Multi-purpose dual power supply regulator board AMS1117

All embedded systems require electric power to operate. Most of the electronic components inside them, including the processors, can operate at a wide range of supply voltage. For example, the operating voltage range for the PIC16F1847 microcontroller is 2 to 5.5 V. But there are certain applications where you need a regulated constant voltage to avoid malfunctioning of the circuit or getting erroneous results. For instance, any application that involves analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) requires a fixed reference voltage to provide accurate digital count for input analog signal. If the reference voltage is not stable, the ADC output is meaningless. Here is my latest dual power supply regulator board that provides constant 3.3V and 5.0V outputs from an unregulated DC input (6.5-10V). It is small in size and can be easily enclosed inside the project box along with a project circuit board. It can also be used to power test circuits on breadboard. The board uses two AMS1117 series fixed voltage regulators and receives input power through a DC wall wart or an external 9V battery.

he regulator circuit uses two AMS1117 series fixed voltage regulators, AMS117 5.0 and AMS1117 3.3, to derive constant 5.0V and 3.3V outputs from an unregulated DC input voltage. The circuit diagram of the board is shown below.

Note that both AMS1117-3.3 and AMS1117-5.0 derive input power directly from the unregulated supply voltage, which means each of them can deliver up to 0.8A of current. However, for this particular board it is recommended to limit the output current up to 500 mA maximum. For the safety of the AMS1117-3.3 regulator IC, the unregulated input voltage is also recommended to be within 6.5 to 10.0 V. This board is best to use in a project that is designed tobe powered with a 9V DC from either a PP3 battery or a wall adapter. The PCB is only 1.9″ x 1.4″, and occupies a small area inside the project box.

 

The board doesn’t have any ON/OFF switch, because it may not be useful if this board is enclosed inside the project box. But through-hole pads are provided on the board if you want to add one externally. There are two surface mount pads which are shorted together by default with solder to close the circuit permanently. These must be disconnected if an external ON/OFF switch has to be added.

The regulated output voltages (5V and 3.3V) are accessed through screw terminal blocks. This power supply board can also be used to power breadboard circuits (see the picture below).