William "Chops" Westfield wrote:
> I've been annoyed for "a  
> while" that there isn't one definitive circuit for a "lab" supply  
> that uses 317s as THE major active element...
> 
> Sigh.
> BillW
> 

A [definitive circuit for a "lab" supply] does not exist because there 
is no lab supply that addresses all needs.  One that tries to will be:

a) too large
b) too expensive
c) too heavy
d) too ....

One person doing pic development work wants a wall wart supply; another 
wants HP-IB to control it from their computer.  Someone else wants just 
enough current for 'simple' stuff; another wants to be able to arc weld 
with it.  And so it goes.

For experimenters learning electronics, LM317's are quite useful; I've 
gotten lots of miles out of them.  But after a while, people get tired 
of re-inventing the wheel and just buy a suitable bench supply.
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