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I will be using Ultrasonic sensor HC-SR04 in water level measurement. I will be triggering the US sensor and getting back the time-pulse from it at very slow rate maybe once every minute. I want to know is it OK to keep the US sensor module powered-up at +5V using 7805 regulator continuously 24/7? Will it heat-up the sensor or its electronics and cause accuracy problems after few days of continuous operation?

Ultrasonic sensor Module enter image description here

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Yes, a 7805 would be acceptable for powering the HC-SR04. It only requires 15mA which is not much. The trick with voltage regulators is to not run too much power through them.

Find the max power dissipation of the 7805, if you can't find it then 250mW or 500mW might be a good place to start.

Lets say you have 12V going into the regulator, that would be a 7V drop. At 15mA, this would be 7V*15mA = 100mW which would be ok (you can't go over the number or the 7805 will get too hot)

24V would be a 19V drop, and 19V*15mA would be 285mW which might be pushing it for some regulators.

Make sure you use input and output filter caps.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ ok I get it. For 7805 it will be fine to keep it powered up continuously and it will supply regulated +5V if we keep it within its thermal limits as you mentioned 250mW or 500mW. My concern is for the US sensor. Is this HC-SR04 good enough to keep powered-up continuously? I cannot see such detail in its datasheet. \$\endgroup\$
    – alt-rose
    Jun 27, 2019 at 5:38
  • \$\begingroup\$ The 7805 has J/Amb of 19degC/W so can easily handle the 15mA load at 24V input. There should be no problem leaving the unit powered continuously 24/7. \$\endgroup\$
    – Jack Creasey
    Jun 27, 2019 at 5:54
  • \$\begingroup\$ What concerns me is continuous exposure to high moisture. \$\endgroup\$
    – Whiskeyjack
    Jun 27, 2019 at 7:22
  • \$\begingroup\$ Continuous exposure to high moisture for the US sensors or the IC's and PCB board in the module? \$\endgroup\$
    – alt-rose
    Jun 27, 2019 at 8:36
  • \$\begingroup\$ @alt-rose The modules are built to be powered continuously \$\endgroup\$
    – Voltage Spike ♦
    Jun 27, 2019 at 14:26

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