Innovative CircuitsSuperpower compared with LM317
How does the superpower compare with a typical 3 terminal regulator?
Quite well as you can see in the oscillograms below. Both devices were
tested using datasheet recommended application circuits, both devices
have a 10µF output capacitor and use the same input supply.
NOTE: For 1A pulse tests, the Superpower in these photos uses a TO-220
output device rather than the standard surface mount, to allow the
higher current without current limiting. The standard device with
surface mounted components begins to limit current at about 700mA.
Superpower, 1A pulse
Superpower
delivering 1A into 8 Ohms, bottom trace is load voltage. Notice the
clean, fast rise and fall of the load voltage. The top trace shows Vout
transients, which are quite low.
A less demanding test, pulling 250mA from the regulator, shows a
super clean load transient and an output with a very small step and
almost no transient behavior. Notice the 2mV scale on the output trace, vs. the 5mV scale on the LM7812 oscillogram to the right.
LM317, 1A pulse
The
LM317 is good, but there is a transient at the leading edge of about
½V (visible in full size view), and a slew rate limited, ringing settling transient
on the trailing recovery edge.
At 250mA, the LM317 still has the characteristic output ringing on the rising transient and the odd wrinkle at the load. The noise increase at high current is substantial.
Belleson® has introduced a small form factor, high output current Superpower™
regulator. The new SPJ78 and SPJ17 devices are available with Vout of +3.3V, +5V
and +6.25V, at current to 2 amps.