Voltage Regulators & ICs
Linear and switching voltage regulators, a programmable shunt reference and the classic NE555 and L293D chips. Everything you need to power a project from a 9V to 24V supply and drive it.
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Choosing a voltage regulator
A regulator turns an unregulated supply, such as a 12V plug pack or a 24V 3D printer power supply, into a steady voltage for your logic and sensors. Linear regulators are simple and quiet but turn the excess voltage into heat. A switching module wastes far less, which matters at higher currents or bigger voltage drops.
| Part | Type | Output | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| L7805 to L7824 | Linear, TO-220 | 5V to 24V fixed, 1.5A | General purpose rails with a heatsink |
| LM317T | Linear, TO-220 | 1.25V to 37V adjustable, 1.5A | Custom voltages, bench supplies |
| 78L06 to 78L15 | Linear, TO-92 | 6V to 15V fixed, 100mA | Small loads, no heatsink |
| UA78L05 | Linear, SOIC-8 | 5V, 100mA | Surface mount PCBs |
| 5V 1A buck module | Switching, 7805 pinout | 5V, 1A | Cool running drop-in for a hot 7805 |
| TL431 | Shunt reference | 2.5V to 36V set by resistors | Voltage references, SMPS feedback |
Working out heat
A linear regulator dissipates (input voltage minus output voltage) times the load current. A 7805 running 500mA from 12V burns 3.5W, which needs a heatsink. The same load from the buck module produces well under 1W of heat. If your regulator is too hot to touch, switch to the buck module or drop the input voltage.
The classic ICs
- NE555 timer: flashers, PWM dimmers, delays and tone generators with a few passive parts.
- L293D motor driver: two DC motors or one bipolar stepper, forward and reverse, with built-in flyback diodes.
Buying electronic parts from OzFDM
Every part is sold individually, so you can pick up two resistors or two hundred without buying a kit full of values you will never use. Orders ship from our Bibra Lake store in Perth, and orders over $299 ship free Australia-wide (excluding PO Boxes).
Voltage regulator FAQs
What input voltage does a 7805 need?
At least 7V for a steady 5V output, since a 78xx needs 2V to 3V of headroom. Anything up to 35V works electrically, but the higher the input, the more heat it makes.
Can the buck module replace a 7805 directly?
Yes. It uses the same Input, Ground, Output pin order and 2.54mm pitch, so it drops into a 7805 footprint or breadboard. It needs no heatsink at 1A.
Do I need capacitors with a 78xx regulator?
Yes. Fit about 0.33uF on the input and 0.1uF on the output, close to the pins. A larger electrolytic on the output, such as 10uF to 100uF, helps with load changes.