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Load and Line Regulation

Line regulation refers to maintaining a constant output voltage despite changes in input voltage, while load regulation maintains constant output despite changes in load. There are two main types of regulators: series and shunt. A Zener voltage regulator uses a Zener diode to maintain a constant voltage across the load. It works by varying the current through the Zener diode and series resistor to compensate for changes in input voltage or load current, keeping the output voltage constant. However, Zener regulators are less efficient for heavy loads and the Zener impedance can slightly affect the output.

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1K views

Load and Line Regulation

Line regulation refers to maintaining a constant output voltage despite changes in input voltage, while load regulation maintains constant output despite changes in load. There are two main types of regulators: series and shunt. A Zener voltage regulator uses a Zener diode to maintain a constant voltage across the load. It works by varying the current through the Zener diode and series resistor to compensate for changes in input voltage or load current, keeping the output voltage constant. However, Zener regulators are less efficient for heavy loads and the Zener impedance can slightly affect the output.

Uploaded by

Abhay
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LOAD AND LINE REGULATION

Line regulation

Line regulation is the ability of the power supply to maintain its specified output voltage
over changes in the input line voltage. It is expressed as per cent of change in the output
voltage relative to the change in the input line voltage.

Load Regulation

Load regulation is the ability of the power supply to maintain its specified output voltage
given changes in the load. This does not mean the tolerance applies when there are
sudden changes in load, it means over the permissible load range the regulation can
change by this amount.

Types of Regulators
Regulators can be classified into different categories, depending upon their working
and type of connection.
Depending upon the type of regulation, the regulators are mainly divided into two
types namely, line and load regulators.
 Line Regulator − The regulator which regulates the output voltage to be
constant, in spite of input line variations, it is called as Line regulator.
 Load Regulator − The regulator which regulates the output voltage to be
constant, in spite of the variations in load at the output, it is called as Load
regulator.
Depending upon the type of connection, there are two type of voltage regulators.
They are

 Series voltage regulator


 Shunt voltage regulator
The arrangement of them in a circuit will be just as in the following figures.

Let us have a look at other important regulator types.

Zener Voltage Regulator


A Zener voltage regulator is one which uses Zener diode for regulating the output
voltage. We have already discussed the details regarding Zener diode in BASIC
ELECTRONICS tutorial.
When the Zener diode is operated in the breakdown or Zener region, the voltage
across it is substantially constant for a large change of current through it. This
characteristic makes Zener diode a good voltage regulator.
The following figure shows an image of a simple Zener regulator.

The applied input voltage ViVi when increased beyond the Zener voltage VzVz,


then the Zener diode operates in the breakdown region and maintains constant
voltage across the load. The series limiting resistor RsRs limits the input current.
Working of Zener Voltage Regulator
The Zener diode maintains the voltage across it constant in spite of load variations
and input voltage fluctuations. Hence we can consider 4 cases to understand the
working of a Zener voltage regulator.
Case 1 − If the load current ILIL increases, then the current through the Zener
diode IZIZ decreases in order to maintain the current through the series
resistor RSRS constant. The output voltage Vo depends upon the input voltage Vi
and voltage across the series resistor RSRS.
This is can be written as
Vo=Vin−IRsVo=Vin−IRs

Where II is constant. Therefore, VoVo also remains constant.


Case 2 − If the load current ILIL decreases, then the current through the Zener
diode IZIZ increases, as the current ISIS through RS series resistor remains
constant. Though the current IZIZ through Zener diode increases it maintains a
constant output voltage VZVZ, which maintains the load voltage constant.
Case 3 − If the input voltage ViVi increases, then the current ISIS through the
series resistor RS increases. This increases the voltage drop across the resistor,
i.e. VSVS increases. Though the current through Zener diode IZIZ increases with
this, the voltage across Zener diode VZVZ remains constant, keeping the output
load voltage constant.
Case 4 − If the input voltage decreases, the current through the series resistor
decreases which makes the current through Zener diode IZIZ decreases. But the
Zener diode maintains output voltage constant due to its property.
Limitations of Zener Voltage Regulator
There are a few limitations for a Zener voltage regulator. They are −

 It is less efficient for heavy load currents.


 The Zener impedance slightly affects the output voltage.
Hence a Zener voltage regulator is considered effective for low voltage applications.
Now, let us go through the other types of voltage regulators, which are made using
transistors.

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