Need some help with a current regulator

Hey guys,

I'm working on a project right now that requires the use of a case positive component(Laser diode).

Since this project is going to be housed in a metal tube, I figured that I could simply reverse the battery so that the metal body would be positive. However, the problem is the current regulation circuit. Most current regulators(LM317 for instance) regulate the positive going into the device. Are there such regulators that regulate from the negative side?

Any help would be appreciated

Sure us a LM337, it's a negative regulator. If your project is the only load on the battery or powersupply, the positive requlator will still be okey. It doesn't matter if you current regulate the + or the - lead, as the current will be regulated.

k7elp60 said:

Sure us a LM337, it's a negative regulator. If your project is the only load on the battery or powersupply, the positive requlator will still be okey. It doesn't matter if you current regulate the + or the - lead, as the current will be regulated.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. The problem is that there is a designated space inside the case(just under the head section of the laser diode) for the driver circuit. Most lasers use the body as a negative and the driver circuit fits between the laser diode and the batteries. I'm planning to use the body as positive by reversing the batteries and using a negative side regulator.

This should work.

Thanks! So an LM317 will regulate the current on either side of the load?

digital_blue said:

Thanks! So an LM317 will regulate the current on either side of the load?

Click to expand...

I haven't tried it, but current in has to equal current out.