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From: macminn@powertool.crd.ge.com (Stephen R MacMinn)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: 12V to 5V DC conversion.
Keywords: voltage regulators
Message-ID: <9801@crdgw1.crd.ge.com>
Date: 16 Jul 90 03:34:43 GMT
References: <11326@hydra.gatech.EDU> <27082@netnews.upenn.edu>
Sender: news@crdgw1.crd.ge.com
Reply-To: macminn@powertool.crd.ge.com (Stephen R MacMinn)
Organization: General Electric Corp. R&D, Schenectady, NY
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Please note that the 12V automotive bus has to be one of the WORST
regulated voltage sources there is.  If you're planning to interface
your voltage regulator to it you'd better add some front end protection
such as an MOV.
Transients on this 12V bus come in all varieties, the worst ranging
up to 200 Volts (with relatively low energy content).   In fact there
is a whole spectrum of defined transients, decreasing in energy as they
increase in voltage.  So unless you want to see some unexplained failures
of your power supply, best to design some protection in from the start.