Shunt Voltage Stabilizer Circuits

Figure 1.  Simple Zener Shunt Stabilizer Circuit Diagram

The circuit in Figure 1 is a simple voltage stabilizer circuit that employs a zener diode and a single resistor.  In this circuit, the zener diode, which is the stabilizing component, is in parallel (or in shunt) with the load, which is why it is also called a shunt stabilizing circuit. The value of R must be chosen so that a 'holding current' of 2 mA will flow into the zener diode even at the lowest input voltage and maximum load current.  The zener diode maintains the output voltage level by 'conducting' the excess current to ground whenever the voltage across it becomes excessive.

Figure 2.  Amplified Zener Shunt Stabilizer Circuit Diagram

The circuit in Figure 2 is another shunt voltage stabilizer circuit that employs an additional NPN transistor to the simple circuit in Figure 1.  In this circuit, the zener diode no longer has to conduct large currents to stabilize the output voltage. The transistor takes care of conducting the excess current whenever the current required by the load drops.  This circuit is also known as the 'amplified zener' shunt stabilizer.