Overview
By using a common 78L05 along with an integrated audio amplifier like the TDA2030, you can easily create a customizable voltage regulator that performs excellently. This regulator allows you to adjust the output voltage up to 20 V, with a maximum current of 3 A. Thanks to the built-in thermal and short-circuit protection circuit in the TDA2030, this regulator is also very sturdy. The schematic demonstrates how simple yet effective this circuit design is. Apart from the two ICs, the regulator only requires two potentiometers and a handful of capacitors.
Hardware Components
To make this Circuit, you’ll need the following hardware components to get started:
| S.no | Components | Value | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Integrated Circuit IC | IC1 = 78L05 IC2 = TDA2030 | 1 1 |
| 2 | Capacitors | C1 ,C2 ,C3 = 100n C4 = 100µ 63V | 3 1 |
| 3 | Potentiometer | P1 ,P2 = 25k | 2 |
Schematic
To adjust the voltage, start by turning potentiometer P1 all the way to its maximum position (with the wiper towards the 78L05 side). Then, adjust trimpot P2 until you reach your desired maximum output voltage. Afterward, P1 allows for fine-tuning the voltage anywhere between this maximum and close to zero volts. If the output current is low, there’s no need for specific cooling measures. However, if the output current exceeds 1 A or if there’s a significant voltage difference between input and output, the amplifier IC will generate a lot of heat and using a small heatsink becomes necessary.
