STMicroelectronics L4978D013TR 1.3V Buck Regulator, TO263 Package for Industrial IoT

STMicroelectronics L4978D013TR Industrial-Grade 1.3V Synchronous Buck Regulator Overview

The STMicroelectronics L4978D013TR is a high-efficiency, industrial-qualified synchronous buck regulator engineered for B2B applications demanding low-voltage power and energy savings-including Industrial Automation (PLC low-voltage cores), Internet of Things (IoT) sensor trackers, and Telecommunications and Networking (small cell base station modules). Designed to convert a 4.5V?C40V input range to a precise 1.3V output (with 3.0A continuous current capacity), it delivers low-ripple power to voltage-sensitive components like industrial microcontroller cores, IoT BLE transceivers, and telecom signal processors. Integrating a synchronous rectification (for high efficiency), overcurrent protection, short-circuit protection, thermal shutdown, and under-voltage lockout into a durable TO263 (D2PAK) surface-mount package with an exposed thermal pad, it operates reliably across -40??C to +150??C-making it ideal for engineers prioritizing energy efficiency, low-voltage precision, and thermal resilience in harsh industrial or outdoor IoT environments.

As a flagship power management product from STMicroelectronics-a global leader in industrial semiconductors with 35+ years of expertise in buck regulators-it meets strict quality standards: RoHS 2 compliance, ISO 9001 certification, IEC 61000-6-2 industrial EMC compliance, and 3,000+ hours of durability testing (including high-temperature cycling and voltage spike stress). Senior engineers at a top industrial automation firm endorse it, noting: ??The L4978D013TR??s 92% efficiency cuts our PLC energy use by 25%, while its thermal pad keeps it cool in 80??C factories-no unexpected shutdowns.?? For more industrial-grade buck regulators, visit IC Manufacturer.

Technical Parameters of STMicroelectronics L4978D013TR

Key Technical Features of L4978D013TR Buck Regulator

• 92% high efficiency: Cuts power loss in industrial and IoT systems. An automation engineer reported: ??Slash PLC energy use by 25%-saves $1,200 annually per factory floor.??
• 3.0A continuous current: Powers low-voltage high-load components (e.g., MCU cores). A telecom firm noted: ??Handles 2.5A small cell processors-no external current boosters needed.??
TO263 thermal pad (32??C/W): Reduces heat by 40% vs. standard TO263 (53??C/W). A plant manager shared: ??In 80??C factories, it stays at 95??C-standard packages hit 140??C and shut down.??
• 40V load-dump protection: Withstands industrial voltage spikes (common during machinery startup). An IoT firm confirmed: ??Handles 36V spikes-old 30V regulators failed 12% of the time.??
• 0.2mA shutdown current: Extends battery life in IoT trackers. A logistics firm explained: ??In standby, uses 0.2mA-extends 12V battery life by 38%, cutting replacement costs by 30%.??

Advantages of L4978D013TR vs. Typical Buck Regulators

Compared to low-efficiency linear regulators, narrow-input buck ICs, and non-thermal-pad packages, the L4978D013TR solves critical B2B industrial and IoT pain points-backed by real customer feedback:

1. 92% efficiency beats linear regulators: Linear regulators for 1.3V outputs have only 30%?C40% efficiency (wasting 60%?C70% power as heat), increasing energy costs and cooling needs. The L4978D013TR??s 92% efficiency cuts this waste. An industrial automation firm said: ??Our PLC used a linear regulator that wasted 70% of power-this buck regulator cuts waste to 8%. With 100 PLCs (each drawing 2A), we save 1,280W daily. Annual energy costs dropped by $11,424 (at $0.10/kWh), and we no longer need extra cooling fans-saving another $2,000 in component costs.??

2. 40V input range outperforms narrow-input buck ICs: Low-cost buck regulators max at 30V, failing during 35V+ spikes from 24V industrial supplies or solar IoT systems. The L4978D013TR??s 40V range handles these. An IoT fleet firm confirmed: ??Our 24V tracker batteries spike to 36V when charging-old 30V buck ICs failed 12% of the time, causing 2.2 hours of daily downtime. This regulator has 0% failures, ensuring 24/7 tracking. Client trust in our data rose by 28%, and we retained 4 key logistics clients who previously switched due to downtime.??

3. Thermal pad prevents downtime vs. standard TO263: Standard TO263 buck regulators (without thermal pads) overheat in 80??C factories, triggering thermal shutdowns that halt production. The L4978D013TR??s pad lowers thermal resistance to 32??C/W. A manufacturing plant shared: ??Our old TO263 regulator caused 3 hours of daily PLC downtime in 80??C conditions. This model with a thermal pad stays at 95??C, no shutdowns. PLC uptime rose to 99.4% from 97.9%, and we moved 150 more units daily-adding $180,000 in annual revenue.??

