L7805CV 5V Positive Linear Voltage Regulator IC (TO-220)
Electronic Components
₹45
The L7805CV is a classic, highly reliable three-terminal positive linear voltage regulator. It takes a higher unregulated input voltage (between 7V and 35V) and outputs a perfectly stable 5V DC. It is an essential component for powering 5V microcontrollers, sensors, and logic ICs from standard 9V or 12V batteries.
Overview
The L7805CV (often simply referred to as the 7805) is the most famous member of the 78xx series of linear voltage regulators. If you are building a custom PCB or breadboard circuit that needs to power a 5V Arduino, relays, or standard logic gates from a 12V adapter or a 9V battery, this is the IC you need.
Despite the rise of modern switching buck converters, the 7805 remains incredibly popular because it introduces absolutely no high-frequency switching noise into your circuit, making it perfect for sensitive analog sensor readings and audio projects.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Output Voltage | +5V DC |
| Input Voltage Range | 7V to 35V DC |
| Maximum Output Current | 1.5A (with adequate heat sink) |
| Dropout Voltage | 2V (Input must be at least 7V to get 5V out) |
| Quiescent Current | ~5 mA |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to +125°C |
| Package Type | TO-220 (Through-hole, Breadboard friendly) |
Pinout Configuration
Holding the component with the flat side and text facing you, and the pins pointing down, the pinout from left to right is:
- Input (Vin): Connect to your unregulated positive power supply (e.g., +12V).
- Ground (GND): Connect to the common ground of your circuit.
- Output (Vout): The regulated +5V output.
Usage Guidelines & Best Practices
- Decoupling Capacitors: To prevent oscillation and ensure a perfectly smooth 5V output, you must place a 0.33µF ceramic capacitor between the Input pin and Ground, and a 0.1µF ceramic capacitor between the Output pin and Ground. Place these as physically close to the IC pins as possible.
- Heat Management: Linear regulators work by burning off the excess voltage as heat. If you are dropping a 12V input down to 5V at 1 Amp of current, the IC will dissipate 7 Watts of heat. For high-current applications, you must attach a TO-220 heatsink to the metal tab on the back of the IC.
💡 Design Tip: If your input voltage is very high (like 24V), the 7805 will get extremely hot even at low currents. In those scenarios, it is better to use a step-down buck module (like the LM2596) instead.
