Voltage Regulator Minimum Output Current

Other Hardware General Electronics
1

HI,

I am using an Arduino Uno to build a monitoring system and need to use a voltage regulator to turn a supply voltage of 24Vdc into the 7-12Vdc required by the Arduino Uno. Originally I was going to use a Pololu step down regulator see here(Pololu Step-Down Voltage Regulator D24V3AHV) but had several of them catch fire. As an alternative I am planning on using a R-R-6xxxP_D Series regulator see here(http://www.recom-international.com/pdf/Innoline/R-6xxxP_D.pdf)

I noticed that on the specifications page it says there is a minimum output current of .1A or .2A (depending on the model). I was trying to determine what the minimum current the Uno would draw but have realized that all depends on what your doing.
I know that the 3.3V requires 50mA and that each digital input output uses 40mA. Does this mean that each input/output always uses 40mA, or they only use that when set to high?

I guess the real question is, do I need to worry about this minimum output current?

2

An output provides current to whatever it is connected to - just like a battery - up to a maximum of 40ma.

3

Why not supply 5v directly instead of using the onboard regulator? Then just put that to the 5v pin and save a few ma
I believe the atmega328 alone draws like 30ma or. 03amps
so you would need a resistor to draw some amperage
or on ebay they make nice 24v to 5v 3A supplies I think for 4$

4

Hi, Another possibility is to use an Arduino Compatible that allows higher voltage input, like this one:
http://iteadstudio.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=50_51&products_id=467

It says "Wide range external input from 7~23V DC" you have 24? Plus or minus what??

You could just drop the 24V to 21V with 3 silicon diodes, like: http://goo.gl/VBYY4