Transformers and Power Supplies
Linear Regulator Heat Calculator
Linear Regulator Heat reports regulator heat from one operating case.
Enter values for regulator heat
Use one consistent electrical operating case for all fields.
How Linear Regulator Heat works
The calculation starts with Pheat = voltage drop × current. Linear Regulator Heat uses Voltage dropped, Load current to report Regulator heat.
With the loaded values, regulator heat evaluates to 10.50 W. Preserve the baseline before changing a value.
Inputs for Linear Regulator Heat
Voltage dropped and Load current belong to Linear Regulator Heat. Keep source units with voltage dropped.
The preset case is instructional rather than prescriptive. Enter the applicable electrical data. Use Smoothing Capacitor Calculator to a separate required capacitance calculation.
- Voltage dropped
- Example entry: 7 V.
- Load current
- Example entry: 1.5 A.
Reading the Linear Regulator Heat result
This output represents Linear Regulator Heat. Average DC output belongs in the separate Rectifier DC Output worksheet.
Finish the selection with standard sizes, operating limits, and transient review.
Measurement and units
Check component ratings, isolation requirements, temperature, waveform, and manufacturer limits. Check prefixes on voltage dropped.
Use the same unit basis and observation location in alternate cases.
Limits of this calculation
Thermal resistance determines junction temperature.
A complete system can contain effects that this equation does not represent. Unentered effects remain outside Linear Regulator Heat. For power-supply efficiency, use Power Supply Efficiency Calculator.
A useful Linear Regulator Heat comparison
Record regulator heat before testing a different voltage dropped value. Core loss can be checked in Transformer Core Loss Calculator.
Document the alternate voltage dropped source.