1. Home
  2. Hobby Electronics Basics
  3. Minimum load current

Minimum load current

In the datasheets for regulators does a minimum load current represent the minimum current needed to turn on the regulator?

Thanks, Jon

Reply to
Jon Slaughter
Loading thread data ...

I believe that means the minimum current to have the output voltage within spec.

Reply to
Anthony Fremont

For linear regulators, like the 78xx family, it is the minimum current at which the regulator will meet its specifications. How it fails to meet specs at lower currents is unspecified. :-)

In practice, I don't recall ever seeing a 78xx-type regulator that produced an out-of-spec voltage with only a DVM as a load.

--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI  Vancouver BC, Canada
peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca  
new newsgroup users info : http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca
Reply to
Peter Bennett

ElectronDepot website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.