can multiple voltage regulators be run in parallel? Each terminating in a separate output? IE - the inputs are tied together but the outputs are separated.
I put together a small board hoping to break an 18V 400mA wall wart into 4
Yes, you can connect 4 inputs of 4 regulators to the same source, if the regulators have different loads. But the total load current of all 4 outputs can not exceed 400mA before the input will start dropping.
How much is the load current for each output?
-Bill
You might first check how much current you're using. Too much, and you might be bogging dowm the wall wart. If not, there's no problem with using the 18V to make multiple 9V supplies, as long as you don't connect their outputs together (double-check your wiring here). (see other post for more information).
Good luck Chris
So what would be causing the Vout to drop to 8V? its consistent across all 4 regulators.
Operator error?
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How much current are you drawing from the four outputs? As Chris said, if you are drawing too much current the wall wart output voltage will drop.
Can you measure the voltage at the input to the regulators? It will need to be >12V (approx. depends on the regulator) for your regulators to operate correctly.
Gareth.
For the test I ran I was drawing ~5mA. But I read 8V at the regulators when there is no load at all.
What does the input voltage drop to when the output voltage is 8?
Maybe its time for a new battery in that multimeter?
A good test would be to check the voltage across a 9v battery with the same meter.
The other possibility is that your regulators are either bad, or they are oscillating. Put a small load on them, and also use a 0.01uF (10nF) cap across the output.
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