Simple voltage range regulator 2V-4V

[Sebzy]

Looking for some advice on best way to build a DC simple voltage regulator for circuit bending musical instruments. here's the requirements
input : 5-12V @ 1A DC
Output : 2V-4V @ 500mA DC

From a quick search it looks like an LM317 is a possible solution.

[bson]

Well, if you feed it 12V in and 2V out, at 500mA you'll be dissipating 5W.  It'll get pretty hot.

[jeroen79]

And the LM317 may not be able to output 4V from 5V in at 500mA.
A low dropout regulator may be more suitable in that case.
But that will still have the issue of dissipation.

You could also use a switching regulator.
These come as drop down (buck) and also up/down (buck/boost).
These are much more efficient.

[Dmeads]

MY electronics teacher has some amazing videos on linear shunt and series regulators that could absolutely help you out. Please check out that playlist.




also RSD academy on youtube has some great videos on precision voltage regulators.

Watch this part 4:


and part 5 goes over current limiting which should help you out with the 500mA current limit.


I have a good bit of experience with these regulators, and I'm designing some more right now. You can email me if ya want dominic.meads@oit.edu or we can just talk on the forum.

the problem with the LM317 is that it is not very efficent and acts kind like a resistor. It just wastes a bunch of power as heat.

[jeroen79]

the problem with the LM317 is that it is not very efficent and acts kind like a resistor. It just wastes a bunch of power as heat.

This is a problem with all linear regulators, not just the LM317.

Shunt regulators can be worse as the shunt will draw additional current through the dropping resistor and itself, resulting in even more power lost as heat.