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Voltage Regulators thermaling out — Parallax Forums

Voltage Regulators thermaling out

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2000-11-22 22:31 in General Discussion
I have a circuit that is running at about 300ma draw. We are using a 1Amp 7508. The circuit is in an enclosed case and after about 5-10 minutes the 7805 gets too hot and shuts down. It "cuts" for about 20ms but that is long enough to reset the stamp. are there any ideas on keeping the 7805 cool? Since it is in an enclosed box adding a heat sink didnt help much. We have also tried using 3amp and 5amp versions but with the same results. Thank you for any assistance.

MH

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-11-14 05:48
    Mike:
    If your box is metal, preferably aluminum, You bolt the regulator tab to the
    case. Usually, you have to use insulated mounting because the tab is
    connected to one of the regulator pins. Thermal grease can be used for
    better conduction.

    If the case is non-metallic, an external power resistor can sometimes be
    used to decrease the voltage that the regulator must drop, depending on load
    and input voltage.

    Ray McArthur

    Original Message
    From: Michael Hendricks <mjh80@b...>
    To: <basicstamps@egroups.com>
    Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 12:18 AM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Voltage Regulators thermaling out


    I have a circuit that is running at about 300ma draw. We are using a 1Amp
    7508. The circuit is in an enclosed case and after about 5-10 minutes the
    7805 gets too hot and shuts down. It "cuts" for about 20ms but that is long
    enough to reset the stamp. are there any ideas on keeping the 7805 cool?
    Since it is in an enclosed box adding a heat sink didnt help much. We have
    also tried using 3amp and 5amp versions but with the same results. Thank you
    for any assistance.

    MH
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-11-14 09:30
    Michael
    What is your input voltage?
    For each 3.3v difference with the 5v output, you get 1 watt dissipation.
    Let assume that the input is at 12v, you stoke 2.1 watt in the regulator. This is sufficient to make it very hot if not cooled.

    Original Message
    From: Michael Hendricks
    To: basicstamps@egroups.com
    Sent: mardi 14 novembre 2000 06:18
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Voltage Regulators thermaling out

    I have a circuit that is running at about 300ma draw. We are using a 1Amp 7508. The circuit is in an enclosed case and after about 5-10 minutes the 7805 gets too hot and shuts down. It "cuts" for about 20ms but that is long enough to reset the stamp. are there any ideas on keeping the 7805 cool? Since it is in an enclosed box adding a heat sink didnt help much. We have also tried using 3amp and 5amp versions but with the same results. Thank you for any assistance.

    MH
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-11-14 10:53
    Thanks for the suggestions. I am using diodes to step the voltage down (Each PN gate has a 6/10ths of a volt drop.) I am dropping the 12V to 8 and this seems to me a large differance. Thank you again for the suggestions.

    MH

    Original Message
    From: ECO
    To: basicstamps@egroups.com
    Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 4:30 AM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Voltage Regulators thermaling out

    Michael
    What is your input voltage?
    For each 3.3v difference with the 5v output, you get 1 watt dissipation.
    Let assume that the input is at 12v, you stoke 2.1 watt in the regulator. This is sufficient to make it very hot if not cooled.

    Original Message
    From: Michael Hendricks
    To: basicstamps@egroups.com
    Sent: mardi 14 novembre 2000 06:18
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Voltage Regulators thermaling out

    I have a circuit that is running at about 300ma draw. We are using a 1Amp 7508. The circuit is in an enclosed case and after about 5-10 minutes the 7805 gets too hot and shuts down. It "cuts" for about 20ms but that is long enough to reset the stamp. are there any ideas on keeping the 7805 cool? Since it is in an enclosed box adding a heat sink didnt help much. We have also tried using 3amp and 5amp versions but with the same results. Thank you for any assistance.

    MH
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-11-14 14:39
    Micheal,

    The 7805 is a very cheap regulator, which is why it is used so often,
    however for some projects, a better, yes more expensive regulator is
    to be preferred. For most of my projects I use Power Trends Switching
    Regulators. They are made to replace 7805's and do a wonderful job of
    taking up to 30 volts and giving a flat 5.000 with little to no heat.

    Digi-key has them. IF the project can accept some cost increase this
    is a wonderful solution.

    Just a suggestion,

    Ron A.


    --- In basicstamps@egroups.com, "Michael Hendricks" <mjh80@b...>
    wrote:
    > I have a circuit that is running at about 300ma draw. We are using
    a 1Amp 7508. The circuit is in an enclosed case and after about 5-10
    minutes the 7805 gets too hot and shuts down. It "cuts" for about
    20ms but that is long enough to reset the stamp. are there any ideas
    on keeping the 7805 cool? Since it is in an enclosed box adding a
    heat sink didnt help much. We have also tried using 3amp and 5amp
    versions but with the same results. Thank you for any assistance.
    >
    > MH
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-11-14 14:50
    I have used these as well. Since TI bought them they have been hard to get
    but I suspect that will change soon. They are much larger, and they are
    switchers, so they are noiser, but because they are switchers they are very
    efficient and very little heat even when converting 28V to 5V. Be sure to
    leave lots of room on the board.

    Regards,

    Al Williams
    AWC
    *Floating point math for the Stamp, PIC, SX, or any microcontroller at
    http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak1.htm


    >
    Original Message
    > From: ronaldsa@e... [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=QmqwRjDDV3h21GaxdIo_5TaTgRrPRDO1NQ7ssz2HIW_VnKAohjyz1k1r-awjJ7hRCJ4G-F_MPvMvV-327A]ronaldsa@e...[/url
    > Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 8:39 AM
    > To: basicstamps@egroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: Voltage Regulators thermaling out
    >
    >
    >
    > Micheal,
    >
    > The 7805 is a very cheap regulator, which is why it is used so often,
    > however for some projects, a better, yes more expensive regulator is
    > to be preferred. For most of my projects I use Power Trends Switching
    > Regulators. They are made to replace 7805's and do a wonderful job of
    > taking up to 30 volts and giving a flat 5.000 with little to no heat.
    >
    > Digi-key has them. IF the project can accept some cost increase this
    > is a wonderful solution.
    >
    > Just a suggestion,
    >
    > Ron A.
    >
    >
    > --- In basicstamps@egroups.com, "Michael Hendricks" <mjh80@b...>
    > wrote:
    > > I have a circuit that is running at about 300ma draw. We are using
    > a 1Amp 7508. The circuit is in an enclosed case and after about 5-10
    > minutes the 7805 gets too hot and shuts down. It "cuts" for about
    > 20ms but that is long enough to reset the stamp. are there any ideas
    > on keeping the 7805 cool? Since it is in an enclosed box adding a
    > heat sink didnt help much. We have also tried using 3amp and 5amp
    > versions but with the same results. Thank you for any assistance.
    > >
    > > MH
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-11-22 22:31
    Michael,
    Do you have a capacitor to ground on the output pin3 of the 7805?
    Experiment with different values. This may help with the 20ms drop-out.
    Also, you may consider enclosing your project in a metal box and bolt the
    7805 to the inside of the box. This will act as a big heat sink.




    --- Michael Hendricks <mjh80@b...> wrote:
    > I have a circuit that is running at about 300ma draw. We are using a
    > 1Amp 7508. The circuit is in an enclosed case and after about 5-10
    > minutes the 7805 gets too hot and shuts down. It "cuts" for about 20ms
    > but that is long enough to reset the stamp. are there any ideas on
    > keeping the 7805 cool? Since it is in an enclosed box adding a heat sink
    > didn't help much. We have also tried using 3amp and 5amp versions but
    > with the same results. Thank you for any assistance.
    >
    > MH
    >


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