1. Introduction In this project, you will be building a zener diode regulator to maintain a constant output voltage of 5.6 V at a load independent of changes in the load current. The circuit is based on a zener diode, bipolar junction transistor, silicon diode and resistors. 2. Description Zener diode is a special type of diode designed to reliably allow current to flow "backwards" when a certain set reverse voltage, known as the Zener voltage, is reached. Zener diodes are widely used in electronic equipment of all kinds and are one of the basic building blocks of electronic circuits. They are used to generate low-power stabilized supply rails from a higher voltage and to provide reference voltages for circuits, especially stabilized power supplies. They are also used to protect circuits from overvoltage, especially electrostatic discharge (ESD). Zener Diodes can be used to produce a stabilized voltage output with low ripple under varying load current conditions. By passing a small current through the diode from a voltage source, via a suitable current limiting resistor (Rs), the zener diode will conduct sufficient current to maintain a voltage drop of Vout. 3. Project Requirements a. Design a zener diode regulator to maintain a constant output voltage of 5.6 V at a load independent of changes in the load current. There will be two designs. The first design comprised of a zener diode and resistances only. The second design will be comprised of a zener diode along with a transistor and other components to improve the previous design. Simulate your designs showing load voltages at different load resistances and by changing the supply voltage. b. c. Build your design on the bread board; check that your design meets the above requirements and the simulation results. d. Prepare a final report for your project. The final rubric is given below with detail information of grading.

Fig: 1