LM7805MPX/NOPB - 1.5A, 30V Fixed 5V Linear Regulator | Texas Instruments
MPN: LM7805MPX/NOPB ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.95 | $0.95 |
| 10 | $0.85 | $8.50 |
| 100 | $0.72 | $72.00 |
| 500 | $0.62 | $310.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.55 | $550.00 |
| 2,000 | $0.5 | $1,000.00 |
LM7805MPX/NOPB Overview
A linear regulator is a type of voltage regulator that maintains a constant DC output voltage by dissipating excess input-to-output voltage as heat. Within the power management IC hierarchy, the LM7805 belongs to the linear regulator family, sitting above switching regulators in simplicity (no inductor needed) but below LDO regulators in dropout performance. This trade-off is why 7805-series regulators remain popular as simple, rugged 5 V rails.
Key features include a fixed 5 V output (no external feedback resistors required), 1.5 A continuous output current, internal thermal shutdown and output short-circuit protection, and a wide 7 V to 30 V input operating range. The SOT-223 package offers a tab that doubles as a thermal pad, allowing direct soldering to PCB copper for heatsinking.
Architecturally, the LM7805 uses a classic bipolar pass-transistor topology with a bandgap-derived reference. Unlike an LDO, it requires at least 2 V of input-to-output headroom to maintain regulation, which means it dissipates significant power at high VIN. The output impedance is low and line/load regulation are tight, giving clean DC for digital and analog loads.
Typical applications include microcontroller 5 V rails, sensor signal protection, hobby electronics, and any 5 V supply where simplicity, robustness, and low cost outweigh efficiency.
A practical design consideration is thermal dissipation. At VIN = 12 V and 1 A load, the part dissipates 7 W, so the SOT-223 tab MUST be soldered to a sufficient copper area (typically >=1 square inch) to keep Tj within safe limits.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for LM7805MPX/NOPB — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
LM7805MP/NOPB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LM340MPX-5.0/NOPB
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LM7805MPX/NOPB Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Texas Instruments |
| Part Number | LM7805MPX/NOPB |
| Output Type | Fixed (5.0 V) |
| Maximum Output Current | 1.5 A |
| Input Voltage Range | 7 V to 30 V |
| Dropout Voltage | 2 V typical |
| Quiescent Current | 5 mA typical |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +125 C |
| Package | SOT-223-4 (DCY) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Pin Count | 4 |
| Protection Features | Thermal Shutdown, Short-Circuit, Safe Area |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes (NOPB suffix) |
LM7805MPX/NOPB Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | IN — Input voltage (7V to 30V) |
| Pin 2 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 3 | OUT — Regulated 5V output |
| Pin 4 | OUT (Tab) — Output (electrically tied to pin 3) and thermal pad for heatsinking |
Typical Applications
LM7805MPX/NOPB is suitable for 7 applications: Microcontroller 5V Rail, Sensor Signal Conditioning Supply, Hobby Electronics and Prototyping, Industrial 24V to 5V Conversion, Battery-Powered 12V to 5V Supply, LED Strip and Indicator Lighting, Automotive Accessory Power.
Microcontroller 5V Rail
Provides a robust 5V supply for Arduino, PIC, STM32, and AVR microcontrollers. The LM7805MPX's fixed 5V output eliminates the need for feedback resistors, and its 1.5A capacity comfortably supports an MCU plus peripherals like sensors, LEDs, and a small display. Built-in thermal shutdown and short-circuit protection guard against wiring faults common in breadboard prototypes. Designers typically place two 0.1uF and one 10uF capacitor on the input and a 0.1uF plus 10uF on the output for stability.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning Supply
Powers 5V analog sensors (e.g., HC-SR04 ultrasonic, PIR, MQ gas sensors) from a higher-voltage battery or wall adapter. The LM7805's low noise linear regulation provides a cleaner rail than most switching converters, improving analog sensor accuracy and reducing digital noise coupling into sensitive measurement channels. Its wide 7-30V input tolerates lead-acid battery droop and unregulated 9V/12V wall-wart supplies without damage, and its 1.5A rating supports arrays of multiple sensors simultaneously.
Recommended
Hobby Electronics and Prototyping
Powers breadboard projects, robotics kits, and educational lab supplies from common 9V or 12V DC adapters. The LM7805MPX's simple three-pin operation (plus thermal pad) requires no feedback design or compensation, making it ideal for students and rapid prototyping. The SOT-223-4 footprint is small enough for tight boards while the LCC tab accepts substantial copper pour for sustained 1A operation. Its robustness against reverse engineering mistakes (shorted outputs, missing caps) makes it forgiving for beginners.
