The below circuit is a 12V input, 5V maximum 3 ampere output.
The work of the 7805 is only to open the base of the transistor (and naturally regulate that voltage at the base to 5V.)
What about efficency, how efficent is this circuit?
The transistor he uses is a 2N3055 (15A.)
As the 7805 only has to open the base I guess this circuit is a little more efficent than the 7805 itself. If that is correct, using it for a battery powered project, could I use let's say something like a 2N2222 or 2N3904 to get a slightly more efficent powersupply (but decreasing the amperage?)
Normally the 7805 is only 20%-21% (12V) efficent so if my project needs 100mA the heat it needs to dissipate is around 2 watt.
I read that somewhere yesterday.
I ask because apparently the high efficent switching converter suffers from ripple and noise, but also costs more. This could increase slightly the battery life & decrease the cost.
Notes:
I could hook up multiple transistors and so get multiple 200mA/500mA regulated 5V sources, depending on the transistor (2N2222=500mA, 2N3904=200mA.)