|
Share this page
|
Products
Atlas ZEN - Zener Diode Analyser - Model ZEN50
(Latest firmware R1.4) |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| All our ZEN
instruments are calibrated using the same system, you have
an option to buy with or without a certificate of traceable
calibration (which includes the results of a manual
calibration verification process): |
| ZEN50
(£37.50+VAT) |
ZEN50
with certificate (£57.50+VAT) |
|
|
|
|
| Test
Zeners, Avalanche Diodes, VDRs, TVSs and much more
(up to 50V!) |
|
|
|
Easy,
comprehensive and flexible. |
|
 |
| Supports
most Zeners large and small. |
|
- Supports most Zeners,
Avalanche diodes and reference diodes from 0V
up to 50V.
- Great for testing VDRs,
TVSs and other types of voltage protection
devices.
- Selectable test currents:
2mA, 5mA, 10mA and 15mA.
- Also ideal for measuring
the forward voltage of diodes (including
HV/EHT diodes that can have very high forward
voltage drops).
- Tiny duty cycle of test
current to minimise heating of your component
even when testing at 50V and 15mA.
- Measures breakdown
voltage (0.00V to 50.00V) with a resolution as
fine as 20mV.
- Measures slope resistance
(up to 1kΩ at 15mA with a 1Ω
resolution).
- Single Alkaline AAA
battery (included).
- Long battery life and
regulated test conditions even when the
battery voltage is as low as 1.0V.
- Test voltages are below
levels described in the Low Voltage Directive
2006/95/EC.
- Continuous measurement
display (updated 3 times per second).
- Measurement
"hold" function to hold displayed
values even if component is removed.
- Fitted gold plated
crocodile (alligator) clips.
- Very comprehensive
printed user guide.
- 24 month warranty.
|
|
What's
included?
- ZEN50 instrument.
- Comprehensive printed
user guide.
- AAA Alkaline Battery.
- Fitted premium gold
plated croc clips.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Atlas ZEN
measures slope resistance intelligently |
|
|
Slope resistance
can be estimated by measuring the change of current
due to a change of voltage (see red line), but that
assumes that the curve is straight. The result may not
always be accurate.
You can get
closer to the true slope if you use smaller changes of
current. but the measurement resolution can suffer
when dealing with small changes and this can also
impact on slope calculation accuracy.
The Atlas ZEN
derives a curve from 3 points (in blue),
differentiates it, and then calculates the slope at
the actual point you're interested in (shown in
green). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Atlas ZEN
will test LEDs and LED strings too
If you take great
care with connection polarity*, you can test LED
strings from just a few volts all the way up to 50V.
In the example
shown here, a string of 16 Luxeons (Lumileds) are
wired in series to make a 44V string. The Atlas ZEN
will happily test the string of LEDs at the selected
test current and display both the forward voltage and
the slope resistance.
Note however that
the current is applied in very narrow pulses, so your
LEDs won't be illuminated as brightly as you would
obtain for a continuous current of the same magnitude.
*
Please note: If you connect your LEDs the wrong way
round, the voltage generated by the ZEN50 will almost
certainly kill your LEDs, you have been warned. If you
are not 100% confident about the connection polarity,
do not use the ZEN50 to test your LEDs. |
|
|
| |
 |
Atlas
ZEN (ZEN50) and DCA Pro (DCA75) Comparison for
testing Zeners |
 |
| |
Feature |
Atlas
ZEN |
Atlas
DCA Pro |
|
| Zener
voltage range |
0
to 50.0V |
<12V |
| Zener
test current |
2mA,
5mA, 10mA, 15mA |
<5mA |
| Zener
voltage measurement |
Yes |
Yes |
| Slope
resistance measurement |
Yes |
- |
| Curve
tracing |
- |
Yes |
| Test
Signal Resolution |
12
bits |
12
bits |
| Voltage
measurement resolution |
20mV |
3mV |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Atlas
ZEN50 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |
|
| |
Can
the ZEN50 be used in-circuit? |
Not
really. Nothing nasty should happen to your Atlas
ZEN as it can cope with abuse voltages of ±50V. But
your circuit may be exposed to voltages that it is
not designed for. Additionally, other circuit
effects can influence the ZEN's readings. |
|
| Can
I test the VF of diodes and LEDs? |
Yes.
