Package and board-fit: SOT-23-5 in Bulk delivery
The LM2830ZMFX ships in Bulk — loose units in an antistatic bag, not tape-and-reel. The SOT-23-5 (SC-74A) footprint has a 0.95 mm pin pitch and no exposed thermal pad; the junction-to-ambient thermal resistance relies entirely on the PCB copper area under and around the package. For a 1 A continuous load, a 2-layer board with 1 oz copper and a 300 mm² pour on the bottom layer keeps the junction below 125°C at 85°C ambient. The datasheet layout recommendation is the starting point — the absence of a thermal pad means the board designer owns the thermal budget.
Input range and switching frequency: what 3 MHz buys the BOM
The 3 MHz switching frequency lets the output filter use a 1 µH inductor and a 10 µF ceramic capacitor — small enough for a 5 mm × 6 mm total solution footprint on a space-constrained board. At 3 MHz the switching losses dominate the efficiency curve above 500 mA load; expect 85-88% peak efficiency at 3.3 V input, 1.8 V output. The non-synchronous topology (external Schottky diode required) adds a 0.3-0.4 V forward drop that cuts efficiency at low output voltages — below 1.2 V out, a synchronous part would be a better fit.
Adjustable output: one BOM line for multiple rails
The feedback pin regulates to 0.6 V internal reference. The 3 MHz bandwidth keeps the loop stable with ceramic output capacitors; the datasheet gives the compensation values for each target voltage.
Lifecycle and compliance: active but not RoHS
The RoHS non-compliant status means it uses tin-lead plating on the leads; this part is intended for legacy assemblies that run a 260°C peak reflow profile with SnPb solder paste. For a lead-free line, a Pb-free alternative (LM2830ZMFX/NOPB) exists but is a different order code.