Comments on: Standalone Voltage Regulator

By: Layer

Layer — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:39:14 +0000

Nice little project. Very similar to what I’m currently working on. My regulator uses a DC barrel jack for using a wall-wart. Although I do like the idea of throwing a rectifier in there, I currently only have a diode. I’ve also added a power switch. The board is the basis for a modular prototyping system I’m working on, similar to the Arduino/TinkerKit combination. One nice thing about your approach is the cost. I don’t think I could sell mine for less than $12. Anyhoo, just wanted to give you a thumbs-up for getting your stuff out there, whereas I’m forever stuck in the design phase

By: Working Man

Working Man — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 03:58:01 +0000

Trencher brings up a very interesting insight- many folks have wall warts for devices they no longer use. The rectifier addition would allow easy adaptation to other devices.

Thanks for this EZ looking circuit,

W.M.

By: Trencher

Trencher — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:30:46 +0000

Why not throw a rectifier in there and have a idiot proof voltage input as well as being able to use ac wall warts too. Just a thought.

By: vic

vic — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:45:55 +0000

Aaron, you only need a diode across the regulator if the input can be short-circuited, and the output has some relatively big capacitors. Here the input stays floating if is is disconnected.

Anyway a small but pretty useful project. What you could do too is modify a standard 3-4.5-6-7.5-9-12V power supply to output a more useful and more stable 3.3V and 5V instead of 3V and 4.5V.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:33:48 +0000

shouldn’t you put a diode back across the regulator to prevent damaging the regulator with back current when the input power is disconnected

By: s1axter

s1axter — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:23:40 +0000

Yes, input and output voltages are DC.

There have been some comments on the Make blog about using a heatsink. The LM78XX gets quite warm under load, a heatsink is a smart move. I will update the instructions with some pictures tonight.

By: David Dukes

David Dukes — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:16:03 +0000

I assume the volts are DC not AC

By: Standalone Voltage Regulator | myBitBox

Standalone Voltage Regulator | myBitBox — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:07:45 +0000

[...] a bit of soldering I had a working unit. Rather than just keep my new unit to myself I did a detailed write-up on how you can make this standalone regulator using parts from [...]

By: C Code Systems » Regulator kits now available

C Code Systems » Regulator kits now available — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:48:14 +0000

[...] These regulator kits are designed to provide filtered and regulated power in a standalone package. This kit includes all parts required to assemble the regulator as documented on myBitBox.com. [...]