Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
5volt power supply — Parallax Forums

5volt power supply

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2000-12-03 23:28 in General Discussion
It is quite fashionable to use a 7805 regulator to provide 5 volt power from
a 12 volt power source (read car battery). Because of the large voltage gap
between the car battery and the 5 volt output, considerable power is wasted
as heat. The major advantages of using the 7805 are simplicity and cost. A
power supply can be built on a tiny board at a very low cost. However, the
heat becomes a problem, especially at somewhat high (300-400ma) power
levels.

I am looking for a way to build a power supply on a relatively small board
at a reasonable cost that could avoid, or at least minimize this thermal
problem. Suggestions would be appreciated as would a CC reply to my e-mail
address.

TIA

Vic

________________________________________________________

Victor Fraenckel - The Windman vfraenc1@n...
KC2GUI www.windsway.com

Home of the WindReader Electronic Theodolite
Read the WIND

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-12-03 13:21
    A good heatsink can solves most of problems. Steped cascaded regulators
    also help to share the heat.
    To improve efficiency a switching DC-DC converter is the choice.
    There are many manufacturers of isolated or non isolated modules with
    reasonable prices. PowerTrends have 78xx similar regulators but
    switchers. Now company was purchased by Texas and was difficult to me to
    locate a specificic module.

    ACJacques


    Vic Fraenckel wrote:
    >
    > It is quite fashionable to use a 7805 regulator to provide 5 volt power from
    > a 12 volt power source (read car battery). Because of the large voltage gap
    > between the car battery and the 5 volt output, considerable power is wasted
    > as heat. The major advantages of using the 7805 are simplicity and cost. A
    > power supply can be built on a tiny board at a very low cost. However, the
    > heat becomes a problem, especially at somewhat high (300-400ma) power
    > levels.
    >
    > I am looking for a way to build a power supply on a relatively small board
    > at a reasonable cost that could avoid, or at least minimize this thermal
    > problem. Suggestions would be appreciated as would a CC reply to my e-mail
    > address.
    >
    > TIA
    >
    > Vic
    >
    > ________________________________________________________
    >
    > Victor Fraenckel - The Windman vfraenc1@n...
    > KC2GUI www.windsway.com
    >
    > Home of the WindReader Electronic Theodolite
    > Read the WIND
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-12-03 16:46
    Hi Vic,

    Power Trends makes little switcher modules that work very well. A bit
    pricey, but very cool and most require no external components (some require
    an external cap). A little more noise on the output compared to a 7805 as
    you might expect.

    I've used them. They have been hard to get but now that TI bought them,
    maybe that'll let up some.

    Look up Power Trends on DigiKey's site or http://www.powertrends.com/

    Regards,

    Al Williams
    AWC
    * New! 20MHz PAK-I does math twice as fast -- act now and save $5.
    http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak1.htm


    >
    Original Message
    > From: Vic Fraenckel [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=5xGemllg4ehqlQbhgE6ia4LZ0QGrryJcAk7qAbtonMJclw1sT6rFz35sEOZnToIFjtoIthgptC3aH4qNGDtIHg]vfraenc1@n...[/url
    > Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 5:12 AM
    > To: Stamp Mailing List
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 5volt power supply
    >
    >
    > It is quite fashionable to use a 7805 regulator to provide 5 volt
    > power from
    > a 12 volt power source (read car battery). Because of the large
    > voltage gap
    > between the car battery and the 5 volt output, considerable power
    > is wasted
    > as heat. The major advantages of using the 7805 are simplicity and cost. A
    > power supply can be built on a tiny board at a very low cost. However, the
    > heat becomes a problem, especially at somewhat high (300-400ma) power
    > levels.
    >
    > I am looking for a way to build a power supply on a relatively small board
    > at a reasonable cost that could avoid, or at least minimize this thermal
    > problem. Suggestions would be appreciated as would a CC reply to my e-mail
    > address.
    >
    > TIA
    >
    > Vic
    >
    > ________________________________________________________
    >
    > Victor Fraenckel - The Windman vfraenc1@n...
    > KC2GUI
    > www.windsway.com
    >
    > Home of the WindReader Electronic Theodolite
    > Read the WIND
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-12-03 19:06
    Vic-
    Switchers are the elegant (and expensive)
    solution, but first take
    a good look at your loads. What is taking most of
    the current?
    If it is relays or indicators(lamps, LEDs, etc.),
    most of these can
    be made to work from the 12v itself, thus
    bypassing the regulator.
    Just a thought.
    --Stu

    Original Message
    From: Vic Fraenckel <vfraenc1@n...>
    To: Stamp Mailing List <basicstamps@egroups.com>
    Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 3:11 AM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 5volt power supply


