A Linear Voltage Regulator ensures the output voltage from the circuit is maintained at a specific voltage.

The device acts as a variable resistor, continuously adjusting to maintain a constant output voltage. The regulated voltage must be lower than the input voltage. Simple voltage regulator contains a Zener Diode and a resistor but more complicated versions include elements like a voltage reference and error amplifiers.

A more specific type of regulator are Low Dropout Voltage Regulators (LDO) which can regulate voltage even when the power supply voltage is very close to the supply voltage.

How to choose linear voltage regulator ICs?

The primary feature in choosing a regulator is usually the Output voltage as the main purpose of one is to regulate the voltage to a specific value such as 3.3V. Its accuracy to this voltage across temperature and load current is another consideration as is its maximum load. The dropout voltage value will be particularly important with battery applications.

How to test a linear voltage regulator?

Set your multimeter to the voltage setting
Check the datasheet to determine which pins are the ground, input and output.
Attach the red wire to the input and the black wire to the ground, the multimeter should give a reading higher than the regulators' output value. If not then there is a power supply issue.
Attach the red to the ground and the black wire the output, the multimeter should then give the regulators' output value (plus minus its accuracy). If not then the regulator is likely to be faulty.

Analog Devices, 3.3 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 200mA, 1-Channel, ±2% 4-Pin, WLCSP ADP151ACBZ-3.3-R7 £ 0.49 Each (On a Reel of 3000) Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 183-2279 Brand Analog Devices Mfr. Part No. ADP151ACBZ-3.3-R7	Analog Devices	3.3 V	200mA	WLCSP	Fixed	Surface Mount	2.2 V	5.5 V	4	-	-40 °C	+125 °C	1	-	-	0.8 x 0.8 x 0.66mm	135 mV @ 200 mA	0.66mm	0.009 %/mA	±0.5 %/V	0.8mm	256µA	0.8mm	-	200 mA	±2%
Analog Devices, 1.2 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 500mA, 1-Channel, ±3% 8-Pin, MSOP ADP1715ARMZ-1.2-R7 £ 1.21 Each (On a Reel of 1000) Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 183-2280 Brand Analog Devices Mfr. Part No. ADP1715ARMZ-1.2-R7	Analog Devices	1.2 V	500mA	MSOP	Fixed	Surface Mount	2.5 V	5.5 V	8	-	-40 °C	+125 °C	1	-	-	3.2 x 3.2 x 0.95mm	320 mV @ 500 mA	0.95mm	0.004 %/mA	±0.15 %/V	3.2mm	-	3.2mm	-	500 mA	±3%
Analog Devices, 5.2 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 500mA, Quad-Channel, Adjustable 16-Pin, SMT HMC1060LP3ETR £ 4.55 Each (On a Reel of 500) Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 183-2332 Brand Analog Devices Mfr. Part No. HMC1060LP3ETR	Analog Devices	5.2 V	500mA	SMT	Adjustable	Surface Mount	3.35 V	5.6 V	16	-	-40 °C	+85 °C	4	-	-	3.1 x 3.1 x 0.95mm	-	0.95mm	0.007 %/mA	-	3.1mm	-	3.1mm	-	-	-
ON Semiconductor, 1.27 → 15 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 10mA, 1-Channel, Adjustable, ±5% 6-Pin, DFN £ 0.32 Each (On a Reel of 1000) Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 178-4376 Brand ON Semiconductor Mfr. Part No. NCP786AMNADJTBG	ON Semiconductor	1.27 → 15 V	10mA	DFN	Adjustable	Surface Mount	55 V	450 V	6	-	-	+85 °C	1	-	NCP786A	6.1 x 5.1 x 0.95mm	-	0.95mm	±1 %	±0.5 %	5.1mm	15µA	6.1mm	1.27V	100 μA	±5%
