How to make a zener diode for the desired voltage

Even in today's time of abundance of radio components, there may be an urgent need for a zener diode for a certain voltage. Let’s say the battery charger, which is so needed right now, has “flyed”.

The issue of finding the right parts may arise especially acutely in a small provincial town, where there are no specialized stores, and you don’t really want to order a part and wait a week by mail for a week. And so, suppose that you need a zener diode, say for a voltage of 5 V.

Will need

Diodes 1N4007 - 8 pieces.
Heat-shrink tubing.

How to make your own zener diode for any voltage

It is very easy to make a zener diode from a set of any rectifier diodes connected in series.

Let's take the most common brand 1N4007.

We check for stabilization voltage (drop).

As a result, we get a value of 0.69 V. In fact, this is a ready-made zener diode for low voltage.

It turns out that if you connect 8 diodes in series, the total stabilization voltage can be approximately equal to 5 V, which is actually what is needed.

We bite off the long leads of the diodes and solder them into a single circuit, anode to cathode.

We put on a heat-shrinkable tube, blow it with a hairdryer or a lighter flame.Be sure to remember to mark the cathode with a marker strip.

The zener diode is ready for use.

The stabilization voltage ended up being 5.3 V. In most cases, this deviation will not be critical. Well, if you really need the old one, then you will have to select parts with other parameters.

Result:

It is quite possible to make a stabilizer from diodes for the required voltage. Of course, the stabilization coefficient will be lower compared to a standard product, but you can change the voltage within wide limits. This is especially good when you need to select the stabilization voltage.

When making such an assembly, it is imperative to use diodes of the same brand and, if possible, the same voltage drop on each. This will increase the stabilization coefficient of the entire device.