Originally Posted by jevs Is there anything negative about using a Zener diode
Thanks |
Only if you are using NEGATIVE voltage
Seriously, I have used zener supplies in some applications, The draw back is if the current varies greatly, then there is a lot of wasted energy across the high wattage resister required, you have to design the resistor required for the maximum load, in other words the load at max. will drop the voltage required and the zener will be hardly conducting, but at minimum current the zener will be conducting and dropping the required voltage across the series resitor, this can result in high wattage resistors and high wattage zener.
Only working the required numbers will tell you if it is feasable.
Al