Analog Devices, 1.2 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 500mA, 1-Channel, ±3% 8-Pin, MSOP ADP1715ARMZ-1.2-R7 £ 1.76 Each (In a Pack of 5) Also available in industry standard packaging Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 183-2579 Brand Analog Devices Mfr. Part No. ADP1715ARMZ-1.2-R7	Analog Devices	1.2 V	500mA	MSOP	Fixed	Surface Mount	2.5 V	5.5 V	8	-	-40 °C	+125 °C	1	-	-	3.2 x 3.2 x 0.95mm	320 mV @ 500 mA	0.95mm	0.004 %/mA	±0.15 %/V	3.2mm	-	3.2mm	-	500 mA	±3%
Analog Devices, 3.3 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 200mA, 1-Channel, ±2% 4-Pin, WLCSP ADP151ACBZ-3.3-R7 £ 0.75 Each (In a Pack of 10) Also available in industry standard packaging Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 183-2550 Brand Analog Devices Mfr. Part No. ADP151ACBZ-3.3-R7	Analog Devices	3.3 V	200mA	WLCSP	Fixed	Surface Mount	2.2 V	5.5 V	4	-	-40 °C	+125 °C	1	-	-	0.8 x 0.8 x 0.66mm	135 mV @ 200 mA	0.66mm	0.009 %/mA	±0.5 %/V	0.8mm	256µA	0.8mm	-	200 mA	±2%
Analog Devices, 5.2 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 500mA, Quad-Channel, Adjustable 16-Pin, SMT HMC1060LP3ETR £ 5.93 Each (In a Pack of 2) Also available in industry standard packaging Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 183-2490 Brand Analog Devices Mfr. Part No. HMC1060LP3ETR	Analog Devices	5.2 V	500mA	SMT	Adjustable	Surface Mount	3.35 V	5.6 V	16	-	-40 °C	+85 °C	4	-	-	3.1 x 3.1 x 0.95mm	-	0.95mm	0.007 %/mA	-	3.1mm	-	3.1mm	-	-	-
ON Semiconductor, 1.27 → 15 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 10mA, 1-Channel, Adjustable, ±5% 6-Pin, DFN £ 0.56 Each (In a Pack of 10) Also available in industry standard packaging Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 178-4605 Brand ON Semiconductor Mfr. Part No. NCP786AMNADJTBG	ON Semiconductor	1.27 → 15 V	10mA	DFN	Adjustable	Surface Mount	55 V	450 V	6	-	-	+85 °C	1	-	NCP786A	6.1 x 5.1 x 0.95mm	-	0.95mm	±1 %	±0.5 %	5.1mm	15µA	6.1mm	1.27V	100 μA	±5%
Microchip Technology, 1.8 V, 3.3 V LDO Regulator, 500mA 2-Channel, ±3% 8-Pin, MSOP MIC5355-SGYMME £ 0.33 Each (In a Tube of 100) Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 177-0468 Brand Microchip Technology Mfr. Part No. MIC5355-SGYMME	Microchip Technology	1.8 V, 3.3 V	500mA	MSOP	Fixed	Surface Mount	2.5 V	5.5 V	8	-	-40 °C	+125 °C	2	Positive	MIC5355	3 x 3 x 0.86mm	800 V @ 500 mA	0.86mm	1 %	±0.3 %/V	3mm	38µA	3mm	-	500 mA	±3%
Microchip Technology, 3 V Voltage Regulator, 200mA, 1-Channel, ±3% 4-Pin, DFN MIC94310-PYMT-T5 £ 0.30 Each (On a Reel of 500) Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 177-2944 Brand Microchip Technology Mfr. Part No. MIC94310-PYMT-T5	Microchip Technology	3 V	200mA	DFN	Fixed	Surface Mount	1.8 V	3.6 V	4	-	-40 °C	+125 °C	1	-	MIC94310	1.2 x 1.6 x 0.5mm	40mV	0.5mm	4 mV	0.5 %	1.6mm	-	1.2mm	-	200 mA	±3%
Renesas Electronics, 0.6 → 5 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 25A, 1-Channel, ±1.2% 58-Pin, HDA RAA2109252GLG#AG0 £ 47.45 Each (Supplied in a Tray) Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 181-3670 Brand Renesas Electronics Mfr. Part No. RAA2109252GLG#AG0	Renesas Electronics	0.6 → 5 V	25A	HDA	Fixed	Surface Mount	4.5 V	14 V	58	-	-40 °C	+85 °C	1	-	RAA2109252	18 x 23 x 7.47mm	-	7.47mm	-	-	23mm	-	18mm	5.5 → 6.6V	-	±1.2%
