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How to Protect a Zener Diode

A Zener diode is an electronic component that is used to clamp voltage to a fixed value. As such, Zener diodes must be able to operate with varying magnitudes of electrical current. Like any other electric or electronic component, if a Zener diode is exposed to excess electrical current for a long period of time, it will overheat and fail. One way to protect a Zener diode from excessive current is by adding a resistor in series with it.

Things You'll Need

Electrical wire
Electrical pliers
Crimp-type ring terminals
1-kiloohm resistor
Zener diode
DC power supply

Instructions

- 1
  Cut four pieces of 6-inch-long wire with the pliers. Strip 1/2 inch of insulating material from the ends of each wire segment.
- 2
  Place one of the ring terminals over one end of the first wire. Use the pliers to crimp the terminal to the wire. Place another ring terminal over one end of the second wire. Use the pliers to crimp the terminal to the wire.
- 3
  Twist the cathode lead from the diode, one of the leads from the resistor and the loose end of the first wire together. Twist together one end of the third wire with the free lead from the resistor. Twist together the anode lead from the diode, the loose end of the second wire and one end of the fourth wire.
- 4
  Connect the loose end of the third wire to the positive terminal on the power supply. Connect the loose end of the fourth wire to the negative terminal on the power supply. To use this circuit, connect the output device's positive lead to the ring terminal attached to the first wire. Connect the output device's negative lead to the ring terminal attached to the second wire.

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