HenryAnthony
Mechanical
- Aug 26, 2005
- 4
Hi All!
First post here and I am hoping someone will entertain my simple question. I am a vintage motorcycle enthusiast and am engaged in a discussion about Zener diodes. These old bikes use them to prevent high voltage from entering the circuits and ruining electric equipment.
My position is that the Zener converts excess current into heat which is then dissipated via a heat sink. The reduced current is then sent on its merry way to ground.
My adversaries conclude that the heat is a result of the Zener dumping the excess current to ground.
I say that if the excess current is dumped to ground, then the Zener would be of no use.
Who is correct?
Thanks for any replies!
Henry
First post here and I am hoping someone will entertain my simple question. I am a vintage motorcycle enthusiast and am engaged in a discussion about Zener diodes. These old bikes use them to prevent high voltage from entering the circuits and ruining electric equipment.
My position is that the Zener converts excess current into heat which is then dissipated via a heat sink. The reduced current is then sent on its merry way to ground.
My adversaries conclude that the heat is a result of the Zener dumping the excess current to ground.
I say that if the excess current is dumped to ground, then the Zener would be of no use.
Who is correct?
Thanks for any replies!
Henry