Renesas Electronics, 0.6 → 5 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 25A, 1-Channel, ±1.2% 41-Pin, HDA RAA2108252GLG#AG0 £ 29.82 Each (Supplied in a Tray) Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 181-3668 Brand Renesas Electronics Mfr. Part No. RAA2108252GLG#AG0	Renesas Electronics	0.6 → 5 V	25A	HDA	Fixed	Surface Mount	4.5 V	14 V	41	-	-40 °C	+85 °C	1	-	RAA2108252	17 x 19 x 3.57mm	-	3.57mm	-	-	19mm	-	17mm	5.5 → 6.6V	-	±1.2%
Renesas Electronics, 0.6 → 5 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 33A, 1-Channel, ±1.2% 41-Pin, HDA RAA2108332GLG#AG0 £ 35.28 Each (Supplied in a Tray) Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 181-3669 Brand Renesas Electronics Mfr. Part No. RAA2108332GLG#AG0	Renesas Electronics	0.6 → 5 V	33A	HDA	Fixed	Surface Mount	4.5 V	14 V	41	-	-40 °C	+85 °C	1	-	RAA2108332	17 x 19 x 3.57mm	-	3.57mm	-	-	19mm	-	17mm	5.5 → 6.6V	-	±1.2%
Renesas Electronics, 0.6 → 5 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 50A, 1-Channel, ±1.2% 58-Pin, HDA RAA2108502GLG#AG0 £ 54.76 Each (Supplied in a Tray) Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 181-3671 Brand Renesas Electronics Mfr. Part No. RAA2108502GLG#AG0	Renesas Electronics	0.6 → 5 V	50A	HDA	Fixed	Surface Mount	4.5 V	14 V	58	-	-40 °C	+85 °C	1	-	RAA2108502	18 x 23 x 7.47mm	-	7.47mm	-	-	23mm	-	18mm	5.5 → 6.6V	-	±1.2%
Renesas Electronics, 0.6 → 5 V Linear Voltage Regulator, 70A, 1-Channel, ±1.2% 58-Pin, HDA RAA2108702GLG#AG0 £ 83.94 Each (Supplied in a Tray) Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 181-3672 Brand Renesas Electronics Mfr. Part No. RAA2108702GLG#AG0	Renesas Electronics	0.6 → 5 V	70A	HDA	Fixed	Surface Mount	4.5 V	14 V	58	-	-40 °C	+85 °C	1	-	RAA2108702	18 x 23 x 7.47mm	-	7.47mm	-	-	23mm	-	18mm	5.5 → 6.6V	-	±1.2%
Renesas Electronics Linear Voltage Regulator RTKA2108252H00000BU £ 216.13 Each Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 181-3673 Brand Renesas Electronics Mfr. Part No. RTKA2108252H00000BU	Renesas Electronics	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	RTKA2108252	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Renesas Electronics Linear Voltage Regulator RTKA2108332H00000BU £ 177.24 Each Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 181-3674 Brand Renesas Electronics Mfr. Part No. RTKA2108332H00000BU	Renesas Electronics	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	RTKA2108332	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Renesas Electronics Linear Voltage Regulator RTKA2108502H00000BU £ 216.13 Each Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 181-3675 Brand Renesas Electronics Mfr. Part No. RTKA2108502H00000BU	Renesas Electronics	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	RTKA2108502	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Renesas Electronics Linear Voltage Regulator RTKA2109252H00000BU £ 261.51 Each Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 181-3677 Brand Renesas Electronics Mfr. Part No. RTKA2109252H00000BU	Renesas Electronics	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	RTKA2109252	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Renesas Electronics Linear Voltage Regulator RTKA2108702H00000BU £ 224.80 Each Check Stock Levels Added Compare	RS Stock No. 181-3676 Brand Renesas Electronics Mfr. Part No. RTKA2108702H00000BU	Renesas Electronics	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	RTKA2108702	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Linear Voltage Regulators

How to choose linear voltage regulator ICs?

How to test a linear voltage regulator?