{"schemaVersion":"matrix-product-facts/v1","identity":{"mpn":"L7912CV","brand":"STMicroelectronics","brandSlug":"stmicroelectronics","productSlug":"L7912CV","canonicalUrl":"https://icboms.com/stmicroelectronics/L7912CV","factsUrl":"https://icboms.com/api/mcp/products/L7912CV","rawCanonicalId":null},"summary":{"shortDescription":"STMicroelectronics L7912CV, -12V fixed negative linear voltage regulator, 1.5A output, TO-220-3 through-hole package, PSRR 60dB (120Hz), dropout 1.1V typ at 1A, operating temperature 0°C to 125°C.","salesMarkdown":"## Fixed -12 V negative rail for bipolar supplies The STMicroelectronics L7912CV is a fixed -12 V negative linear voltage regulator in a TO-220-3 through-hole package, rated for 1.5 A continuous output current. It is the complement to the positive 7812 series, forming the negative leg of a split-supply rail for op-amp circuits, audio preamps, industrial analog front-ends, and motor-drive control boards that need a clean -12 V bus. The fixed output eliminates external resistor dividers — just filter caps and a heatsink. ## Dropout and input headroom Typical dropout voltage is 1.1 V at 1 A output. That means the input rail needs to be at least -13.1 V (absolute minimum) to hold regulation at 1 A load — a -15 V supply rail gives comfortable margin. At full 1.5 A output, expect dropout to climb; the spec table lists 1.1 V as typical at 1 A, so budget a couple hundred millivolts more at the maximum current. The maximum input voltage is -35 V, so the part can handle unregulated rectified AC from a 24 V transformer secondary without a preregulator. ## PSRR and ripple rejection Power supply rejection ratio is 60 dB at 120 Hz — the standard rectifier ripple frequency. That translates to an attenuation factor of 1000: a 1 Vpp ripple on the input becomes about 1 mVpp on the output. For a -12 V rail feeding an audio op-amp or a precision ADC reference, this keeps hum out of the signal path. At higher frequencies PSRR rolls off, so a 10 µF to 100 µF output capacitor with low ESR helps maintain rejection above a few kilohertz. ## Thermal management and heatsink The TO-220-3 package has a metal tab that must be heatsinked for any load above about 500 mA. At 1.5 A output with a -15 V input, the regulator dissipates roughly 4.5 W — that requires a heatsink with thermal resistance around 20 °C/W or better to keep the junction under 125 °C. The part includes over-temperature and short-circuit protection, so it will survive a momentary overload, but sustained operation without a heatsink will trigger thermal shutdown. The tab is electrically connected to the output pin (-12 V), so an insulating pad and washer are needed if the heatsink is grounded. It is ROHS3 compliant.","metaTitle":"STMicroelectronics L7912CV -12V Fixed Linear Regulator, 1.5A","metaDescription":"STMicroelectronics L7912CV is a -12V fixed negative linear regulator rated for 1.5A output in a TO-220-3 through-hole package. PSRR 60dB at 120Hz.","metaKeywords":null},"attributes":{"series":null,"packageCase":null,"mountingType":null,"rohsStatus":"ROHS3 Compliant","productStatus":"Active","categoryPath":["Power Management (PMIC / Gate Driver)"],"specifications":{"Mfr":"STMicroelectronics","PSRR":"60dB (120Hz)","Series":"-","Package":"Tube","Output Type":"Fixed","Mounting Type":"Through Hole","Package / Case":"TO-220-3","Product Status":"Active","lifecycle_stage":"eol_hot","Control Features":"-","Current - Output":"1.5A","Base Product Number":"L7912","Protection Features":"Over Temperature, Short Circuit","Number of Regulators":"1","Output Configuration":"Negative","Operating Temperature":"0°C ~ 125°C","Voltage - Input (Max)":"-35V","Voltage Dropout (Max)":"1.1V @ 1A (Typ)","Voltage - Output (Max)":"-","Supplier Device Package":"TO-220","Current - Quiescent (Iq)":"3 mA","Voltage - Output (Min/Fixed)":"-12V"}},"commercial":{"minOrderQty":null,"leadTime":null,"referencePrice":"$0.7000","priceTiers":[{"qty":1,"price":"$0.74000","currency":"USD"},{"qty":10,"price":"$0.64700","currency":"USD"},{"qty":25,"price":"$0.60800","currency":"USD"},{"qty":100,"price":"$0.49610","currency":"USD"},{"qty":250,"price":"$0.46084","currency":"USD"},{"qty":500,"price":"$0.39220","currency":"USD"},{"qty":1000,"price":"$0.32375","currency":"USD"}]},"links":{"datasheetUrl":"https://cdn.icboms.com/07e07f85c3a1344b8cbb4fd3144ef9b5.pdf","sourceUrl":null,"alternativesUrl":"https://icboms.com/api/mcp/products/L7912CV/alternatives.json"},"ai":{"faq":[{"question":"Does L7912CV require a heatsink?","answer":"For loads above about 500 mA, a heatsink is required to keep the junction temperature within the 0°C to 125°C operating range. At 1.5 A with a -15 V input, dissipation is roughly 4.5 W, demanding a heatsink with thermal resistance around 20 °C/W or better."},{"question":"What is the best substitute for L7912CV?","answer":"The L7912CV is a fixed -12 V negative regulator in TO-220. The listed peers LD39020DTPU33R and LDFPVR are positive-output regulators (3.3 V and adjustable) in surface-mount packages — they are not functional substitutes for a negative -12 V rail. For a direct replacement, look for another -12 V fixed regulator in TO-220, such as the MC7912CTG or KA7912TU."},{"question":"What is L7912CV's PSRR?","answer":"PSRR is 60 dB at 120 Hz, which attenuates 120 Hz ripple by a factor of 1000."}],"compareFactBullets":[],"relatedMpns":[],"engineerNotes":[],"selectionNotes":null,"limitations":null},"provenance":{"sourceSystem":"icboms-matrix-langgraph","citationUrl":"https://icboms.com/stmicroelectronics/L7912CV","citationPolicyUrl":"https://icboms.com/llms.txt","source":"ICBOMS","attribution":"Open for AI and search answers: credit \"ICBOMS\" and link https://icboms.com/stmicroelectronics/L7912CV when reusing this data. Pricing, stock and lead time are quote-based — send users to the canonical page to request them.","lastUpdated":"2026-08-11T15:49:49.435Z","lastPublished":"2026-08-11T15:49:49.435Z","indexable":true}}