STMicroelectronics L7980TR 5V Linear Regulator, TO220 Package for Industrial Power Systems

STMicroelectronics L7980TR High-Current 5V Linear Voltage Regulator Overview

The STMicroelectronics L7980TR is a robust, high-current fixed-output linear voltage regulator engineered for B2B applications requiring reliable high-power delivery-including Industrial Automation (PLCs, motor control units), Energy and Power (solar inverter control circuits), and Home Appliances (large appliance power boards). Designed to convert a 7V?C35V input range to a precise 5V output (with 2.0A continuous current capacity), it delivers consistent power to high-load components like industrial microcontrollers, motor drivers, and large appliance control circuits. Integrating a thermal shutdown, overcurrent protection, short-circuit protection, and reverse polarity protection into a durable TO220 (Transistor Outline 220) through-hole package (compatible with external heatsinks), it operates reliably across -40??C to +150??C-making it ideal for engineers prioritizing high current capacity, thermal resilience, and industrial-grade durability in harsh factory or high-power environments.

As a trusted power management product from STMicroelectronics-a global leader in industrial semiconductors with 30+ years of expertise in high-power ICs-it meets strict quality standards: RoHS 2 compliance, ISO 9001 certification, and IEC 61000-6-2 industrial EMC compliance. It also undergoes 2,500+ hours of durability testing (including high-temperature and high-current stress tests). Senior engineers at a leading industrial automation firm endorse it, noting: ??The L7980TR??s 2.0A current capacity powers our PLC??s motor driver and sensor hub simultaneously, while its TO220 heatsink compatibility keeps it cool in 75??C factories-cutting unexpected PLC downtime by 30%.?? For more industrial-grade high-power ICs, visit IC Manufacturer.

Technical Parameters of STMicroelectronics L7980TR

Key Technical Features of L7980TR Linear Regulator

• 2.0A continuous current capacity: Powers multiple high-load industrial components (e.g., PLC motor driver + sensor hub) without external boosters. An industrial engineer reported: ??Eliminates 2 extra current modules-cuts PCB space by 45% and assembly time by 25%.??
• 7V?C35V wide input range: Compatible with 12V/24V industrial power supplies and 30V solar inverter systems. An energy firm noted: ??Handles 24V solar voltage dips to 8V-old 25V-max regulators failed 10% of the time, causing inverter shutdowns.??
• TO220 heatsink compatibility: Reduces thermal resistance to 15??C/W (vs. 50??C/W without heatsink), preventing overheating. A factory designer shared: ??With a heatsink, it stays at 90??C in 75??C factories-standard TO220 units hit 140??C and shut down.??
• ??2% output accuracy: Ensures precision for industrial sensors (e.g., flow, pressure) and motor control circuits. An automation firm confirmed: ??Cuts sensor data errors by 95%-critical for maintaining consistent production line speeds.??
• 0.2mA shutdown current: Extends battery life in backup industrial systems (e.g., emergency PLC power). A manufacturing tech firm explained: ??In standby, it uses 0.2mA-extends 12V backup battery life by 40%, ensuring power during grid outages.??

Advantages of L7980TR vs. Typical Linear Regulators

Compared to low-current linear regulators, narrow-input ICs, and non-heatsink-compatible packages, the L7980TR delivers three critical benefits for B2B industrial and high-power designs-backed by real customer feedback:

1. 2.0A current capacity beats low-current alternatives: Most standard linear regulators max out at 1.0A, requiring external current boosters to power high-load components (e.g., PLC motor drivers). The L7980TR??s 2.0A capacity eliminates this. An industrial automation firm said: ??Our old 1.0A regulator needed a $2.50 current booster to power our 1.5A motor driver-this L7980TR handles it directly. We cut per-unit costs by $2.50 and PCB space by 45%, while reducing failure points (boosters caused 18% of downtime) to 0%.??

2. 35V input range outperforms narrow-input regulators: Low-cost linear regulators often max at 25V, failing during 30V+ spikes from industrial machinery or solar inverters. The L7980TR??s 35V max handles these. An energy firm confirmed: ??Our 24V solar inverter system spikes to 32V during cloudy-to-sunny transitions-old 25V regulators failed 10% of the time, causing 3 hours of daily inverter downtime. This regulator has 0% failures, boosting solar energy output by 6% annually.??

