SNVSAC2A March 2015 – June 2020 LM317A
PRODUCTION DATA.
A maximum limit on output current can be set using Figure 29. The load current travels through R3 and R4. As the load current increases, the voltage drop across R3 increases until the NPN transistor is driven, during which the ADJ pin is pulled down to ground and the output voltage is pulled down to the reference voltage of 1.25 V.
(Compared to LM117's higher current limit) | ||
—At 50 mA output only ¾ volt of drop occurs in R3 and R4 |