Minimum required current of zener diode

[eem2am]

hello,

do you know what is the minimum "holding" current of the 15V zener here....

**broken link removed**

i would presume that a certain minimum current must flow in order for the zener to actually regulate to its zener voltage?

 

[Audioguru]

That zener diode has its voltage spec'd when it has a current of 5mA. Its regulation is 13.3 times worse and its voltage is lower (but they don't show how much lower) when its current is only 1mA.

A zener diode regulates better when its current is higher.