LM338K 5-Amp Adjustable Regulator IC

LM338K 5A Adjustable Voltage Regulator designed as the LM138 series of adjustable 3-terminal positive voltage regulators. It is capable of supplying a current more than 5A over a 1.2V to 32V output range. These are quite easy to use and needs only 2 external resistors to line the output voltage. Moreover, both line and load regulation are similar to discrete designs.LM338K 5A Adjustable transformer IC manufactured in standard 3-lead transistor packages which are easily mounted and handled.

The most important and unique feature of the LM338 family is time-dependent current limiting. These current limit circuitry allows peak currents of up to 12 A drawn from the regulator for short periods of time. Thereby allows the LM138  widely used in applications with heavy transient loads. And also speeds start-up under full-load conditions. Under sustained loading conditions, the current limit reduces to a safe value protecting the regulator.

In addition to higher performance than fixed regulators, the LM338K offers full overload protection available only in IC’s. Moreover, the IC chip designed with onboard current limit, thermal overload protection and safe area protection. All overload protection circuitry remains fully functional even if the adjustment terminal accidentally disconnected.  Basically, there exist no requirement of any capacitor unless the device situated more than 6 inches from the input filter capacitors in which case an input bypass needed. An output capacitor are often added to enhance transient response, while bypassing the adjustment (LM350A) pin will increase the regulator’s ripple rejection.

​​APPLICATIONS:

• Adjustable Power supplies
• Constant Current Regulators
• Battery Chargers