Low-voltage shunt reference in SOT-23-5
The Texas Instruments TLV431CDBVT is a low-voltage adjustable shunt regulator that operates as a precision reference or series regulator in a compact SOT-23-5 package. It provides an adjustable output from a 1.24V minimum up to 6 V maximum, with a reference tolerance of ±1.5%. This part is a lower-voltage variant of the industry-standard TL431 family, designed for applications where the reference voltage must go below the TL431's 2.5 V threshold. Typical uses include precision voltage monitoring, linear regulation post-regulation, and adjustable power supplies in commercial equipment.
Output current and quiescent budget
The shunt regulator can sink up to 15 mA of output current, which sets the maximum load the device can regulate. The cathode current minimum of 80 µA determines the bias resistor value needed to keep the device in regulation — a key parameter for low-power designs where every microamp matters. For a typical 3.3 V rail generation from a 5 V supply, the bias resistor is calculated as (Vin - Vout) / (Iload + Ikamin), where Ikamin is 80 µA. The 15 mA output ceiling means this part suits low-current auxiliary rails, not main power stages.
Temperature grade and deployment scope
It is not specified for industrial or automotive temperature extremes.