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I need to power an RFID from 24 V DC voltage. The RFID requires max. 9 V and max. 120 mA. The RFID suggests a 7809 linear voltage regulator. I thought too much and I want to use a 7809 because if I use a switching regulator (10$) for 24 V to 12 V and then 12 V to 9 V with 7809, it costs a lot.

If I go with 24 V to 9 V, (24 V - 9 V) * 120 mA = 1.8W,

If I go with 24 V to 12 V and then 12 V to 9 V ,(12 V - 9 V) * 120 mA = 0.36 W.

It will take ~22000 hrs of operation to realize the $8 savings from going to the switching regulator vs going for the linear regulator and that's okay for me.

enter image description here

  • I made this circuit; someone suggested to me to use a 82 Ω, 2 W resistor. If I use that resistor, would I still need to use a heat sink? If I add that resistor (82 Ω), is power dissipation = (10.2 V - 9 V) * 120 mA = 0.24 W ? (I used a 75 Ω resistor for the RFID part)
  • I read somewhere (I couldn't find the link) that says you need to put in 3 different output capacitors for clear power, is that correct? Are these capacitors okay? And all these capacitors are ceramic, should I use electrolytic ones?
  • I found this heatsink özdisan.comdatasheet, this heatsink has only graphic and it says that at 2 W the rise in temperature will be 20°C, 5°C from junction to case, plus another 5°C for the TO220 case to heatsink, resulting in 30°C isn't it wonderful?

I have another heat sink farnell.com, it doesn't have a graphic but it says Thermal Resistance is 14°C/W , how can I compare which is better? I couldn't get its Thermal Resistance: 14°C/W . Thank you.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ The reg will still drop around 5V, so thats around 1W. The TO220 pkg is around 66degreeC/W, so you need a heatsink. Your first heatsink is 10C/W so better than the Farnell at 14C/W. \$\endgroup\$
    – Kartman
    Dec 26, 2021 at 12:23
  • \$\begingroup\$ thank you Kartman. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 26, 2021 at 14:47

1 Answer 1

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Got a bunch of switchers on Farnell, starting at 1.69€ plus tax.

It's cheaper than a 7809 plus heat sink.

someone suggested to me to use a 82 Ω, 2 W resistor. If I use that resistor, would I still need to use a heat sink?

Plot the regulator dissipation (24-9-i*R)*i with i from 0 to your max current and check. With the resistor, the regulator maximum dissipation will not be a t maximum current but a bit below.

If the load draws 120mA maximum during pulses, but has much lower average current, then perhaps you can get away with a smaller heat sink.

If load current is constant, then make sure to use a 3W resistor if you intend it to dissipate 2W, and solder it with long legs. Otherwise it'll barbecue your board.

Also 7809 needs more than 1.2V drop.

this heatsink has only graphic and it says that at 2 W the rise in temperature will be 20°C, 5°C from junction to case, plus another 5°C for the TO220 case to heatsink, resulting in 30°C isn't it wonderful?

20°C/2W = 10°C/W, That's good.

I have another heat sink farnell.com, it doesn't have a graphic but it says Thermal Resistance is 14°C/W , how can I compare which is better? I couldn't get its Thermal Resistance: 14°C/W . Thank you.

Thermal resistance seems worse, you need a powerful soldering iron to solder it because of the thick feet, and it's heavier.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ you helped me a lot. I need to use LDO for RFID. They suggest me 7809. You answered before my question. I don't want to use switching regulator for 24V to 12V. It is expensive and complicated. Probably that 120 mA is not constant so I won't use that 82 ohm resistor. I will use directly 24V to 9V with 20°C/2W = 10°C/W this heat sink. I calculated 20°C+ 5°C + 5°C =30 °C rise. If the ambient goes up even 60°C , It will still work with out problem with 90°C. Am I thinking right? I updated schematic in the question section. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 26, 2021 at 14:46
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Tryingtogetsome You don't need an LDO (low-dropout regulator); you have 15V of headroom, there's nothing low-dropout about that. That's good, because the 7809 is not an LDO; it's a regular linear regulator with a fairly large voltage drop (probably about 2.5V). Also, bobflux showed you a switching regulator that is not expensive and not complicated. \$\endgroup\$
    – marcelm
    Dec 26, 2021 at 15:10
  • \$\begingroup\$ @marcelm thank you for your comment. Here is my RFID aliexpress bottom side, there is a schematic for power. They suggest 7809. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 26, 2021 at 15:34
  • \$\begingroup\$ Yes heat sink will be fine. \$\endgroup\$
    – bobflux
    Dec 26, 2021 at 15:38
  • \$\begingroup\$ Thank you bobflux. Have a nice day. \$\endgroup\$ Dec 26, 2021 at 15:59

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