[sdiy] LM 317 regulators

[Tim Ressel]

No direct experience with that part, but I can give
you some general knowledge about reliability.

HP (my former employer) did a 10-year study on
reliability and how to improve it. their goal was a
10x improvement in reliability.

They found that the most important factor was the
derating of semi ratings. For example: If a 16V cap is
used in a 15V circuit, it will not have very good
reliability. If a 35V cap is used, it will have way
better reliability.

HP's overall spec is to derate values by 50% whenever
possible. Now in your case, keep in mind the #1 enemy
of semis is heat. So if your regulators are running at
the top of their specs and/or have marginal heat
sinks, then that could be the whole problem right
there.

Also keep in mind semis fail. 20 years for a 1A
regulator doesn't seem bad to me.

--TR

*********************************
When in trouble or in doubt,
run in citcles, scream and drink!
*********************************

--- greg montalbano <greg.montalbano at ucop.edu> wrote:
> Hello --
> I would be curious to hear people's experience with
> LM 317 adjustable 
> regulators -- specifically, instances of
> intermittent fault or breakdown in
> parts approaching the 20 year mark.
> 
> Thanks, eh?
> 
> ~GMM
> 


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