Easy Adjustable Supply A basic LM317-based power

supply
ladyada.net
Introduction

Being able to poke voltages into your projects will help you debug. You can buy an
adjustable power supply for $50 or so, or build your own from a kit (another one) Just look
for any power supply kit that has a LM317 in it.

You can also build it for $10 using a 9V battery as input and test clips for outputs. This won't
be able to provide a lot of power (cause its just a 9V) but it can go pretty far for testing and
debugging

The schematic is adapted from the one on page 9 of the datasheet and, yet, there is a
mistake!
Note: in the schematic, pins 3 and 2 are swapped. Follow the directions below if you're
confused.

Note that the LM317 is NOT connected to ground at any pin!

Parts list
Price
Nam Qt
Image Description Part # (approx
e y
)
 LM317T

Adjustable (Digikey,
IC1 voltage Mouser, 1 $2
regulator nearly any
distributor
)

10uF
capacitor (or
C2
larger) 10V 2 $1
C3
rating (or
larger)

0.1uF
C1 ceramic 1 $0.50
capacitor

D1 Protection
1N4001 2 $1
D2 diode

~240 ohm
resistor (200
R1 1 $0.25
to 270 is fine)
($0.25)

5K
potentiometer
. In this case
a 1K pot is
R2 fine too. I like 1 $1
the
thumbwheel
ones for this
project
 9V battery
pack with 1 $2
switch

9V battery 1 $2
Breadboard 1 $2

Red LED
1 $0.50
(optional)

1K resistor
1 $0.25
(optional

Make it
Make sure
you have all
the necessary
parts
Solder in the
220 ohm
resistor, the
5K
potentiometer
, the LM317T
and the 9V
battery pack.
Remember
that two pins
of the 5K
potentiometer
must be
shorted. In
this case the
left pin and
the middle pin
are tied
together

Measure the
voltage
between the
left and
middle pin of
the LM317. It
should be
almost
exactly
1.25V. If it
isn't, check
your wiring,
are you sure
the parts are
connected up
right and the
battery pack
is turned on?
Measure
between
ground (the
black wire of
the battery
pack) and the
middle pin of
the LM317.
By turning the
potentiometer
you should be
able to vary
the voltage
from about
1.25V to
about 7V
Solder in the
remaining
parts. Some
are hidden in
this photo but
just follow the
schematic and
you should be
good to go.

Perform all
the tests so far
again

With the red

LED
connected
from the
output to
ground
through the
1K resistor,
you can
quickly gauge
how high the
output voltage
is. If the
output is low
the LED will
be dim or off.
If the output
is high, the
LED will be
bright
Cut the PCB
down and
glue it to the
top of the 9V
battery case.
Use the red
and black
wires as
output.