Zener Shunt Regulator Calculator
Series resistor and power ratings for a zener diode regulator. With the formula, a worked example and typical values.
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Estimate only. Not engineering or safety advice. Check the result against the applicable standard and the equipment data, and have a competent engineer review it before it is relied on. Terms of use.
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About this calculator
This page calculates series resistor, next lower E24 value, resistor power and 1 more result from input voltage, zener voltage, maximum load current and minimum zener current. Change any value or its unit and the result updates. The steps below show the working for the default values, so you can check each line against your own method.
Limits of this calculator
Check the zener power again at the highest input voltage with the load disconnected. A shunt regulator wastes the full current all the time.
Cross-check: 8 reference cases, calculated from textbook formulas coded separately from the engine by the same author, agree with this calculator. This is not an independent review.
Verification status: Engineering reference
Engineering reference. Formula and method documented and tested against separately coded reference calculations. Not yet Verified: the evidence listed on this page is still needed.
What this calculator checks
- The arithmetic of the published formula for the values you entered, in the units shown.
What remains unverified
- That the inputs suit your application. Take ratings, resistances and constants from the manufacturer data sheet or project specification.
Verification register entry
| Calculation author | Rahul Sharma (author) |
|---|---|
| Technical review | No independent technical review has been carried out |
| Individual professional approval | Not recorded |
| Formula reference | not recorded |
| Standard and edition | Not applicable: The ideal shunt-regulator resistor equation is a textbook circuit method. Component tolerance, surge, thermal and safe-operating-area limits are datasheet-specific. |
| Standard review state | Not applicable |
| Scope-screening note | not recorded |
| Cross-check test cases | 8 reference vectors (tests/reference_vectors.json) |
| Review date | not recorded |
| Next review date | not recorded |
| Status | Engineering reference |
Needed before this calculator can be marked Verified: reviewer name, qualification and review date; exact formula reference; formula source (textbook or standard); next review date.
Formula
Worked example
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Input voltage (minimum) | 12 V |
| Zener voltage | 5.1 V |
| Maximum load current | 20 mA |
| Minimum zener current | 5 mA |
- Rs = (12 − 5.1) / (20 + 5) mA = 276 Ω
- Next lower E24 value = 270 Ω
- PR = 6.9² / 276 = 0.173 W
- Pz (no load) = 5.1 × 6.9 / 276 = 0.128 W
Assumptions
- Design at the lowest input voltage and highest load
- Zener voltage is constant over the current range
Check the zener power again at the highest input voltage with the load disconnected. A shunt regulator wastes the full current all the time.
Inputs and results
| Input | Unit | Allowed or shown | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input voltage (minimum) | V | greater than 0 V | |
| Zener voltage | V | greater than 0 V | |
| Maximum load current | mA | 0 mA or more | |
| Minimum zener current | mA | greater than 0 mA | Enough to keep the zener in regulation, from its data sheet |
| Result | Unit | Allowed or shown | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series resistor | Ω | Shown to 1 decimal place | |
| Next lower E24 value | Ω | Shown to 0 decimal places | |
| Resistor power | W | Shown to 3 decimal places | |
| Zener power with the load removed | W | Shown to 3 decimal places |
How it is calculated
Each input is converted to the base unit of its quantity, the formula above is applied in the order shown in the worked example, and each result is shown in the unit you choose. Results are held at full precision and rounded only for display, except where a step selects a standard size, as the worked example shows. A value outside its allowed range is refused with a message instead of giving a result.
How the result changes with input voltage (minimum)
| Input voltage (minimum) (V) | Series resistor (Ω) | Next lower E24 value (Ω) | Resistor power (W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 36 | 36 | 0.023 |
| 12 | 276 | 270 | 0.173 |
| 24 | 756 | 750 | 0.472 |
| 48 | 1,716 | 1,600 | 1.073 |
| 120 | 4,596 | 4,300 | 2.873 |
Other inputs are the same as in the worked example above.
Standards and further reading
These are textbook circuit relationships. The component data sheet sets the real limits, tolerances and ratings, and takes priority over the calculated value.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to enter?
Enter input voltage (minimum), zener voltage, maximum load current and minimum zener current. Change the unit of a value with its selector and the result stays the same.
What does this calculator assume?
Design at the lowest input voltage and highest load. Zener voltage is constant over the current range.
Which calculators should I use next?
Common next steps are LED Series Resistor and Voltage Divider. The related links at the bottom of this page open them.
How accurate are the results?
Every figure comes from the same tested engine as the Elecmetric calculators and is meant for estimating. 8 reference cases, calculated from textbook formulas coded separately from the engine by the same author, agree with this calculator. This is not an independent review. Check design values against the standard and the equipment data you work to.
Formula guides and reference
Longer explanations with worked examples and tables, written for the same topic.
- Zener Regulator Formulas: Series Resistor: Zener diode shunt regulator formulas: series resistor, zener current with and without the load
- Linear Regulator Formulas: Power and Efficiency: Linear regulator formulas: power dissipated, efficiency, minimum input from the dropout
More Electronics and Instrumentation calculatorsAll engineering calculatorsZener Shunt Regulator in Elecmetric