# KVL for a circuit with Zener diode

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

In my book the KVL for the above circuit is written as: Vss+Ri+vD=0. I really don't understand why all the signs are positive. I would go around the loop and write Vss-Ri-Vout=0 or Vss-Ri+vD=0.

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• Have a look at en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_sign_convention Sep 6, 2021 at 4:15
• Jack, Thanks for the addition of the first circuit with its sign convention. That helps a great deal. So keep that kind of thing up in future questions, too. +1 for this one.
– jonk
Sep 6, 2021 at 5:59

Your schematic wasn't completely annotated. The following is:

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

Note that I've added the sign for the resistor. Here, it is always the case that the (+) is placed where the assumed current enters the resistor. By definition, this is the more positive end of the resistor, and is the only way to arrange it that is consistent with the assumed current direction. I've also added the full current circle with added arrows, so that the entire assumed current loop is shown, as well.

For KVL, you can go around in either direction and you should get the same result. Let's do both.

Clockwise:

$$0\:\text{V} + V_{_\text{SS}} + I\cdot R_1 + V_{\text{D}} = 0\:\text{V}$$

and, counter-clockwise:

$$0\:\text{V} - V_{\text{D}} - I\cdot R_1 - V_{_\text{SS}} = 0\:\text{V}$$

Of course, $$\V_{_\text{D}}\$$ is negative according to your schematic's shown polarity for it, not positive.

So if we take it that $$\V_{_\text{SS}}=10\:\text{V}\$$ and $$\V_{_\text{D}}=-5.6\:\text{V}\$$ and that $$\R_1=1\:\text{k}\Omega\$$, then by either equation above we'd find that $$\I=-4.4\:\text{mA}\$$. Which means we got the direction wrong. But that's all. It doesn't affect the result that we know both the magnitude and also the direction of $$\I\$$.

• Thank you jonk, but the book proceeds and draw the load line with a negative value for both vd and i. So the direction is negative ?
– Jack
Sep 6, 2021 at 6:37
• @Jack Sure. Your circuit shows a chosen direction for $I$. It doesn't matter what the chosen direction is. Because the results are the same. What matters is what you do with that information. SInce they decided to keep that current direction, then yes the value is negative. That's fine. It's often easier to keep things positive and make a decision to change the arrow for the current once you know the sign. But you don't have to do that. You can stick with the choice. If so, you have to stick with the fact that $I$ is negative. And they defined the fact that $V_{_\text{D}}$ is negative.
– jonk
Sep 6, 2021 at 6:39
• @Jack The whole idea here is that you stay consistent to your choices. You will get messed up every time if you are "flexible" about this. Mathematics itself does not care in the least. It works equally well with all choices, so long as retain a rigorous, strict, and consistent approach. You are the only one that may get confused by signs. Math is never confused. If you apply mathematics consistently, you get consistent results. The only thing left is what's called "interpretation." And that is a very human thing.
– jonk
Sep 6, 2021 at 6:42
• Ok, thank you. It seems that the directions don't have any merit and we can conclude whatever we want at the end.
– Jack
Sep 6, 2021 at 6:43
• @Jack Yes. So long as you just apply the mathematics in a consistent fashion, you will get results that are sound (starting with true assumptions, applying valid logic, and then reaching sound conclusions in the end.) "Sound conclusion" means "true assumptions" coupled with "valid logic." Once you have results from this process, it is up to you to "interpret them." (It is not "sound" if one or more of your axioms [assumptions] are not true or if the applied logic is somewhere not valid.) Soundness is the combination of both true axioms and valid logic.
– jonk
Sep 6, 2021 at 6:46

The reason all the signs are positive is because some of those $$\V_{SOMETHING}\$$ values may work out (and in fact must work out) to be negative.

If you know what all the polarities of all the $$\V_{SOMETHING}\$$ values ahead of time, you could do as you say, and add the ones you know to be positive, and subtract all the ones you know are negative, to have a expression that must equal zero. This approach is a legitimate application of KVL.

I could describe this as a walk around town, going from McDonalds up the hill to Walmart, then down the hill again to the gas station, over the bridge and back to McDonalds. You absolutely must end up at the same elevation you started with (unless you're flying, or swimming in tarmac). But in that scenario it's clear when you're going uphill, adding to your elevation, and it's obvious when you're descending, subtracting from your elevation, all information which may not be so apparent in whatever circuit you are analysing.

If we assume the bottom node of this circuit (the battery negative) is at 0V, I know for certain that it's impossible to have a negative voltage appear anywhere else, because there are no reactances like capacitors or inductors, and there are no dynamic voltages anywhere. Therefore I can say with absolute certainty that as I take a walk around this circuit counter-clockwise, starting at the bottom of the diode, the first jump across the diode has to entail an increase in potential. That is, I know that the top (cathode) of the diode is higher in potential that the bottom, and I can add.