Recommended
Industrial 24V to 5V Conversion
Steps 24V industrial bus voltage down to 5V for PLC logic, sensor networks, or HMI displays. The LM7805's 30V absolute maximum input rating accepts 24V nominal bus with up to +/-25% tolerance, eliminating the need for pre-regulation. The use of SOT-223 package with tab heatsinking allows direct PCB mounting in industrial control cabinets where heat must be conducted to a chassis. Internal thermal shutdown prevents fire hazards during sustained short-circuit conditions common in field wiring.
Recommended
Battery-Powered 12V to 5V Supply
Derives 5V from 12V lead-acid or lithium battery packs for portable instrumentation. The LM7805's simple drop-in operation eliminates inductor design complexity for low-current applications (<500 mA). Above 500 mA, thermal dissipation rises sharply and efficiency drops to ~35% (vs >90% for switching), but the trade-off is acceptable for noise-sensitive analog front-ends. Built-in reverse-bias protection (with input diode) prevents back-feed from battery during external power connection.
Recommended
LED Strip and Indicator Lighting
Powers 5V addressable LED strips (WS2812B, APA102) and indicator panels from 12V or 24V sources. The LM7805's 1.5A continuous rating supports up to ~60-90 WS2812B LEDs at full white (60 mA per LED theoretical max) with adequate heatsinking. The fixed 5V output eliminates calibration steps required for adjustable regulators, and the clean linear output prevents the PWM noise artifacts occasionally produced by LED drivers. Thermal pad on SOT-223 dissipates heat to a small aluminum PCB or copper pour.
Recommended
Automotive Accessory Power
Powers 5V USB chargers, dash-cams, and OBD-II dongles from 12V automotive buses via non-critical LM340MPX alternative. Note: LM7805MPX/NOPB's 30V input limit is borderline for automotive 40V load-dump transients; for production automotive designs use LM340MPX-5.0/NOPB instead. The /NOPB lead-free code is RoHS-compliant for automotive OEM requirements. The robust SOT-223 footprint tolerates under-hood thermal cycling from -40 C to +85 C when properly heatsunk.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for LM7805MPX/NOPB — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | LM7805MP/NOPB | LM340MPX-5.0/NOPB | LM7805CT/NOPB | L7805CV-DG | L7805CDT-TR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOT-223-4 (DCY) | SOT-223-4 (DCY) | SOT-223-4 (DCY) | TO-220-3 (Site MPN) | TO-220-3 | TO-252 (DPAK) |
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics |
| Output Voltage | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V | 5.0 V |
| Maximum Input Voltage | 30 V | 30 V | 35 V | 30 V | 35 V | 35 V |
| Output Current | 1.5 A | 1.5 A | 1.5 A | 1.5 A | 1.5 A | 1.5 A |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +125 C | 0 C to +125 C | 0 C to +125 C | 0 C to +125 C | 0 C to +125 C | 0 C to +125 C |
| Topology | Linear (LDO subclass) | Linear | Linear | Linear | Linear | Linear |
| Approx. Unit Price @ 1k (USD) | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.45 | 0.65 | 0.40 | 0.45 |
Key Differentiators
- Highest input voltage rating among 5V 1.5A SOT-223 TI parts (vs LM340MPX-5.0/NOPB)
- Compact SOT-223 footprint with thermal tab (vs LM7805CT/NOPB (TO-220))
- Cross-brand ecosystem with same datasheet family (vs L7805CDT-TR (STMicroelectronics))
Design Notes
Estimated: at VIN=12V, VOUT=5V, IOUT=1A, power dissipation is 7W. With SOT-223 theta_JA around 60 C/W on a 1-square-inch 1-oz copper pour, junction temperature rises ~100 C above ambient, requiring more copper or forced airflow. For sustained 1.5A output, expand copper area to >=2 square inches or add forced airflow. Without thermal pad heatsinking, the part will thermal-shutdown at ~0.5A at VIN=12V.
Place input capacitor (0.1uF ceramic plus optional 10uF electrolytic) within 1 cm of the IN pin, and output capacitor (0.1uF ceramic plus 10uF electrolytic or tantalum) within 1 cm of OUT pin. Solder the SOT-223 tab to PCB copper using multiple thermal vias to inner ground/power planes. Add reverse-polarity protection diode on input for hobby applications.
Do not exceed 30V input (transient peaks beyond 35V can damage the internal pass transistor). Do not operate below 7V input - dropout at VIN=7V, VOUT=5V is borderline; output will droop below 5V at high load. The part does NOT have reverse-polarity protection - add external Schottky diode or P-MOSFET on input for safe hobby use.
Route input current path (high-current) directly from source to IN pin, avoiding shared ground impedance with analog signal ground. Keep analog sensor signal traces physically separated from LM7805 input traces to avoid coupling from switching loads on the source. Place output cap close to OUT pin with low-impedance ground return.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per /NOPB suffix. Lead-free (Pb-free) reflow-compatible per NOPB code. AEC-Q100 not qualified - choose automotive-grade parts like LM340MPX-5.0/NOPB for automotive.
