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voltage follower mystery — Parallax Forums

voltage follower mystery

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2001-12-16 19:13 in General Discussion
I am trying to make a very simple voltage follower that generates an
output voltage equal to its input voltage (over a 0 to 5 vdc range).
I tried using an LM358 (from the analog/digital Basic Stamp kit) and
wired it up as a voltage follower, as described in the Analog and
Digital manual (page 13. i.e., 5vdc power to pin 8, ground to pin 4,
connected pin 1 and 2, put input voltage to pin 3 and read output at
pin 1). THe circuit works fine up to 3.75 volts, but the output will
go no higher then 3.75, even when the input is a full 5 volts. What
am I doing wrong, and/or can I use this op amp to follow the voltage
across the whole 0 to 5vdc range?

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-12-16 18:56
    Most op amps will not go "to the rail". Some can go to one supply
    voltage (usually ground), but the amount of current you draw will push
    the upper limit away from the supply voltage. If you want the voltage to
    vary between 0 and 5, you need (for a normal op amp) a larger supply
    voltage like -5 to 10V or something. However, as I said, many op amps
    can go to ground so a 0-9 or 10 or 12V supply would be OK for those.

    The LM358 is a "single supply" op amp. If you get the data sheet look at
    http://www.national.com/ds/LM/LM158.pdf and read the chart labeled
    Output Characteristic Current Sourcing.

    Hope that helps.

    Al Williams
    AWC
    * Floating point A/D
    http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak9.htm

    >
    Original Message
    > From: tomatlarge [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=B5tuY0EvMDm20CZgJSdi6018EVaB_XjpIxaTmR_yL_s_nSB7SdfuEis-ubAkHoG94iqkXQJMpXOJ0XtFGQQ]tomatlarge@y...[/url
    > Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2001 12:48 PM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] voltage follower mystery
    >
    >
    > I am trying to make a very simple voltage follower that generates an
    > output voltage equal to its input voltage (over a 0 to 5 vdc range).
    > I tried using an LM358 (from the analog/digital Basic Stamp kit) and
    > wired it up as a voltage follower, as described in the Analog and
    > Digital manual (page 13. i.e., 5vdc power to pin 8, ground to pin 4,
    > connected pin 1 and 2, put input voltage to pin 3 and read output at
    > pin 1). THe circuit works fine up to 3.75 volts, but the output will
    > go no higher then 3.75, even when the input is a full 5 volts. What
    > am I doing wrong, and/or can I use this op amp to follow the voltage
    > across the whole 0 to 5vdc range?
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-12-16 19:13
    It helps a great deal. I was reading the data sheet while you were
    typing and indeed a 9 vdc power supply fixes the problem--as verified
    on the breadboard. Thanks!

    --- In basicstamps@y..., "Al Williams" <alw@a...> wrote:
    > Most op amps will not go "to the rail". Some can go to one supply
    > voltage (usually ground), but the amount of current you draw will
    push
    > the upper limit away from the supply voltage. If you want the
    voltage to
    > vary between 0 and 5, you need (for a normal op amp) a larger supply
    > voltage like -5 to 10V or something. However, as I said, many op
    amps
    > can go to ground so a 0-9 or 10 or 12V supply would be OK for
    those.
    >
    > The LM358 is a "single supply" op amp. If you get the data sheet
    look at
    > http://www.national.com/ds/LM/LM158.pdf and read the chart labeled
    > Output Characteristic Current Sourcing.
    >
    > Hope that helps.
    >
    > Al Williams
    > AWC
    > * Floating point A/D
    > http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak9.htm
    >
    > >
    Original Message
    > > From: tomatlarge [noparse][[/noparse]mailto:tomatlarge@y...]
    > > Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2001 12:48 PM
    > > To: basicstamps@y...
    > > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] voltage follower mystery
    > >
    > >
    > > I am trying to make a very simple voltage follower that generates
    an
    > > output voltage equal to its input voltage (over a 0 to 5 vdc
    range).
    > > I tried using an LM358 (from the analog/digital Basic Stamp kit)
    and
    > > wired it up as a voltage follower, as described in the Analog and
    > > Digital manual (page 13. i.e., 5vdc power to pin 8, ground to pin
    4,
    > > connected pin 1 and 2, put input voltage to pin 3 and read output
    at
    > > pin 1). THe circuit works fine up to 3.75 volts, but the output
    will
    > > go no higher then 3.75, even when the input is a full 5 volts.
    What
    > > am I doing wrong, and/or can I use this op amp to follow the
    voltage
    > > across the whole 0 to 5vdc range?
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@y...
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > >
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