When is a Zener not a Zener??
If is voltage is over 6 volts, technically it’s an avalanche diode. Here’s an engineering text quote that explains rather well: “The zener effect refers to removing bound electrons from outer shells by means of an electric field. In other words, as a reverse voltage is applied to a diode, an electric field appears at the junction. When this field is intense enough, outer-shell electrons are dislodged, resulting in a significant increase in reverse current. The avalanche effect is different. In this case, when the diode is reverse biased, minority carriers are flowing. For higher reverse voltages these minority carriers can attain sufficient velocity to knock bound electrons out of there outer shells. These released electrons then attain sufficient velocity to dislodge more bound electrons, etc. The process is well named, since it is suggestive of an avalanche.” As noted, the voltage where the zener effect leaves off and the avalanche effect takes over is approximately 6 volts. More acc
