The first drawing (with the fuse replaced by the current limiting resistor) should have worked. Could you have the Zener backwards? Have you measured the voltage across the Zener? It could be the Zener has failed.
The first drawing (with the fuse replaced by the current limiting resistor) should have worked. Could you have the Zener backwards? Have you measured the voltage across the Zener? It could be the Zener has failed.