Electronic – Amount of output current needed by voltage regulator

currentpowervoltage-regulator

I am trying to choose a voltage regulator. One of the metrics I keep seeing is output current, e.g. "Output current up to 800 mA".

Does that mean the sum of current that the rest of my circuit draws, and is connected to the regulator supply, has be to < 800 mA? E.g. if I have (these are mostly made up):

  • MCU at 50 mA
  • sensor at 20 mA
  • LCD screen at 100 mA
  • bluetooth chip at 40 mA
  • memory module at 60 mA

Then my output current from the regulator, which is powering all these, has to be at least 270 mA (= 50 + 20 + 100 + 40 + 60)?

Best Answer

The "maximum output current" spec for a voltage regulator is indeed the maximum current it can deliver to a load (with an appropriate heatsink,and due consideration for the power loss due to the input/output voltage differential).

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