Can I substitute a standard diode for a zener diode?
In a simple amplifier circuit. I'm aware of the functional differences, but I'd be okay so long as the the potential never exceeded the former zener diode's breakdown voltage, right?
Answer:
Presumably the zener is there for a reason. The critical voltage will be the reverse breakdown on your new diode. If the zener is limiting the voltage for some reason then you may have a problem. All most all diodes have a high reverse breakdown. If the zener is supposed to clamp the input due to an anticipated condition you will most likely let that spike or surge through.
As long as you can predict that the zener voltage will never be exceeded go ahead, but if you aren't sure look for a zener. They are not that expensive these days.
All diodes have a breakdown point (it can be high). In general, a zener diode is used to clamp at a specific voltage. If you use a standard diode, how do you know that it will clamp at a specific voltage? Maybe if you test it and verify the breakdown voltage. The zener diode usually has a very sharp breakdown point, where a normal diode operating in the breakdown region can have a less sharp (higher resistance) breakdown point.
A piece of diode trivia. The actual zener effect is a low-voltage phenomenon. So "zener" diodes that breakdown above ~6 volts are usually going through good old-fashioned avalanche breakdown.
If you are using the zener diode to establish a biasing voltage. You could use several normal diodes to provide the required voltage. For example three 1N4148's in series could give you a 2.1v reference. (See web link below) But this kind of novel approach is more from a hobbist's standpoint.
In general, you need to know what the function the zener diode is playing and then to assess if a normal diode could do the job. It is not a blanket substitution. Zener diode has unique characteristics that it serves well in.
http://www.rason.org/projects/transaud/t...
Depending on the circuit, if you are not using the zener to establish a voltage level, then I assume you could just eliminate the diode all together.
Since the voltage would never reach breakdown voltage.
Just a thought.
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Answer:
Presumably the zener is there for a reason. The critical voltage will be the reverse breakdown on your new diode. If the zener is limiting the voltage for some reason then you may have a problem. All most all diodes have a high reverse breakdown. If the zener is supposed to clamp the input due to an anticipated condition you will most likely let that spike or surge through.
As long as you can predict that the zener voltage will never be exceeded go ahead, but if you aren't sure look for a zener. They are not that expensive these days.
All diodes have a breakdown point (it can be high). In general, a zener diode is used to clamp at a specific voltage. If you use a standard diode, how do you know that it will clamp at a specific voltage? Maybe if you test it and verify the breakdown voltage. The zener diode usually has a very sharp breakdown point, where a normal diode operating in the breakdown region can have a less sharp (higher resistance) breakdown point.
A piece of diode trivia. The actual zener effect is a low-voltage phenomenon. So "zener" diodes that breakdown above ~6 volts are usually going through good old-fashioned avalanche breakdown.
If you are using the zener diode to establish a biasing voltage. You could use several normal diodes to provide the required voltage. For example three 1N4148's in series could give you a 2.1v reference. (See web link below) But this kind of novel approach is more from a hobbist's standpoint.
In general, you need to know what the function the zener diode is playing and then to assess if a normal diode could do the job. It is not a blanket substitution. Zener diode has unique characteristics that it serves well in.
http://www.rason.org/projects/transaud/t...
Depending on the circuit, if you are not using the zener to establish a voltage level, then I assume you could just eliminate the diode all together.
Since the voltage would never reach breakdown voltage.
Just a thought.
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