Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: videk on July 17, 2012, 07:00:56 AM

Title: $50 robot beginner question...
Post by: videk on July 17, 2012, 07:00:56 AM
Hi, greetings from Poland and sorry for my English  ;)
I have a questions:
- I found that my voltage regulator (7805A) has about 2,5k resistance between the output and the ground. Is it means, that this regulator is bad and I should replace it (probably it was burnt when soldering :P)?
Title: Re: $50 robot beginner question...
Post by: Soeren on July 17, 2012, 11:23:17 AM
Hi,

- I found that my voltage regulator (7805A) has about 2,5k resistance between the output and the ground. Is it means, that this regulator is bad and I should replace it (probably it was burnt when soldering :P)?
How did you measure the 2.5k resistance (in circuit, chip alone or what?

The only way to test if a voltage regulator is OK, is to add a couple of capacitors (100..470nF from input terminal to ground terminal and around 22µF from output terminal to ground terminal) and test the output voltage at say 0.5A (eg. 10 Ohm, 3W resistor) and vary the input voltage between 8V and 10V while having a voltmeter over the output and ground terminals (in parallel with the load resistor).
You can't just put an Ohm-meter over its terminals like if it was a transistor.
Title: Re: $50 robot beginner question...
Post by: videk on July 19, 2012, 04:26:36 AM
Right. I checked this voltage regulator - it's OK. I did a connectivity test and i think everything works good. There is about 5.1V at sensor inputs and 4.8V (from my 4XAA baterry pack) at servo outputs. Now I will try to program my robot