 ohm 1/4w resistor can be replaced by a 220 ohm 1/2w resistor

We Kingtronics are a professional bridge rectifier manufacturer. And we have got ISO9001:2008 Certification and UL certification.

If you have inquiry for our bridge rectifier, pls send email to info@kingtronics.com thanks!

There are a number of different electronic devices which tend to be called diodes.

Although they're made differently they all have three things in common.

They have two leads like a resistor.
The current they pass depends upon the voltage between the leads.
They do not obey Ohm's law!

As an example we will use a typical diode called a pn-junction. This allows us to explain behaviour of diodes.

The function of a diode is to allow current in one direction and to block current in the opposite direction.

The terminals of a diode are called the anode and cathode. There are two kinds of semiconductor diodes: a P-N junction diode, which forms an electrical barrier at the interface between N- and P-type semiconductor layers, and a Schottky diode, whose barrier is formed between metal and semiconductor regions.

Remember, however, that there are other sorts of diodes which are built differently but show the same general behaviour.

Variable resistors used as potentiometers have all three terminals connected. This arrangement is normally used to vary voltage, for example to set the switching point of a circuit with a sensor, or control the volume (loudness) in an amplifier circuit. If the terminals at the ends of the track are connected across the power supply then the wiper terminal will provide a voltage which can be varied from zero up to the maximum of the supply.

Kingtronics are potentiometers manufacturer since 1990. Trimming potentiometers are Kingtronics' first products. RKT-3006 is one of the Trimming potentiometers,It is used where very precise adjustments must be made.RKT-3006 has 3 terminal styles:3006W, 3006P, 3006Y. The screw must be turned many times (10+) to move the slider from one end of the track to the other, giving very fine control.

Multilayer ceramic capacitors consist of electrodes, the interleaved ceramic dielectric and the external terminal connectors. The capacitance is given by the description:

A = Electrode area
n = Number of active layers
d = Distance between electrodes
εr = Dielectric relative
ε0 = Dielectric constant

Whilst the values “A x n” and “d” are respectively determined by the production process the dielectric constant is a function of the ceramic material used.

The tantalum capacitor is a highly reliable type of electrolytic capacitor, available in both solid-bodied and separately encased forms.

The encased "wet" variant is not used often in modern designs. Surface mount tantalum capacitors are widely used in circuit designs because of their volumetric efficiency, basic reliability and process compatibility.

Tantalum SMD capacitors are widely used to provide levels of capacitance that are higher than those that can be achieved when using ceramic capacitors.

Solid tantalum chip capacitors are designed and manufactured with the demanding requirements of surface mount technology in mind, there are six cases availble.

We have good quality with RoHS-compliant, have good price and good sevice.

You can find our catalog through http://www.kingtronics.com/products.html pls contact us at any time,we will be pleased to support you!

Photo of product

Tantalum electrolytic capacitors exploit the tendency of tantalum to form a protective oxide surface layer, using tantalum powder, pressed into a pellet shape, as one "plate" of the capacitor, the oxide as the dielectric, and an electrolytic solution or conductive solid as the other "plate". Because the dielectric layer can be very thin (thinner than the similar layer in, for instance, an aluminium electrolytic capacitor), a high capacitance can be achieved in a small volume. Because of the size and weight advantages, tantalum capacitors are attractive for portable telephones, personal computers, and automotive electronics.

Kingtronics short for Kt (logo) produce tantalum capacitors since 1997, include dipped tantalum capacitors (through hole capacitors), general purpose chip tantalum capacitors (surface mount) and Low-ESR chip tantalum capacitors (surface mount).We have a full instruction about Tantalum Capacitors in our website www.kingtronics.com  each series of Tantalum Capacitors have detailed PDF and other information.

Rectifiers find a use in detection of amplitude modulated radio signals. The signal may be amplified before detection, but if un-amplified, a very low voltage drop diode must be used. When using a rectifier for demodulation the capacitor and load resistance must be carefully matched. Too low a capacitance will result in the high frequency carrier passing to the output and too high will result in the capacitor just charging and staying charged.

Kingtronics’s fast recovery rectifier diodes are very popular in the overseas market, According to the rectifier’ s application , Our Kingtronics managing ordinary rectifier diodes, ultra-fast rectifier diodes. In our Kingtronics website www.kingtronics.com ,we have detailed PDF about all kinds of diodes & rectifiers.

Since the voltage dropped across a Zener Diode is a known and fixed value, Zener diodes are typically used to regulate the voltage in electric circuits. Using a resistor to ensure that the current passing through the Zener diode is at least 5mA (0.005 Amps), the circuit designer knows that the voltage drop across the diode is exactly equal to the Zener voltage of the diode.

NEW Click here to visit Zener-Diode.co.uk for a site dedicated to zener diodes, their characteristics, usage, and other information.

Zener Diode Voltage Regulator Circuit

A zener diode can be used to make a simple voltage regulation circuit as pictured above. The output voltage is fixed at the zener voltage of the zener diode used and so can be used to power devices requiring a fixed voltage. Click here to find out more about the Zener Diode Voltage Regulator and how you go about selecting the resistor and zener diode.
NEW The above mentioned article on zener diode voltage regulators has now been updated and a handy calculator has been added to help you select the correct resistor and zener diode values and power ratings.

Zener Diodes in Series With Loads

If you have a regulated fixed voltage - say 12 Volts from a desktop PC power supply, and you want to power something requiring a lower voltage, it is possible to simply place a zener diode in series with the load device. You would choose a diode with a zener voltage equal to the supply voltage minus the voltage drop across the load.

For example, if you have a 1 Watt 6 Volt lightbulb to power from a 12 Watt regulated power supply, a 6.2V zener diode could be placed in series with the bulb giving the bulb 5.8V, or you could overpower the bulb a little using a 5.6V zener diode and dropping 6.4V across the bulb. Heat would be generated in the zener diode so it is essential to calculate the power lost in it so a suitably rated diode could be chosen.

Using a 5.6V zener diode, and knowing the bulb draws a current of around one-sixth of an Amp, we can calculate the power loss in the diode (with Ohm's Law) to be just under 1 Watt. Therefore a standard 1.3 Watt zener diode should be up to the job.

Circuits with Zener Diodes

Zener diodes are key components in the circuits presented in the following articles: Make a Simple Battery Status Monitor, LM741 Voltage Indicator, and High Capacity Alternative to 9V Battery.

Zener diodes are used to maintain a fixed voltage. They are designed to 'breakdown' in a reliable and non-destructive way so that they can be used in reverse to maintain a fixed voltage across their terminals.

Zener diodes can be distinguished from ordinary diodes by their code and breakdown voltage which are printed on them. Zener diode codes begin BZX... or BZY... Their breakdown voltage is printed with V in place of a decimal point, so 4V7 means 4.7V for example.

Kingtronics supplies BZV55C/ZMM55C-SERIES with Low zener impedance,Low regulation factor,Glass passivated junction,High temperature soldering guaranteed:260 C/10S at terminals. Please link http://www.kingtronics.com/pdf/BZV55C.pdf ,you will see all series of our Zener diodes.