    > It is quite fashionable to use a 7805 regulator
    to provide 5 volt power from
    > a 12 volt power source (read car battery).
    Because of the large voltage gap
    > between the car battery and the 5 volt output,
    considerable power is wasted
    > as heat. The major advantages of using the 7805
    are simplicity and cost. A
    > power supply can be built on a tiny board at a
    very low cost. However, the
    > heat becomes a problem, especially at somewhat
    high (300-400ma) power
    > levels.
    >
    > I am looking for a way to build a power supply
    on a relatively small board
    > at a reasonable cost that could avoid, or at
    least minimize this thermal
    > problem. Suggestions would be appreciated as
    would a CC reply to my e-mail
    > address.
    >
    > TIA
    >
    > Vic
    >
    >
    __________________________________________________
    ______
    >
    > Victor Fraenckel - The Windman
    vfraenc1@n...
    > KC2GUI
    www.windsway.com
    >
    > Home of the WindReader Electronic
    Theodolite
    > Read the WIND
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-12-03 20:00
    At 06:11 AM 12/3/00 -0500, Vic Fraenckel wrote:
    >It is quite fashionable to use a 7805 regulator to provide 5 volt power from
    >a 12 volt power source (read car battery). Because of the large voltage gap
    >between the car battery and the 5 volt output, considerable power is wasted
    >as heat. The major advantages of using the 7805 are simplicity and cost. A
    >power supply can be built on a tiny board at a very low cost. However, the
    >heat becomes a problem, especially at somewhat high (300-400ma) power
    >levels.
    >
    >I am looking for a way to build a power supply on a relatively small board
    >at a reasonable cost that could avoid, or at least minimize this thermal
    >problem. Suggestions would be appreciated as would a CC reply to my e-mail
    >address.

    National Semiconductor simple switcher series - you can build a 5V 1A power
    supply on a 1" square board.

    dwayne



    Dwayne Reid <dwayner@p...>
    Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA
    (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax

    Celebrating 16 years of Engineering Innovation (1984 - 2000)

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
    Do NOT send unsolicited commercial email to this email address.
    This message neither grants consent to receive unsolicited
    commercial email nor is intended to solicit commercial email.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-12-03 21:56
    Vic:
    Marlin P. Jones has a neat switcher for $15. You can't build it for that
    price. It may be larger than you want, about 3"x5"x1.25".

    10-20V in
    OUTPUTS:
    +5V @2a
    +12V @ 0.1a
    -12V @ 0.125a
    +20V @ 0.02a

    stock #12588
    www.mpja.com

    Ray McArthur

    Original Message
    From: Vic Fraenckel <vfraenc1@n...>
    To: Stamp Mailing List <basicstamps@egroups.com>
    Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 6:11 AM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 5volt power supply


    > It is quite fashionable to use a 7805 regulator to provide 5 volt power
    from
    > a 12 volt power source (read car battery). Because of the large voltage
    gap
    > between the car battery and the 5 volt output, considerable power is
    wasted
    > as heat. The major advantages of using the 7805 are simplicity and cost. A
    > power supply can be built on a tiny board at a very low cost. However, the
    > heat becomes a problem, especially at somewhat high (300-400ma) power
    > levels.
    >
    > I am looking for a way to build a power supply on a relatively small board
    > at a reasonable cost that could avoid, or at least minimize this thermal
    > problem. Suggestions would be appreciated as would a CC reply to my e-mail
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2000-12-03 23:28
    Vic:
    ^Try to find a 78SR05,
    This is a switchmode regulator that have all components inside.
    it's just a little bigger than a 7805 .
    and the powerdisipation (heat) is gone.
    Best regards , Cees.

    Original Message
    From: "Ray McArthur" <rjmca@u...>
    To: <basicstamps@egroups.com>
    Cc: <vfraenc1@n...>
    Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 10:56 PM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 5volt power supply


    > Vic:
    > Marlin P. Jones has a neat switcher for $15. You can't build it for that
    > price. It may be larger than you want, about 3"x5"x1.25".
    >
    > 10-20V in
    > OUTPUTS:
    > +5V @2a
    > +12V @ 0.1a
    > -12V @ 0.125a
    > +20V @ 0.02a
    >
    > stock #12588
    > www.mpja.com
    >
    > Ray McArthur
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: Vic Fraenckel <vfraenc1@n...>
    > To: Stamp Mailing List <basicstamps@egroups.com>
    > Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 6:11 AM
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] 5volt power supply
    >
    >
    > > It is quite fashionable to use a 7805 regulator to provide 5 volt power
    > from
    > > a 12 volt power source (read car battery). Because of the large voltage
    > gap
    > > between the car battery and the 5 volt output, considerable power is
    > wasted
    > > as heat. The major advantages of using the 7805 are simplicity and cost.
    A
    > > power supply can be built on a tiny board at a very low cost. However,
    the
    > > heat becomes a problem, especially at somewhat high (300-400ma) power
    > > levels.
    > >
    > > I am looking for a way to build a power supply on a relatively small
    board
    > > at a reasonable cost that could avoid, or at least minimize this thermal
    > > problem. Suggestions would be appreciated as would a CC reply to my
    e-mail
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
Sign In or Register to comment.