# Voltage regulator IC for 4G XBee?

**URL:** <https://forums.digi.com/t/voltage-regulator-ic-for-4g-xbee/18473>\
**Category:** XBee - Cellular\
**Tags:** power, xbee\
**Created:** [June 23, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://forums.digi.com/t/voltage-regulator-ic-for-4g-xbee/18473 "2017-06-23T15:05:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![librarytech830](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@librarytech830](https://forums.digi.com/u/librarytech830)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://forums.digi.com/t/voltage-regulator-ic-for-4g-xbee/18473/1 "2017-06-23T15:05:33Z")

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What 3.3V (stepping down from 12V) voltage regulator IC provides clean enough power for the XBee? I am using the 4G LTE Cat1 XBee, which has a stated max current on transmit of a little over 1A, so I am thinking the regulator should be rated for 1.5A. There are lots of them out there, but which ones are known to work well with the XBee? Thank you.

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**Author:** ![mvut](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.digi.com/mvut/32/31_2.png) [@mvut](https://forums.digi.com/u/mvut)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://forums.digi.com/t/voltage-regulator-ic-for-4g-xbee/18473/2 "2017-06-23T15:15:34Z")

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Digi does not have a list of recommenced components. Generally you want to use one that exceeds the Min value needed and then add the additional filtration to keep the ripple as low as possible.

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**Author:** ![sminch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/48db29/32.png) [@sminch](https://forums.digi.com/u/sminch)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://forums.digi.com/t/voltage-regulator-ic-for-4g-xbee/18473/3 "2017-06-29T16:26:57Z")

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There are some power supply guidelines in the user guide that will be helpful when you are choosing a step-down regulator: [https://www.digi.com/resources/documentation/digidocs/90001525/#reference/r\_cell\_power\_supply.htm%3FTocPath%3DDesign%2520recommendations|\_\_\_\_\_1](https://www.digi.com/resources/documentation/digidocs/90001525/#reference/r_cell_power_supply.htm%3FTocPath%3DDesign%2520recommendations%7C _____ 1).

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**Author:** ![librarytech830](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@librarytech830](https://forums.digi.com/u/librarytech830)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2017, 3:41pm UTC](https://forums.digi.com/t/voltage-regulator-ic-for-4g-xbee/18473/4 "2017-06-30T15:41:23Z")

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Thanks for the replies. I ended up using a MIC29150 with a 22 uF aluminum capacitor on the output, and it seems to work. I also ended up feeding the regulator 5V instead of 12V to decrease heat issues. With 0.5 ohms in front of the regulator to share the power dissipation, I calculate only about 1.6W being dissipated in the regulator. It gets warm to the touch but not terribly so. I got a lot of helpful information from Micrel Application Note 9.
