Voltage Regulator Project

This tutorial is for advanced users; complete the Hello World tutorial first!

For this tutorial, we are going to be building a voltage regulator circuit which converts 7V-12V to 5V using both linear and switching regulator ICs. It is a simple circuit that creates a stable and reliable 5V output from power sources like a 9V battery. Adjusting the input voltage within this circuit's usable range will not change its output voltage. This allows you to use various power sources to supply a stable 5V to connecting boards.

The circuit consists of two different regulator ICs, two LEDs, a diode, an inductor, two resistors, and some capacitors. We have also included some connectors to make using the board more user-friendly. For a more in-depth explanation of the project, check out our white paper.

Learning Concept: This project uses two different types of voltage regulation circuits, each with benefits and trade offs. The linear regulator circuit(on top) keeps the output voltage steady by burning off extra voltage as heat. It’s simple and quiet circuit but wastes power. This is a great option for low noise and low power use cases. The switching regulator circuit(bottom one) rapidly turns power on and off and uses electronic parts to store and smooth the energy. It’s more efficient and cooler than the linear regulator but makes more electrical noise and is more complex. This is great for use cases where higher efficiency for higher power is needed.

Our kit includes all the components you need to assemble the voltage regulator project. In addition to that you will need conductive ink, solder paste, dispensing tips and an FR1 substrate (3"x4"). If you need another kit, or any other supplies you can grab one from our store: