LT138A/LT338A
LM138/LM338
5A Positive Adjustable
Voltage Regulator
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FEATURES
DESCRIPTIO
■
Guaranteed 1% Initial Tolerance
The LT®138A series of adjustable regulators provide 5A
outputcurrentoveranoutputvoltagerangeof1.2Vto32V.
The internal voltage reference is trimmed to less than 1%,
enabling a very tight output voltage. In addition to excel-
lent line and load regulation, with full overload protection,
the LT138A incorporates new current limiting circuitry
allowing large transient load currents to be handled for
short periods. Transient load currents of up to 12A can be
supplied without limiting, eliminating the need for a large
output capacitor.
■
Guaranteed 0.3% Load Regulation
■
Guaranteed 5A Output Current
■
100% Thermal Limit Burn-In
■
12A Transient Output Current
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APPLICATIO S
■
High Power Linear Regulator
■
Battery Chargers
■
Power Driver
Constant-Current Regulator
The LT138A is an improved version of the popular LM138
with improved circuit design and advanced process tech-
niques to provide superior performance and reliability.
■
The graph below shows the significant improvement in
output voltage tolerance achieved by using the LT138A or
LT338A.
, LTC and LT are registered trademarks of Linear Technology Corporation.
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TYPICAL APPLICATIO
Parallel Regulators for Higher Current*
Output Voltage Error
12
11
10
LT338A
ADJ
0.01Ω**
5V
8A
V
IN
V
IN
V
OUT
9
2% RESISTORS
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
LM338
1% RESISTORS
LM338
LT350A
ADJ
0.016Ω**
LT338A
V
IN
V
OUT
121Ω
2% RESISTORS
1% RESISTORS
1%
LT338A
365Ω
1%
1
10
100
138/338 TA01
OUTPUT VOLTAGE (V)
*THIS CIRCUIT WILL NOT WORK WITH LM VERSION DEVICES
**CURRENT SHARING RESISTORS DEGRADE REGULATION TO 1%
138A/338A TA02
1