Voltage Regulators

[Hal]

I see them a lot....how do they work, what do they do, etc...

This seems like a terrible post, but I really cant find anything helpful online.

[mikeb]

I'd like to know too ... and found this:
http://www.national.com/appinfo/power/files/f4.pdf

Mike

[DDD]

Please read LM317 datasheet. There you'll find all the necessary info.

[David]

I see them a lot....how do they work, what do they do, etc...

This seems like a terrible post, but I really cant find anything helpful online.

Hal:

I just finished a power supply based on Scott Swartz's four-output design.  However, I simplified it by using a standard transformer and connecting four parallel outputs after the regulator.  I had OK results with a wall-wart I had been using before this way, and I'm hoping that the regulation and extra filtering in the new supply will give me the quiet power I need.  I haven't tested it with my pedals yet.

Anyway, my supply has the NTE equivalent of the 7809 regulator on it.  With that chip, when you feed it DC that's about 1.414 V above your desired output voltage and you have filter capacitors before and after the regulator, it puts out the desired voltage.  In my case, I'm getting rock-steady 8.96 volts.

The LM317 is similar to the 78xx series, except you can adjust its output voltage.  R.G.s pedalboard power supply with the dying battery option uses this chip.

[Hal]

thanks guys.  Those data sheets are fairly comprehensive :-D

The applitcaon wasn't actually stomp box related...I wanted to see how much power these things would dissipate if i used them to regulate the output of a hand generator charging a capacitor...for a LED flashlight.

I have to figure out what the maximum voltage i'd see is, though...and if i would possible go too high for the reglator.

[niftydog]

a typical regulator will waste too much voltage for your application. You can get "low drop" regulators which are somewhat more complex, but more suited to your task.

As for useful info on regulators; http://casemods.pointofnoreturn.org/vregtut/tutorial-full.html
http://www.web-ee.com/primers/files/f4.pdf

and the datasheets of the devices themselves are very handy to have!