12V, 600mA Step-Down Voltage Regulator D36V6F12

Overview

The D36V6x family of buck (step-down) voltage regulators generates lower output voltages from input voltages as high as 50 V. They are switching regulators (also called switched-mode power supplies (SMPS) or DC-to-DC converters), which makes them much more efficient than linear voltage regulators, especially when the difference between the input and output voltage is large. This family includes seven versions with fixed output voltages ranging from 3.3 V to 15 V and two adjustable versions that can be set using a trimmer potentiometer:

● D36V6F3: Fixed 3.3V output

● D36V6F5: Fixed 5V output

● D36V6F6: Fixed 6V output

● D36V6F7: Fixed 7.5V output

● D36V6F9: Fixed 9V output

● D36V6F12: Fixed 12V output

● D36V6F15: Fixed 15V output

● D36V6ALV: Adjustable 2.5 - 7.5 V output

● D36V6AHV: Adjustable 4 - 25 V output

The regulators feature short-circuit/over-current protection, and thermal shutdown helps prevent damage from overheating. The boards do not have reverse-voltage protection.

Details

Features

● Input voltage: 12.2 V to 50 V (minimum input subject to dropout voltage considerations; see the dropout voltage section for details)

● Output voltage: 12 V with 4% accuracy

● Maximum output current: 600 mA (see the maximum continuous output current graph below)

● Fixed 2.1 MHz switching frequency

● High-voltage enable input can put the board into a low-power state where it draws less than 2 μA (typical)

● Low quiescent current: < 0.2 mA (see the quiescent current graph below)

● Over-current and short-circuit protection, over-temperature shutoff

● Small size: 0.5" x 0.4" x 0.1" (13 mm x 10 mm x 3 mm)

● Weight: 0.5 g

Connections

This regulator has four connections: shutdown (SHDN), input voltage (VIN), ground (GND), and output voltage (VOUT).

The SHDN pin can be driven low (under 1.25 V) to turn off the output and put the board into a low-power state (< 2 μA typical). The regulator is enabled by default, and this input can be left disconnected if you do not need this feature.

The input voltage, VIN, powers the regulator. Voltages between 4 V and 50 V can be applied to VIN, but for versions of the regulator that have an output voltage higher than 4 V, the effective lower limit of VIN is VOUT plus the regulator’s dropout voltage, which varies approximately linearly with the load (see below for graphs of the dropout voltage as a function of the load). Additionally, please be wary of destructive LC spikes (see below for more information).

The four connections are labeled on the back side of the PCB and are arranged with a 0.1" spacing along the edge of the board for compatibility with solderless breadboards, connectors, and other prototyping arrangements that use a 0.1" grid. You can solder wires directly to the board or solder in either the 4x1 straight male header strip or the 4x1 right-angle male header strip.

Pololu step-down voltage regulator D36V6Fx/D24V6Fx/D24V3Fx next to a 7805 voltage regulator in TO-220 package.