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Awds95
modified 5 years ago

Op-amp Virtual Ground Supply Splitter

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5
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01:58:45
Uses an op-amp in unity buffer mode to split a single 5V supply into a +- 2.5V dual supply. The output current on either positive or negative rail must not exceed the rated source/sink current of the op-amp used.
published 5 years ago
GLaDOS
5 years ago
You can use two 10k resistors in series like you did and add a 100uF capacitor between ground and Vref to low power applications (sending link of the example)
GLaDOS
5 years ago
https://everycircuit.com/circuit/5068847231795200
maxmax_66
5 years ago
@ALL. Access to posted links could be made far easier by editing out the 's' in the protocol prefix prior to posting the link. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
PrathikP
5 years ago
@GLaDOS what you have suggested - an unbuffered voltage divider - is not really a good option of such purposes. No matter how much capacitance you whack in, be it 100uF or 1000uF, a resistor divider cannot be used as a rail Splitter. It is better to stick to the op amp version.
Awds95
5 years ago
@GLaDOS Of course, if the current draw is sufficiently low and the resistors are of sufficiently low resistance, then a simple voltage divider would work. But, that is very inefficient and unstable. If you use a 10V supply and 10K resistors, then placing a 1mA load between the virtual ground rail and the 0V rail will effectively short it. A 100uA load will pull your virtual ground down to 4.5V. Basically, any sort of load will shift your virtual ground significantly. Whereas with the op-amp based version, the virtual ground is being actively maintained, so it will remain stable so long as the load does not exceed the rating of the op-amp.

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