1. Home
  2. Electronic Components
  3. Low current zener diodes?

Low current zener diodes?

Does anyone sell Zener diodes that hit the constant voltage part of their I-V curve at currents of less than 5mA? I have a datasheet from Microsemi that gives the specs of 1N46xx diodes, and lists a Zener test current of 250uA. These would be great, except that no one seems to actually sell them--it's all "call for quote". Are low-current Zeners only manufactured by special order?

--
Please reply to:            | "Any sufficiently advanced incompetence is
pciszek at panix dot com    |  indistinguishable from malice."
Autoreply is disabled       |
Reply to
Paul Ciszek
Loading thread data ...

Pretty much. Most diodes a just "measured into" a low current by going into the knee. IMHO not a good thing. Central Semi is pretty good:

formatting link
Talk to Charlie Moller, very helpful.

Long story short, most of the time when clients call in with a zener tolerance issue I redesign their units to accept the LMV431 and similar chips. Unless the few cents extra aren't in the cards, then we have to select a new zener.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com
Reply to
Joerg

ElectronDepot website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.