onsemi MC7906CD2TG

Overview

MC7906CD2TG from onsemi is a fixed-output negative voltage regulator delivering −6.0 V at up to 1.0 A, featuring internal thermal shutdown, short-circuit current limiting, and safe-area compensation for rugged operation in industrial power supplies. It requires no external components for basic regulation and maintains stable output across input voltages from −8.0 V to −21 V with ≤120 mV load regulation (5–1000 mA) and ≤60 mV line regulation.

For engineers reviewing the MC7906CD2TG datasheet, pinout, applications, or equivalent options, key selection criteria include its D2PAK (Case 936) package with heatsink-connected Pin 2, −6.0 V output tolerance of ±4%, dropout voltage of 1.3 V at 1.0 A, and suitability for dual-rail op-amp supplies, MECL logic, and industrial analog front-ends requiring robust negative bias.

Technical Context

The MC7906CD2TG implements a monolithic bipolar pass transistor with integrated protection circuitry: thermal overload protection triggers at +150°C junction temperature, short-circuit limiting caps output current under fault conditions, and safe-area compensation dynamically reduces short-circuit current as V_CE increases-preventing second breakdown. Its internal bias network draws 4.3–8.0 mA input current and delivers ripple rejection of 65 dB at 120 Hz.

Designed for fixed-voltage negative regulation, it operates with a minimum input-to-output differential of 2.0 V (recommended), supports output capacitance ≥1.0 µF for stability, and exhibits −1.0 mV/°C average temperature coefficient over 0°C to +125°C. Output noise is 45 µV_RMS (10 Hz–100 kHz), and maximum power dissipation is internally limited with θ_JA = 70°C/W (D2PAK, free air).

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

D2PAK (Case 936) surface-mount package with exposed heatsink pad connected to Pin 2 (Input). Requires PCB copper area for thermal management per Figure 12 in datasheet.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar negative voltage regulation applications.

Compared with MC7906CTG, the MC7906CD2TG offers superior thermal performance in surface-mount production and RoHS compliance, while the LM337MDT-6.0/NOPB trades simplicity for programmability and tighter spec margins-making MC7906CD2TG optimal for cost-sensitive, high-volume −6 V fixed-rail applications.

Availability

MC7906CD2TG is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor interfaces, dual-rail op-amp supplies, and MECL logic systems requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and RoHS-compliant packaging.

Supply support for MC7906CD2TG 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

onsemi (formerly ON Semiconductor) is a global semiconductor manufacturer specializing in energy-efficient power management, analog, and sensing solutions for automotive, industrial, and cloud infrastructure markets.

The MC7900 Series was designed specifically to provide rugged, fixed-output negative voltage regulation as a complement to the MC7800 positive regulators-targeting industrial control, test equipment, and analog signal chains where reliability under thermal and overload stress is critical.

FAQ

What is the output voltage tolerance of the MC7906CD2TG?

The MC7906CD2TG has a nominal output voltage of −6.0 V with a tolerance of ±4%, meaning the actual output falls between −5.76 V and −6.24 V under specified conditions (T_J = +25°C, I_O = 500 mA). This tolerance remains valid across the full operating temperature range (0°C to +125°C) and load current (5 mA to 1.0 A), as confirmed in the "MC7906C" electrical characteristics table on page 4 of the datasheet.

Can the MC7906CD2TG be used without input or output capacitors?

The MC7906CD2TG can operate without external capacitors in low-current, low-noise applications with short trace lengths. However, the datasheet recommends a 0.33 µF input capacitor (low-ESR tantalum or ceramic) when mounted remotely from the filter source, and a 1.0 µF output capacitor for improved transient response and stability-especially with large load capacitance or long output traces. Omitting these may cause oscillation or poor ripple rejection.

What is the maximum input voltage rating for the MC7906CD2TG?

The MC7906CD2TG supports a maximum input voltage of −24 V DC under normal operation, as defined in the "Maximum Ratings" table (page 2) for devices with −5.0 V ≥ V_O ≥ −18 V output. For the −6.0 V variant specifically, the datasheet specifies safe operation up to −21 V input when delivering 1.0 A at P ≤ 15 W-exceeding −24 V risks exceeding safe operating area limits and triggering thermal shutdown.

How does the MC7906CD2TG handle short-circuit conditions?

The MC7906CD2TG employs internal short-circuit current limiting that restricts output current to a safe level during output faults. Combined with thermal shutdown (triggering at +150°C junction temperature) and safe-area compensation-which reduces short-circuit current as the pass transistor's V_CE increases-the device avoids destructive failure and recovers automatically once the fault is removed and temperature normalizes.

Is the MC7906CD2TG pin-compatible with other MC7900 series regulators in D2PAK?

Yes, all MC7900-series D2PAK variants-including MC7905ACD2TR4G, MC7912ACD2TG, and MC7915ACD2TG-share identical pinout (Pin 1: Ground, Pin 2: Input, Pin 3: Output) and mechanical footprint (Case 936). This allows direct substitution across output voltages (−5 V to −24 V) without PCB changes, provided input voltage and thermal design accommodate the specific variant's requirements.