Typical Applications of STMicroelectronics L4978D013TR

The L4978D013TR excels in low-voltage, high-efficiency industrial and IoT designs-proven in these key B2B use cases:

• Industrial Automation (PLC Low-Voltage Cores): Converts 24V factory power to 1.3V MCU core. An industrial firm confirmed: ??92% efficiency cuts energy use, thermal pad keeps it cool-PLC uptime hit 99.4%.??
• Internet of Things (IoT) Sensor Trackers: Steps down 12V battery power to 1.3V BLE transceiver. An IoT firm noted: ??Low shutdown current extends battery life by 38%, 40V protection handles spikes-tracker failures down 32%.??
• Telecommunications and Networking (Small Cell Base Stations): Powers 1.3V signal processor from 48V telecom supply. A telecom brand reported: ??3.0A current handles loads, low ripple ensures signal quality-small cell reliability up 90%.??
• Industrial Automation (Motor Control ICs): Regulates 12V power to 1.3V motor controller core. A factory tech firm shared: ????2% accuracy ensures precision, thermal pad prevents overheating-motor errors down 92%.??
• Internet of Things (IoT) Environmental Monitors: Converts 24V solar power to 1.3V humidity sensor. A sustainability firm confirmed: ??Wide input handles solar fluctuations, high efficiency saves energy-monitor life extended by 40%.??

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About L4978D013TR

Why is 92% efficiency important for industrial PLCs?

Industrial PLCs run 24/7, so low-efficiency regulators waste significant power as heat-increasing energy costs and requiring extra cooling. The L4978D013TR??s 92% efficiency cuts this waste. An automation engineer said: ??Our old linear regulator wasted 70% of power-this model wastes 8%. With 100 PLCs (2A each), we save 1,280W daily. Annual energy costs dropped by $11,424, and we removed 50 cooling fans-saving $2,000 in maintenance. The cooler operation also extends PLC life by 2 years, reducing replacement costs by 30%.??

Can the L4978D013TR handle 40V input spikes in 24V IoT tracker systems?

Yes. Its 4.5V?C40V input range is engineered to withstand 40V spikes-common when 24V IoT tracker batteries are fast-charged. Most low-cost buck ICs max at 30V and fail here. An IoT fleet manager confirmed: ??Our 24V trackers spike to 36V during charging-old 30V buck ICs failed 12% of the time, causing 2.2 hours of daily downtime. This regulator maintains stable 1.3V output, no gaps. We now track every asset 24/7, and client satisfaction scores rose by 28%. We also retained 4 clients who previously left due to missing data.??

What value does the TO263 thermal pad add for factory PLCs?

Factory environments often reach 80??C, and standard TO263 buck regulators (without thermal pads) overheat to 140??C, triggering shutdowns that halt production. The L4978D013TR??s thermal pad (32??C/W) dissipates heat 40% better. A plant manager said: ??Our old TO263 regulator caused 3 hours of daily PLC downtime. This model with a thermal pad stays at 95??C, no shutdowns. PLC uptime rose to 99.4%, and we moved 150 more units daily-adding $180,000 in annual revenue. It also reduces PLC thermal stress, extending service life by 1.5 years.??

Why is ??2% output accuracy critical for IoT sensor trackers?

IoT sensor trackers use 1.3V BLE transceivers that require precise power to maintain signal strength-even 3% voltageƫ?? can cause 15%+ signal loss, leading to missed data transmissions. The L4978D013TR??s ??2% accuracy fixes this. An IoT firm noted: ??Our old ??5% buck regulator caused 20% of data gaps-this model cuts gaps to 2%. Clients now receive 98% of sensor data, up from 80%. We also reduced field visits to reposition trackers by 45%, saving $75,000 in annual service costs. The stable power also extends transceiver life by 2 years.??

How does low shutdown current benefit IoT environmental monitors?

IoT environmental monitors use solar batteries that need to last 12+ months in the field-high shutdown current drains batteries fast, increasing replacement costs. The L4978D013TR??s 0.2mA shutdown current uses 97% less power than 7mA buck regulators. A sustainability firm confirmed: ??Our old 7mA regulator lasted 8 months-this model uses 0.2mA, extending life to 11.5 months. Battery replacements dropped by 40%, saving $80,000 in annual field service costs. It also reduces environmental waste, aligning with our clients?? sustainability goals-client retention rose by 32%.??