The LM117 adjustable three-terminal regulator is capable of actively supplying 1.5A excess over an output range of 1.2V to 37V. It is very easy to use and only requires two external resistors to set the output voltage. Also, two-wire and load regulation is better than standard fixed regulators. In addition to higher performance than fixed regulators, the LM117 provides complete overload protection only available in integrated circuits. Included in the chip are current limiting, thermal overload protection and safe area protection. All overload protection circuits remain fully functional even if the adjustment terminals are disconnected. Typically, it is not necessary unless the capacitor means are located more than 6 inches from the input filter capacitor, in which case input bypassing is necessary. An optional output capacitor can be added to improve transient response. Adjusted termination can be bypassed to achieve very high ripple rejection ratios that are difficult to achieve with standard three-terminal regulators. In addition to replacing fixed voltage regulators, the LM117 is useful in a variety of other applications. Since the regulator is "floating" and considers only the input-to-output differential voltage, a supply of several hundred volts can be adjusted as long as the maximum input-output differential is not exceeded, (ie, avoid shorting the output). Additionally, it makes a particularly simple adjustable switching regulator, a programmable output regulator, or a fixed resistor connected between the adjust pin and the output, the LM117 can be used as a precision current regulator. Shutdown can be achieved with electronics by clamping the adjustable terminal to ground which programs the output to 1.2V most loads consume very little current. For applications requiring larger output currents, see the data sheets for the LM150 (3A) and LM138 (5A). For the negative complement, see the LM137 datasheet.