Texas Instruments TL750M08CKCE3

Overview

TL750M08CKCE3 from Texas Instruments is a low-dropout positive voltage regulator delivering 8 V at up to 750 mA, featuring dropout voltage <0.6 V at full load, 60-V load-dump protection, and reverse-battery tolerance. It operates over 0°C to 125°C virtual junction temperature and is designed for battery-powered automotive and industrial power rails.

For engineers reviewing the TL750M08CKCE3 datasheet, TL750M08CKCE3 pinout, TL750M08CKCE3 application, or TL750M08CKCE3 equivalent, key selection factors include its 8-V fixed output, TO-220 package thermal performance (θ_JA = 22°C/W), integrated overcurrent/thermal shutdown, and compatibility with 10-μF tantalum output capacitors meeting ESR stability criteria.

Technical Context

The TL750M08CKCE3 uses bandgap-based feedback control with internal current-limiting, overvoltage protection, and thermal shutdown circuitry. Its architecture supports stable regulation under transient load steps up to 750 mA while maintaining <0.6 V dropout at rated current.

It withstands 60-V transient input surges and –50-V reverse-battery transients (100 ms), with quiescent current of 60–75 mA at full load and 5 mA at light load. Input voltage range is 9 V to 26 V for reliable 8-V output regulation.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

TL750M08CKCE3 uses the TO-220 package (KCS variant), with the mounting base electrically connected to the COMMON terminal. The package provides θ_JA = 22°C/W and supports through-hole mounting with heatsinking via the metal tab.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar low-dropout voltage regulator applications.

Compared with TL750M08CKCE3, TL750M08CKCS offers identical performance with modern RoHS compliance and active status, while TL750M08CKVURG3 trades thermal resistance for SMT manufacturability-neither is pin-compatible due to differing package types (TO-220 vs. KVU).

Availability

TL750M08CKCE3 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive body electronics, industrial programmable logic controllers, and portable medical diagnostics requiring stable component supply despite its obsolete status.

Supply support for TL750M08CKCE3 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

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, specializing in analog, embedded processing, and power management ICs with broad industrial and automotive reach.

The TL750M series was developed specifically for battery-powered systems needing robust protection and ultra-low dropout in harsh environments like automotive under-hood and industrial control cabinets.

FAQ

What is the maximum input voltage the TL750M08CKCE3 can handle?

The TL750M08CKCE3 supports 26 V continuous input voltage and withstands 60 V transient input (per ISO 7637-2 Pulse 5a) for up to 100 ms. This rating enables direct connection to 12-V automotive battery systems without external transient voltage suppression in many applications. The device also tolerates –50 V reverse input for 100 ms, making it suitable for environments where battery polarity reversal may occur.

Does the TL750M08CKCE3 require an external capacitor on the output?

Yes, the TL750M08CKCE3 requires a 10-μF tantalum output capacitor with ESR between 0.8 Ω and 2 Ω for stable operation across its full load range. Lower ESR values risk oscillation; higher values degrade transient response. The datasheet specifies this requirement in Figure 1 and Table 1, and recommends adding a small series resistor if using ceramic capacitors to emulate the needed ESR. Failure to meet these capacitor specifications may result in instability or excessive output ripple.

What is the thermal performance of the TL750M08CKCE3 in its TO-220 package?

The TL750M08CKCE3 in the TO-220 (KCS) package has a junction-to-ambient thermal resistance (θ_JA) of 22°C/W. With a maximum virtual junction temperature of 150°C and ambient temperature of 85°C, this allows approximately 2.95 W of power dissipation (P_D = (150 – 85)/22). At 750 mA output and 0.6 V dropout, power dissipation is 0.45 W - well within limits when mounted on a modest copper area. The metal tab is electrically connected to COMMON and must be thermally coupled to a heatsink or large PCB copper pour.

Is the TL750M08CKCE3 pin-compatible with other TL750M variants?

Yes, all TL750Mxx devices-including TL750M05, TL750M08, TL750M10, and TL750M12-share identical pinout (INPUT-COMMON-OUTPUT) and package footprints across KCS, KTT, and KVU variants. The only differences are output voltage and minor electrical parameters; no PCB layout change is required when substituting between fixed-output versions of the same package type. However, TL750M08CKCE3 (TO-220, obsolete) is not pin-compatible with TL750M08CKVURG3 (KVU) due to differing package dimensions and leadform.

What protection features does the TL750M08CKCE3 include?

The TL750M08CKCE3 integrates four key protection functions: (1) Overcurrent limiting with foldback behavior, (2) Thermal shutdown activating near 150°C virtual junction temperature, (3) 60-V load-dump transient immunity, and (4) Reverse-battery tolerance up to –50 V for 100 ms. These features eliminate the need for external protection components in many automotive and industrial applications, reducing system cost and board space while improving reliability under fault conditions.