Comments on: Standalone Voltage Regulator

By: Blue Eyes

Blue Eyes — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:55:26 +0000

The parts list is missing the screw terminals - RS part # 276-1388.

By: Tatters

Tatters — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:39:59 +0000

Great project - thanks for posting! I am interested in putting this together but require a total of three power outputs. Are there any changes to the design in order to do this (aside from adding the extra outputs)? Also, do the voltage requirements change because of the extra outputs?

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 [...]