As I continue my journey, I am certain that the jump across R will incur another rise in potential, because of what I know about the relationship between current direction through, and voltage polarity across resistors. So, again, I add.

When I jump downwards across the battery (from its positive terminal to negative), I know that this will represent a decrease in potential, because the negative terminal is obviously lower in potential than the positive, so I subtract. Now I am back where I started, so I know I must have traversed a total of zero volts, giving us this expression:

$$V_D + V_R - V_{SS} = 0V$$

After you solve everything, you will get positive values for all terms, because you accounted for polarities ahead of time, in the equation itself. Alternatively, you could go clockwise around the loop (as you did), and get this expression:

$$V_{SS} - V_R - V_D = 0V$$

Again solving all the equations would yield positive values for all terms, which may seem odd considering we have literally negated every single one. Don't forget, though, the equations include the KCL ones, and in the latter clockwise version, current was also reversed (negated).

Knowledge of polarites ahead of time, and using that knowledge to construct expressions containing corresponding additions and subtractions, is a legitimate application of KVL and KCL, but only works if you know the polarites beforehand.

Your sticking point seems to stem from the fact that frequently one does not know what the polarities are, or current directions. If you were blindfolded, and unable to ascertain whether you were going uphill or downhill during your walk, you are simply forced to build the expression:

$$V_D + V_R + V_{SS} = 0V$$

This expression is also valid, but the difference is that solving all the equations would necessarily yield negative value(s) for one or more terms here, for it to possibly be true.

The usual application of KVL would have you add every term, because:

• Frequently you cannot know ahead of time whether potential will rise or fall as you traverse each component in the loop.

• It alleviates any ambiguity arising from some assumption you've made about the polarity of potential difference across some component, and accordingly included some negative in the list of terms.

When adding all terms, resisting the urge to throw in some subtraction because you already know the polarity, the sign of each value you obtain when solving the resulting equations will represent whether the potential increased or decreased during that particular leg of the journey. If you start putting negatives in your KVL and KCL expressions, you are imposing your own idea of polarities and direction, without letting the numbers speak for themselves.

Also, it doesn't matter which direction you walk around the loop. If you go in the direction of actual current flow, after you solve all the KCL and KVL equations, you will find that every time you traverse a resistor, potential will decrease, because current always flows from high potential to low, and the corresponding voltage term will be negative. If you walk around the loop in the direction opposing real current flow, the opposite will be true.

As far as current is concerned, the same principle applies. Since you probably don't know current directions beforehand, KCL is usually applied by simply adding all the terms, equating that sum to zero, and letting the solved terms' signs tell you about direction.

It all boils down to this: if you avoid explicitly casting some term as negative (a subtraction) when constructing your KCL and KVL equations, then the signs of all the currents and all the voltages that emerge from the solution tell you everything you need to know about voltage polarity or current direction. Together the signs and magnitudes of all the solved terms tell the whole story, without you muddying the waters by throwing in a subtraction somwehere.

It's very important to label all currents and voltages on the schematic with direction and polarity prior to applying KVL and KCL, so you can refer to (and possibly correct) them later. If, for instance, on your diagram you indicated a current flowing to the right, but your solved value for that particular current turns out to be negative, that simply means that current is actually flowing to the left. The solution will be valid and correct without you trying to account for direction in your KCL equation, and even if you got the arrow direction wrong in the first place.

If you wish, after you've solved everything, then for any negative values you find in the solution, you may legitimately reverse the associated arrow (or polarity) on your schematic, and change the sign of its value to positive. This can certainly make the schematic easier for others to read after the analysis.

#### EDIT:

By the way, I wish to alleviate some of the stress and confusion that the author of that text may have caused you. Maybe he has some reason for labelling things the way he did, but I was truly horrified by some aspects.

For instance $$\I_D\$$ is clearly pointing the wrong way, since there's no possibilty that current in this circuit could actually be flowing in that direction.

On top of that, $$\I_D\$$ appears to be forward biasing the diode, and you would be forgiven for thinking that the voltage across it would be 0.7V, as can be seen in the diode's characteristic curve. Even the polarity symbols on the schematic show it this way, leading you to assume that the voltage at the top of the diode (its cathode) must be less than its anode.

If you were to apply KVL and KCL using these assumptions, you would get some contradictory results. I initially started out writing a whole solution, including what to do when this anomally became formally apparent, but it got so complicated that I abandoned trying to show this to you.

I assume he did all this to reflect the context of a reverse-biased zener diode, but I confess it's angered me a little, and I really don't think it's a good approach.

I mean, it's even implying that the output is negative! It's just all mixed up and muddied, to my mind. I dread to think what the section on PNP bipolar transistors looks like.