You can even test LED strings with a string voltage
of up to 50V with ease. Take great care not
to connect your LED(s) in reverse though, the test
voltages generated by the Atlas ZEN will exceed the
maximum reverse voltage for most LEDs. |
| What
about precision voltage references, will it test
those? |
The
Atlas ZEN will apply its test currents in short
pulses to your component, it then measures the
resulting voltage across it. The test current pulses
are kept deliberately short (to prevent temperature
rise) so some voltage reference ICs may not respond
fast enough. We have tested many however with no
problem. |
| How
is the slope resistance measured? |
The
Atlas ZEN automatically tests your device over a
span of test currents and internally generates a
fitted curve. The curve is mathematically
differentiated to calculate the slope at your
selected test current. This is more accurate than
simply averaging the slope between a pair of test
currents. |
| How
much voltage is generated by the ZEN? |
The
Atlas ZEN generates voltages of up to 60V in order
to be able to test components that require up to
around 50V to operate. Both the voltage and current
are electronically limited. The voltages are below
levels described in the Low Voltage Directive
2006/95/EC. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Summary specifications
(at 25°C unless otherwise specified): |
|
Parameter
|
Min.
|
Typical
|
Max.
|
Notes
|
| Zener voltage
range (Vz)
|
0.0V
|
|
50.0V
|
|
| Nominal test
currents (Iz)
|
2mA,
5mA, 10mA, 15mA
|
|
| Set test current
accuracy
|
±1%
±0.2mA
|
|
| Zener voltage
measurement accuracy
|
±1%
±40mV
|
|
| Zener voltage
measurement resolution
|
20mV
|
|
40mV
|
|
| Test voltage into
an open circuit (pulsed)
|
|
|
60V
|
1
|
| Test current into
a short circuit (pulsed)
|
|
|
35mA
|
|
| Test current duty
cycle
|
0.1%
|
1%
|
5%
|
2
|
| External abuse
voltage
|
|
|
±50V
|
|
| Slope resistance
measurement range
|
0Ω
0Ω
0Ω
0Ω
|
|
8000Ω
3200Ω
1600Ω
1000Ω
|
Iz=2mA
Iz=5mA
Iz=10mA
Iz=15mA
|
| Displayed Slope
resistance resolution
|
|
5Ω
2Ω
1Ω
1Ω
|
|
Iz=2mA
Iz=5mA
Iz=10mA
Iz=15mA
|
| Slope resistance
measurement accuracy
|
|
±1%
±10Ω
±1% ±4Ω
±1% ±2Ω
±1% ±2Ω
|
|
Iz=2mA
Iz=5mA
Iz=10mA
Iz=15mA
|
| Slope resistance
current span
|
(Iz-50%)
to (Iz+50%)
|
|
| Slope resistance
measurement method
|
Differentiation
of curve that fits:
(Iz-50%,Vz1), (Iz,Vz2) and
(Iz+50%,Vz3)
|
|
| Measurement rate
|
|
3Hz
|
|
|
| Auto-off period
|
|
60
seconds
|
|
|
|
Battery
type
|
AAA
Alkaline
x 1
|
|
|
Battery
voltage range
|
0.9V
|
|
1.6V
|
|
| Low battery
warning
|
1.0V
± 0.05V
|
|
| Dimensions (excl.
leads)
|
103x70x20mm
|
|
| Operating
temperature
|
10°C
|
|
40°C
|
|
Specifications subject to change.
E&OE. |
Notes:
1. 60V pulsed DC satisfies lower limit of
75V(DC) for Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC.
2. Duty cycle of test current designed to keep power
dissipation of Zener under test to very low levels. |
| |
|
|
|
