TL084 As Voltage Follower

operational-amplifier

I'm planning to use a TL084 JFET quad op-amp with each op-amp configured as a voltage follower (datasheet). Some questions:

  1. Does Vcc+ have to equal -Vcc-? i.e. can I set them to Vcc+=15V, Vcc-=-8V?
  2. I'm planning to run the op-amp in a non-inverting follower configuration with the input V+ between -4V and 12V. The input common-mode voltage range says -12,15 V. Does this mean I can output any voltage between -4V and 12V in this configuration?
  3. The output short-circuit current is listed at 60 mA. Can I safely assume that my voltage follower can source ~60 mA of current?
  4. Should I be adding any passive components to this circuit to make sure it is stable?

Best Answer

  1. No, no reason for them to be equal, so long as you observe the maximum (and minimum recommended) total voltage and keep inputs within the common-mode range.

  2. The minimum common mode range is +/-11V with a +/-15V supply. With supplies +15 and -8 you will have a common mode range of +11/-4. The input will work in this range, in the follower configuration.

  3. Certainly not. The current is guaranteed to be less than 60mA. It's a minimum of only 10mA and that's with a 15V supply. Use the output swing numbers. With a +/-15V supply it can supply +/-10V to a 2K load (5mA). It might be a bit less with a 22V supply compared to 30V, but probably in that range.

  4. Voltage followers are prone to oscillation if the load is capacitive, otherwise this amplifier is compensated to be unity-gain (the way you are using it) stable.

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