STMicroelectronics L7806CD2T-TR

Overview

L7806CD2T-TR from STMicroelectronics is a three-terminal positive linear voltage regulator delivering a fixed 6 V output at up to 1.5 A, featuring thermal overload protection, short-circuit protection, and safe operating area (SOA) protection. It operates with input voltages up to 35 V (for 6 V output), maintains ±2 % output tolerance over temperature, and is housed in a D²PAK surface-mount package-commonly used for local on-card regulation in industrial power supplies and embedded control modules.

For engineers reviewing the L7806CD2T-TR datasheet, L7806CD2T-TR pinout, L7806CD2T-TR application, or L7806CD2T-TR equivalent, key selection considerations include dropout voltage (2 V @ 1 A), load regulation (≤120 mV over 5 mA–1.5 A), supply voltage rejection (59 dB @ 120 Hz), quiescent current (8 mA), and thermal resistance (R_thJC = 3 °C/W), all critical for stable low-noise DC power delivery in thermally constrained designs.

Technical Context

The L7806CD2T-TR implements a monolithic series-pass linear regulator architecture with internal current limiting, thermal shutdown, and SOA protection-enabling robust operation without external protection circuitry. Its feedback loop stabilizes output under varying line (VI = 8–25 V) and load (IO = 5 mA–1.5 A) conditions while maintaining ≤6.3 V max output deviation across temperature.

Designed for fixed-voltage local regulation, it requires only two external capacitors (CI ≥ 0.33 µF, CO ≥ 0.1 µF) for stability and ripple suppression. The D²PAK package supports high-power dissipation with low junction-to-case thermal resistance (3 °C/W), enabling >1 A continuous output when properly heatsinked on PCB copper planes.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: D²PAK (TO-263), surface-mount, 3-pin, single-ended heat slug on pin 2 (Tab/Collector). Designed for automated assembly and high thermal performance on standard PCBs.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar fixed-output linear regulator applications.

Compared with LM7806CD2T, the L7806CD2T-TR offers superior thermal performance (3 °C/W vs. 5 °C/W R_thJC) and higher short-circuit current rating (0.55 A vs. 0.2 A), while MC7806CD2TR4 provides better ripple rejection and automotive qualification-making L7806CD2T-TR optimal for cost-sensitive industrial SMT power rails where thermal margin is critical.

Availability

L7806CD2T-TR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial PLCs, automotive body control units, medical sensor interfaces, and POS terminal power systems requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and RoHS-compliant packaging.

Supply support for L7806CD2T-TR includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, specializing in power management, microcontrollers, and analog ICs for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The L78 series is ST's flagship family of three-terminal positive linear regulators, engineered for ruggedness and simplicity in local DC-DC conversion-targeting applications where reliability, ease of use, and thermal resilience outweigh switching efficiency requirements.

FAQ

What is the minimum input voltage required for regulation with L7806CD2T-TR?

The minimum input voltage is 8 V under full-load (1.5 A) and room-temperature conditions, based on its 2 V dropout voltage specification. At light loads (<50 mA), regulation holds down to ~6.5 V input, but the datasheet mandates ≥5 mA minimum load current for guaranteed regulation-so a 1 kΩ bleed resistor is recommended if downstream circuitry may disconnect.

Can L7806CD2T-TR be used in parallel to increase output current?

No-L7806CD2T-TR lacks built-in current-sharing capability and has no output current sensing or master-slave control. Paralleling risks thermal runaway due to mismatched dropout voltages and load distribution. For >1.5 A, use a single higher-current regulator (e.g., L7806CP) or switch to a DC-DC controller with external MOSFETs.

Does this device require an input capacitor, and what value is recommended?

Yes-an input capacitor is mandatory for stability and transient suppression. ST specifies ≥0.33 µF ceramic (X7R or C0G) placed within 10 mm of the input pin. For high-impedance sources or long traces, add a 10 µF aluminum or tantalum capacitor in parallel to handle low-frequency ripple and prevent oscillation during load steps.

How does thermal performance differ between D²PAK and TO-220 packages for this regulator?

The D²PAK (L7806CD2T-TR) has R_thJC = 3 °C/W, while TO-220 variants have R_thJC = 5 °C/W. In practice, D²PAK achieves ~20 °C lower junction temperature at 1 A with identical PCB copper area-due to larger thermal pad and optimized solder joint conduction-making it preferred for high-density, fanless industrial designs.