2.4 V regulation with a ±5% window — what that means for your rail
The 1N6309 is a 2.4 V Zener diode from Microchip Technology, rated at 500 mW maximum power dissipation in a DO-35 axial-lead glass package. The ±5% tolerance means the actual Zener voltage for any given unit falls between 2.28 V and 2.52 V — tight enough for a low-voltage clamp or a crude shunt reference, but not a precision bandgap substitute. At 2.4 V and 500 mW, the maximum continuous current is about 208 mA before hitting the power limit; derate above 25°C ambient as the junction-to-ambient thermal resistance climbs. The 30 Ω maximum Zzt impedance means the regulation voltage shifts by up to 300 mV for a 10 mA change in current — design the bias current stable if you need a fixed output voltage.
Temperature range and package — where this diode survives
The operating junction temperature spans -65°C to 175°C, which covers military/aerospace cold-soak and high-temp industrial environments like engine-bay or downhole electronics. The DO-35 glass body is hermetically sealed — it withstands moisture and thermal shock better than epoxy-molded packages, though the axial leads require through-hole mounting or a formed-lead surface-mount adapter. Reverse leakage is specified at 100 µA maximum when 1 V is applied — low enough for most bias and clamp circuits, but not suitable for nano-power wake-up references where every microamp counts.