Using TLE2426 as opamp rails supplies

Question

I want to power two opamp rails with +-12V. For that I want to use this component to obtain +/-12V split supply from a 24V single supply.

But I came across the following statement:

TLE2426 splits the opamp rails and references signal ground but not output ground.

What does that mean? Can I use use TLE2426 to power rail-to-rail opamp rails?

Answer 1

That device is a virtual ground maker. That is, it creates a reference point half way between the rails. You would supply your op-amps with 24V and Ground and use the output of this device as your signal/analog ground.

Something like this.

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}

Note internals of the rail-splitter is simply a voltage divider and a unity gain op-amp buffer.

As such it can't source or sink more than 20mA so do not use it for higher currents.

Addition: Note the circuit can be equally labelled as follows.

^{simulate this circuit}

Answer 2

TLE2426 splits the opamp rails and references signal ground but not output ground.

The source/sink capability of the TLE2426 is only \$ \pm 20 \$ mA. So, you would not reference any sizable output load to this virtual ground.

For example, if you were driving a speaker, you would tie one terminal of the speaker to your negative supply and AC couple from the output of your opamp to the other terminal of the speaker.