LM317 Current Calculator
LM317 Current Calculator
A handy online output current calculator for the LM317, LM338, and other linear voltage regulators
electric circuit | electronics | generalIn our article
Using the LM317 with LED Lighting we looked at how the
LM317T (and high current equivalent
LM338T) can be used to supply a
fixed current to a load - in the case of the article to LED bulbs.
The output
current from the circuit shown above is set using a single
resistor according to the following equation:
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Resistor Required (Ohms) = 1.25 (Volts) / nominal LED current (Amps)
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Do not forget that the maximum
continuous current which can be managed by the LM317T is
1.5 Amps, and that is with a decent
heatsink fitted. The LM338T is rated at
5 Amps of continuous current with 50ms bursts of up to 7 Amps. However with a large heatsink it is possible to manage continuous currents of 8 Amps+.
LM317/LM338 Voltage Calculator
If you would like to use the
LM317T or
LM338T to output a fixed voltage rather than current, click here to visit our
LM317 Voltage Calculator.
Article Last Modified: 12:47, 12th Mar 2008Comment on this Article
If you have any comments on this article, please email them to
neil@reuk.co.uk.
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