LM338K pin identification

[Will]

Please don't shoot me down for this,
but may I know if,
looking at the pins on a LM338K in
T0-3 package (where both pins are on
the upper half of the casing),
would the left pin be the "in",
the right pin be "out"
and its casing be attached to the "adjust" ?

 

[seangoesbonk]

Looking at the underside (pins sticking out at you) and the pins being on the top half of the casing, you have:

Left Pin: ADJ
Right Pin: Vin
Casing: Vout

For more info check out the datasheet:
http://www.national.com/ds/LM/LM138.pdf

 

[Will]

Thanks a lot for that. Some how I just couldn't not find this particluar PDF from national.

 

[peranders]

If you type "LM338" and press SEARCH at www.national.com you get one hit and it's LM338. If you only type "338" you'll get a few more.

 

[Will]

When implementing the LM338K version, what's the best way to connect the Vout from the case, would you scratch the case and soldier a lead off, or would you just mechanically attach a lead and tighten it thru a fastener ?

 

[Eva]

I think mechanical attachment with screws is more than enough

For laying-out I suggest you follow datasheet recomendations : Taking output current from one screw and taking the output reference for adjustment from the other screw

This should give the best load regulation as positive remote sensing isn´t practical with these kind of 3-terminal floating regulators [but you may use remote ground sensing]