Running PCs on 12v

From: Dwight K. Elvey <dwightk.elvey_at_amd.com>
Date: Mon May 19 13:19:00 2003

>From: "John Allain" <allain_at_panix.com>
>
>Here's a pretty damn dumb question.
> Can 5v regulators just be stacked up to get
> more than 100mA?
> One possibility is that the weakest one would
> go first, then the rest after it's dead.
>
>John A.
>

Hi John
 There are ways to parallel these but most cause
either loss of voltage regulation or current hogging.
The the TO-220 packages are designed to handle 1 amp
but for any of these, you need to consider heat sinking
and total power drop. You may find that power drop
will over load before current is reached.
 Most newer regulators are designed to both thermal
and current shutdown safely. Like anything that is
being stressed, running like this for a long time
tends to shorten their life.
 Also, paralleling can cause oscillations. Especially
if not all the regulators are running near their
maximum levels. Proper bypassing is more critical
when doing this.
Dwight
Received on Mon May 19 2003 - 13:19:00 BST