Electronic – LTspice model for LM317 and the calculators gives different output voltages for the same resistors values

lm317ltspice

I found LTspice model for LM317 in a very trustable recommended source, downloaded and simulated the following circuit:

enter image description here

As you see above in LTspice for R1=240 and R2=1.5k the output voltage is around 9.46V.

But online calculators calculates for the same resistors different output voltages than LTspice. Here some examples:

If someone encountered this or eligible to verify whether the LTspice model is correct, why is there big difference? Is this LTspice model reliable?

Best Answer

The correct nominal voltage according to datasheet calculations is 9.138V (min 8.775, maximum 9.50 resulting from the reference voltage tolerance, ignoring resistor tolerances and adjust current tolerance)

The equation is: \$V_O = V_{REF} (1+R_2/R_1) + (I_{ADJ} R_2)\$

The 9.06V (nominal) calculator results from ignoring the effect of the 50uA nominal Iadj current.


Edit:

There are a number of LM317 models installed in LTSpice (at least in mine). The first one I tried (unknown source) yielded an output voltage of 9.125V, close enough. The second, a MOT model yielded 9.636V, which is a bit out of spec. The MOT-2 model oscillates (lol) with 100n or 1uF - supposedly not needed for stability- and yields 9.161V with 10uF. The TI and TI-2 models both give 9.467V- close to being out of spec.

The 240 ohm resistor is really putting load that is less than it should be on the output (though you'll see it a lot), so might want to try again with a significant load on the regulator- nope with a 2K load in addition the voltage on MOT is 9.635V, pretty much as you'd expect with it being in regulation sans load. TI model similarly drops about 1 mV with the extra 5mA load.

The results don't really engender a lot of confidence in the results being very accurate at DC.