Fixed 2.5V rail in a SOT-23-6
The MAX8881EUT25+T is a single-output positive LDO from Analog Devices, delivering a fixed 2.5V at up to 200mA from a maximum 12V input rail. It comes in a SOT-23-6 package — the same footprint as many generic LDOs, so it swaps into an existing board layout without a respin if the pinout matches.
What the ratings mean on the bench
Dropout is 0.2V max at 50mA, so a 2.7V input rail still holds the 2.5V output in regulation; below that the output follows the input minus dropout. Quiescent current is 10 µA typical — the regulator's own draw is low enough for battery-powered gear that sleeps most of the time. The Enable pin lets a GPIO or supervisor shut the output off entirely, dropping Iq to near zero. Power Good output signals when the output is within regulation, which saves a separate voltage monitor on the board. Protection includes over-temperature shutdown and short-circuit current limiting — the part survives a dead short on the output without damage, though the thermal foldback may cycle the output until the fault clears. Reverse polarity protection means a reversed input won't instantly kill the regulator, but the rest of the circuit still needs its own protection diode.
Board-fit and sourcing reality
The pinout is unambiguous: the tab is ground, and the Enable and Power Good pins are on opposite corners, so orientation is easy to verify with a continuity check before power-up.