Zener Diode Temperature Coefficient

[@MrCircuitMatt]

Excellent video! I love how you kept the part with the 5.1 V Zener even though it didn't match the expected outcome.

[@mjlorton]

MrCircuitMatt Thanks for the feedback Matt.

[@SylwerDragon]

Hi Martin. Yes it is good idea. but there is reason why there is only one zener diode this kind of aplications. First when you know how temperature coeficient your zener diode is..then..you can use software to compensate for it..nothing hard to do..many 7 1/2 digits multimeters are using it.. Owen controlles zeners are used also ..but they are usually expensive also you need many things to be able create good voltage reference. Zener diodes than have very low tempco are hard to get. they test them for many days to be sure they are the best of the best..many old equipment is using them..but they are really hard to get for this exact reason. anyway for simple voltage reference it is nice idea ..simple zener diode..but all components must have very low temco..even resistors... Finally some interesting video :)

[@nov51947]

You're taking me back to my Physics (electronics) labs of forty years ago! Great video!

[@mjlorton]

nov51947 My pleasure, thanks for the post.

[@EcProjects]

Very good video! :) Temp coefficients are often overlooked in electronic design, but can be important.. Nice to see it taken to the breadboard and measured with a big old multimeter..! Nice work.. :)

[@mjlorton]

EcProjects Thanks very much for the feedback. You have a great channel and really nice videos. I've added your channel to my home page list. Cheers, Martin.

[@EcProjects]

Hi Martin ! You're welcome.. And thank you very much for adding my channel.. That's a big helping hand for a small channel like mine. If I can ever help in any way, I'll be happy to return the favor ! -Mads

[@juhoheikkonen9204]

Brilliant video. I have been watching videos for quite some time and i really enjoy them. Your tutorials are very good, even thought i know alot of those.

[@mjlorton]

Juho Heikkonen My pleasure, thanks for the feedback.

[@TheModelmaker123]

How do linear voltage regulators perform compared to Zeners? Quality voltage regulators are pretty bullet proof with overcurrent and over temperature protection as well as being reasonably cheap.

[@TheModelmaker123]

Such as the Fairchild LM78L12ACZ that has a coefficient of -0.65 mv/C

[@davebutler3905]

Have you tried putting the zenner across the base and collector of a BJT? This drastically reduces the current through the zenner too... Resulting in less self heating. Negative temperature coefficient of the BJT may also do the compensation, instead of the extra diode !?

[@tubical71]

Very nice video, Martin! The best for a cheap DIY reference is really to heat the Z-diode (no zener as these diodes only are avaiable below 5V, as they do use the zener effect - all others use the avalance effect to get the reverse voltage drop) Simply hook the Z-diode between two transistors. I use the plasic bc547 and let them dissipate as much power to rise their temp above all ambient temperature the unit will working in. I usually use around 70°C.... Keep those practial research videos commin´as they are a great show for EE!

[@mjlorton]

TubiCal Thanks for the feedback and the informational post.

[@yaghiyahbrenner8902]

why not use the tek and make use of the spectrum analyser and measure noise.

[@Ju00Ls]

Very nice! ;-)

[@mjlorton]

Ju00Ls Thanks for bringing it to my attention ;-)

[@nathanpc]

When doing that it's a good practice to bond them thermally by putting them together, maybe applying a tiny amount of thermal grease.

[@mjlorton]

Nathan Campos Thanks, good suggestion Nathan.

[@vitoralmeida793]

grateful that the definitions inserisse translation because I do not understand much English thank you

[@robertcalkjr.8325]

Thanks Martin.

[@diedraak1]

Why not use a TL431??

[@vitoralmeida793]

please call settings translator of videos thank you I do not know English

[@built2last31]

you live in the usa now you can change the Celsius to Fahrenheit for us yanks

[@MrCircuitMatt]

Hehe but if he changes to Fahrenheit then us non-yanks will be very confused :).

[@robertcalkjr.8325]

***** Why is it stupid? It is pretty simple.

[@MrCircuitMatt]

Robert Calk Jr. Uhm I'm not sure if I should go there, because in the end whatever unit Martin will use is confusing to some of us. Having an international audience, some will be familiar with Fahrenheit while others are used to Celsius. One reason to go for Celsius is that even US manufacturers use this unit in their datasheets, so people interested in electronics should be/get used to it in order to properly understand datasheets. Just my thoughts.

[@robertcalkjr.8325]

MrCircuitMatt That's true, and most of us are actually. They are moving us here slowly to the metric system. The American made automobiles started having SAE & Metric nuts & bolts on them at least in the early 80's. I was a mechanic back then and had to have both sets of tools. They are slowly moving us to Celsius also. My cell phone and most electronic stuff here has a Celsius & Fahrenheit converter. But it's not stupid - all you have to remember is that the freezing point of water is 32 degrees F.

[@MrCircuitMatt]

Robert Calk Jr. Thanks for the info, I didn't know that. And I'm not the one saying the unit is stupid, I just said I had trouble because I'm not too used to it. I appreciate the decimal nature of metric length units but for temperature, you can't even use that as an argument (1 Kilodegree C anyone?), so I don't see why it should be more or less stupid than any other temperature scale.