Question

I'm using a 3.3V zenor diode as one of the components for a surge protector. I want to add a capacitor and a polarized capacitor in parallel with the zenor diode but I don't know what values I should choose for the two

Answer 1

ANSWER:

Given that

• Zener diode is basically a voltage regulator.
• It doesn't allow many changes in current though there is an increase in voltage.
• The role of capacitors is to reduce the ripples and so that a constant dc voltage will be obtained.
• Now non-polarized capacitors can be used wherever you are planning to have a less voltage supply.
• Due to the dielectric being not chemical, it is unpolarized. So it only offers less capacitance.
• If you add this non-polarized capacitor in parallel with a high voltage supply, they won't get charged resulting in voltage which is less than the required one.
• While the polarized capacitors offer high capacitance due to the dielectric.
• So they can store the required energy and then discharge it at the set time using a resistor. (called as the time constant) but we have to be careful while using these capacitors.
• Connecting them in the wrong direction will damage the capacitor itself and the whole circuit too.
• To generalize, if you want to use high voltages, use polarized capacitors. If not unpolarized capacitors are enough.