In SX Microcontrollers, SX/B Compiler and SX-Key Tool, mgreen wrote:

The diode is to protect the regulator when there's a large capacitor on the output side of the regulator.  If you quickly turn off the input power supply, the output capacitor can discharge quite a lot of current quickly through the regulator and damage it.  If you have a diode from output to input, most of the current passes through the diode which can handle it.  Some regulators don't have this problem.  The manufacturer's datasheet usually will give you some parameters to decide whether it's necessary.

---------- End of Message ----------


You can view the post on-line at:
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=7&p=1&m=364560#m364577

Need assistance? Send an email to the Forum Administrator at forumadmin@parallax.com

The Parallax Forums are powered by dotNetBB Forums, copyright 2002-2009 (http://www.dotNetBB.com)