Adjustable shunt reference in SOT-23-5 — where the 80 µA cathode current matters
It sinks current from the cathode to anode to regulate the reference pin to 1.24 V nominal, with an external resistor divider setting any output up to 6 V.
80 µA cathode current — the low-power design enabler
The TLV431ACDBVR requires only 80 µA to regulate, which means the bias resistor can be sized for sub-milliampere total supply draw. The 15 mA output current capability handles dynamic loads like an ADC sample-and-hold without droop.
If the board sees a motor drive cabinet, outdoor telecom enclosure, or engine bay, step up to the industrial-grade TLV431BIDBVR (-40°C to 125°C). The SOT-23-5 package is small enough for space-constrained PCBs and rework-friendly — a hot-air station at 300°C with a fine nozzle lifts it clean without lifting adjacent passives.
For dual-sourcing, the industry-standard TL431 family is pin-compatible but check the tolerance grade — the TL431A offers ±1% as well, while the TL431B tightens to ±0.5%.
The SOT-23-5 footprint matches the standard SC-74A land pattern, so no PCB change is needed if swapping between TLV431 and TL431 variants in the same package.