The LM78XX series of three terminal regulators are available with several fixed output voltages making them useful in a wide range of applications. One of these is local regulation on the card, eliminating the single point of regulation associated with allocation issues. Allowable voltages for these to be used in systems for logic regulation, instrumentation, audio and other solid state electronics. Although designed primarily as fixed voltage regulators these devices can be used with external components to obtain adjustable voltage and current. The LM78XX series is available in an aluminum TO-3 package which will allow a load current of 1.0A to provide sufficient heat sinking. Current limit is a safe value that includes limiting peak output current. Safe area protection output transistors are provided to limit internal power dissipation. If the internal power dissipation becomes too high to provide heat dissipation, thermal shutdown circuitry is utilized to prevent the IC from overheating. Considerable effort has gone into expanding the LM78XX family to make the regulator easy to use, reducing the number of external components. It is not necessary to bypass the output, although this does improve transient response. Input bypassing is only required when adjusting the power supply capacitors far from the filter. For output voltages below 5V, 12V and 15V other series of LM117 provide an output voltage range from 1.2V to 57V.

Features Output current exceeds 1A
Internal thermal overload protection without external components Output transistor safe area protection Internal short circuit current limiting in aluminum TO-3 package