Safe to cut alluminum tab off LM317T?

[tehk]

Does anyone know if it would be safe to cut the aluminum tab that sticks off the back of the Lm317T?
I would like to know for space saving purposes.
Like this:

 

[jayrob]

Does anyone know if it would be safe to cut the aluminum tab that sticks off the back of the Lm317T?
I would like to know for space saving purposes.
Like this:

No problem there...It is a common practice for building!
Jay

 

[BlueFusion]

Yes but you still need to remember the exposed metal on the back is Vout and if it touches metal inside your host.... BAD THINGS can happen. You can release the mysterious blue smoke. After that electronics don't work anymore.

They operate on smoke signals Let it out and poof! no more workies.

 

[tehk]

Good to know. Can save some space now

 

[Gazoo]

Yes but you still need to remember the exposed metal on the back is Vout and if it touches metal inside your host.... BAD THINGS can happen. You can release the mysterious blue smoke. After that electronics don't work anymore.

They operate on smoke signals Let it out and poof! no more workies.

And that smoke smells sooooo good... ;D

 

[tehk]

I may just have to fry one to experience this magic blue smoke

 

[chimo]

Does anyone know if it would be safe to cut the aluminum tab that sticks off the back of the Lm317T?
I would like to know for space saving purposes.
Like this:

As was mentioned:

1. Yes, it's OK
2. BTW, it's not Aluminium (plated copper perhaps?)
3. Don't short it to anything
4. Doing this will reduce the upper current carrying capacity of the IC (less thermal dissipation)

 

[rog8811]

If this is to be used with a fixed resistor you can do this with it and it will fit in a very small space......I did this for my red burner, it solders straight onto the circuit board of the host torch.

Regards rog8811

 

[adgmeijin]

hey bluefusion did you already sent to me the schematic diagram you are saying to my email? please inform me, thanks.

 

[tehk]

If this is to be used with a fixed resistor you can do this with it and it will fit in a very small space......I did this for my red burner, it solders straight onto the circuit board of the host torch.

Regards rog8811

That's pretty cool . I'm attempting to fit this in a 15mmx150mm flashlight tube. Everything needs to fit on either side of a little PCB board.

 

[AP_Digital_light]

Read datasheet.

There are different packages:

SOT-223
TO-252
TO-263
KTE
D2 PAK

Or try version for kids ;-)

LM317L 100mA - TO92, SOP-8 and micro SMD package.

Beauty...

 

[tehk]

2. BTW, it's not Aluminium (plated copper perhaps?)

Yeah it looks like it's plated copper.

 

[rog8811]

Yeah it looks like it's plated copper

It certainly is, which is why you can solder the resistor across the top as shown in my sketch above.

Regards rog8811

 

[tehk]

If this is to be used with a fixed resistor you can do this with it and it will fit in a very small space......I did this for my red burner, it solders straight onto the circuit board of the host torch.

Regards rog8811

So you just move the resistor(s) to that position and it gives the same result? So it will look somewhat like this?:

 

[Gazoo]

You only need to do it if you are working in a confined space such as a flashlight. And you don't need the pot as long as you know how much current the diode is capable of. The pot is more trouble than it is worth...IMO.

 

[tehk]

Well i don't really know, I read somewhere that senkat's open can ones do ~250mw with plastic lens and ~300mw with glass but mines a 20x so i haven't seen what it's supposed to do.