Obsolete — plan your BOM move now
What the ±1% tolerance buys you
The TL431AID delivers a 2.495V reference with ±1% initial tolerance — tight enough for many 8-bit and 12-bit ADC references, linear regulator feedback dividers, and comparator threshold circuits. The adjustable output goes up to 36 V, and the shunt can sink 100 mA continuous, which covers most low-power reference and error-amplifier loads. Cathode current requirement is 700 µA minimum, so the bias resistor must be sized to keep at least that flowing at the lowest input voltage.