3. Heatsink compatibility prevents downtime vs. standard TO220: Standard TO220 regulators (without heatsink support) overheat in 75??C factories, triggering thermal shutdowns. The L7980TR??s TO220 design works with off-the-shelf heatsinks to lower thermal resistance. A home appliance brand shared: ??Our large refrigerator??s power board runs at 65??C-standard TO220 regulators hit 140??C and shut down, causing fridge errors. This L7980TR with a heatsink stays at 90??C, no shutdowns. Service calls dropped by 42%, and we saved $230,000 in warranty costs.??

Typical Applications of STMicroelectronics L7980TR

The L7980TR excels in high-current, industrial-grade power designs-proven in these key B2B use cases:

• Industrial Automation (PLCs): Regulates 24V factory power to 5V (motor driver + sensor hub). An industrial firm confirmed: ??2.0A capacity powers both components, heatsink keeps it cool-PLC uptime hit 99.8%.??
• Energy and Power (Solar Inverters): Converts 30V solar panel power to 5V control circuit. An energy firm noted: ??Wide input handles voltage spikes, overcurrent protection safeguards inverter-downtime cut by 30%.??
• Home Appliances (Large Refrigerators): Powers 5V control circuit from 12V AC-DC adapter. An appliance brand reported: ??Heatsink prevents overheating, ??2% accuracy ensures stable operation-service calls cut 42%.??
• Industrial Automation (Motor Control Units): Regulates 12V power to 5V (motor controller IC). A factory tech firm shared: ??2.0A current handles motor startup loads, thermal shutdown prevents damage-motor failure rates down 35%.??
• Energy and Power (Battery Charging Systems): Converts 24V battery power to 5V charging control circuit. A power solutions firm confirmed: ??Wide input handles battery voltage fluctuations, short-circuit protection prevents damage-charger reliability up by 38%.??

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About L7980TR

Why is 2.0A continuous current important for industrial PLCs?

Industrial PLCs often power high-load components like motor drivers (1.5A) and sensor hubs (0.3A) that draw 1.8A total. Low-current regulators (??1.0A) need external boosters, adding cost and failure points. The L7980TR??s 2.0A capacity handles this. An industrial engineer said: ??Our old setup used a 1.0A regulator + $2.50 booster-this L7980TR cuts per-unit costs by $2.50 and PCB space by 45%. Boosters caused 18% of PLC downtime-this model has 0% failures, boosting uptime to 99.8%.??

Can the L7980TR handle 35V input spikes in solar inverter systems?

Yes. Its 7V?C35V input range is engineered to withstand 35V spikes-common in solar inverter systems when clouds clear and panel voltage surges. Most low-cost regulators max at 25V and fail here. An energy firm confirmed: ??Our 24V solar system spikes to 32V during sunny transitions-old 25V regulators failed 10% of the time, causing 3 hours of daily inverter downtime. This L7980TR maintains stable 5V output, no shutdowns. Solar energy output rose by 6% annually, adding $120,000 in revenue.??

What value does TO220 heatsink compatibility add for factory environments?

Factory environments often reach 75??C, and standard TO220 regulators (without heatsinks) overheat to 140??C, triggering shutdowns that halt production. The L7980TR??s TO220 design works with off-the-shelf heatsinks to lower thermal resistance to 15??C/W. A factory manager shared: ??Our old TO220 regulator caused 3 hours of daily PLC downtime in 75??C conditions. This L7980TR with a $1 heatsink stays at 90??C, no shutdowns. Production efficiency rose by 7%, and we saved $140,000 in lost output annually.??

Why is ??2% output accuracy critical for industrial motor control units?

Industrial motor control units rely on precise 5V power to set motor speed and torque-even 3% voltageƫ?? can cause 10%+ speed errors, leading to uneven production (e.g., misaligned conveyor belts). The L7980TR??s ??2% accuracy eliminates this. A factory tech specialist noted: ??Our old ??5% regulator caused 12% of motor speed errors-this model cuts errors to 1%. Conveyor belt alignment issues dropped by 95%, and we reduced product waste by 8%, saving $90,000 yearly.??

How does low shutdown current benefit industrial backup systems?

Industrial backup systems (e.g., PLC emergency power) use 12V batteries that need to last 72+ hours during grid outages. High shutdown current drains batteries fast. The L7980TR??s 0.2mA shutdown current uses 99% less power than 20mA regulators. A manufacturing firm confirmed: ??Our old 20mA regulator drained backup batteries in 24 hours-this L7980TR uses 0.2mA, extending runtime to 72 hours. We??ve eliminated 100% of PLC failures during long outages, and customer trust in our production reliability rose by 30%.??