I follow.
And it will always cut off by the time the cells get to 6 volts. That's safe (the main issue, right ?).
but if the cells are 6.5 volts, the voltage drop across the zener puts 0.9 volts at the control pin, right?
That's in the "undefined logic state" of 'will probably fire'.
In order to get 1.5 volts "the spec ON voltage" with a 5.6 volt zener you would need 7.1 volts from the cells.
This seems to be in the "works most of the time" category.
But, you are probably right because I'm sitting in front of the computer, and too lazy to go see for myself![]()
Rocketman, I think you got this all backwards, or atleast your zener thinking.
When reverse voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage, the full voltage will be applied to the pin. When voltage is lower than the breakdown voltage no voltage will be applied to the pin and the pull down resistor will bring it below .4V
There will not be a voltage drop across the diode since you are reversing it to use the unique resettable breakdown properties of the zener diode.