Dropout voltage
Also: regulator headroom
The minimum input-to-output voltage difference a regulator needs to stay regulated.
Below dropout, output follows input and load according to the regulator topology rather than remaining at its set value.
- Units
- volts (V)
Example A regulator needing 0.3 V dropout cannot hold 3.3 V from a 3.4 V input.
Common misconception Dropout is not an absolute input rating or the regulator's normal voltage loss at all conditions.